Frugal Living At Its Finest

Publix Trippin'

2012-01-26T11:12:00.001-05:00

I didn't get a whole lot at Publix this morning. I mainly wanted the free popcorn and cheap mustard. Here's what I got:

(5) JollyTime Popcorn $1 (reg. $2.49)
(used $.50/1 coupons from the 12/11 SS insert - doubled to $1/1)
made them FREE
and I have enough UPC codes to get a free one year subscription to Weight Watchers Magazine

(3) French's Mustard B1G1 $1.79
(used $.30/1 coupons from the 1/22 SS insert - doubled to $.60/1)
made them $.29 and $.30 each)

(1) A1 Steak Sauce B1G1 $3.27
(used $1/1 coupon from the 1/22 SS insert)
made it $.64

(2) Welch's Fruit Snacks $2 (reg. $2.75)
(used $.50/1 printables from HERE - doubled to $1/1)
(used $1/1 Publix coupons from the Family Style Magazine)
made them both FREE

(6) Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits $1 (reg. $1.49)
(used $.30/2 coupon from the 1/8 SS insert - doubled to $.60/2)
made them $.70 each

(3) Ro-tel Tomatoes B1G1 $1.09
(1) Ro-tel Tomato Sauce $.79
(used Buy 2 Get One Sauce Free coupon from the 1/22 SS insert)
(used $.55/3 Publix coupon from the Yellow Advantage Flyer)
made the tomatoes $.36 each
made the sauce FREE

(2) Sambazon Acai Smoothies $2.99
(used Get One Free coupons from Facebook)
made them FREE

(1) Coffee-Mate 32 oz creamer $3.25
(used Get One Free coupon from being a member of the Brew Crew)
made it FREE

Total before sales & coupons: $48.82
Paid: $6.82

Use What You Have

2012-01-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

The kids wanted pizza last night - no surprise. I didn't have any pizza dough nor any pizza sauce. And the breadmaker was occupado via Chocolate Bread. So, I improvised. :o)

I had Grands! biscuits in the fridge and some spaghetti sauce in the pantry. I always keep shredded cheese on hand. I grabbed a pack of deer hamburger from the freezer and the pepperoni I picked up from Kroger the other day.

I browned the deer hamburger meat and drained it. Meanwhile, I rolled each biscuit out with a rolling pin making them roughly 3 times their original size. When the hamburger meat had cooled a bit I let the kiddos top the biscuits with the meat, pepperoni and cheese. Watching them strategically place the toppings on the biscuits was pretty entertaining. They seem to be more OCD than me!

I then placed the topped biscuits in the oven at 400 degrees. It took about 12 - 14 minutes for them to cook. If you're using the same pan more than once make sure it cools before you place another batch in the oven or you'll have extra crispy pizza biscuits. Trust me, I know.

It's not exactly pizza, but they liked it just the same.

Get To Know Your Favorite Blogger

2012-01-25T13:46:00.000-05:00

From a reader:

Hello Amy! I came across this list somewhere and wanted to see if you would mind playing along. It's just a few questions about you so your readers get to know you better. Thanks
Marge

Oooh, fun! I'm up for it!

What was your favorite food when you were a child? Pizza like most kids
What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? Tired by Adele
What is one of your favorite quotes? Don't take my act of kindess as a sign of weakness.
What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? Indoor - cooking Outdoor - fishing
What chore do you absolutely hate doing? mopping the floor
What is your favorite form of exercise? Yoga & jogging
What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year? I love dusk, Saturdays and October
What’s your least favorite mode of transportation? Hmm...I don't know. I've never really thought about it.
What is your favorite body part? Eyes. You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes.
What sound do you love? My children's laughter - there's nothing better in this world
Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? I've been told by several people that I favor Sandra Bullock, but I don't see it.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, I am a grown up, but I always did want to be a photographer for National Geographic...How cool would that be?
When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? sit quietly or read a book
What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up? Grey's Anatomy. That's why I love that show. It makes you laugh, cry and think of the important things in life. Any show that does all that in one episode is my kind of show.
When was the last time you had an amazing meal? Back in November I had the best steak at Longhorn Steakhouse. I stabbed my hubby with my fork when he tried to steal a bite and I usually like to share. ;o)

Fannie May Chocolate Deal

2012-01-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

If you're planning on sending your special someone some chocolate for Valentine's Day you may be interested in this deal. Fannie May Fine Chocolates is offering a free 1 pound of assorted chocolates with your $20 order. Use the code 22401 at checkout.

Valid thru 1/27

Be sure to shop thru Ebates to get 5% cash back and get a $10 gift card or $5 cash just for signing up!

Get Rewarded For Doing Internet Searches

2012-01-25T07:44:00.000-05:00

There are some sites that will reward you simply for doing internet searches everyday. It's such an easy way to get a little something extra. Here are my fave sites that do just that:

Bing.com - Earn points for searching the internet and turn those points into Amazon codes, Redbox Codes, Sweepstakes Entries and more.

SwagBucks - Earn Swag Bucks for doing internet searches, surveys, daily polls, special offers and more. Use the bucks to purchase great prizes like gift cards and more!

InboxDollars - Get paid up to $.05 a day for doing searches ($.01 a search.) I know it doesn't sound like a lot but at 365 days a year (366 this year) that's $18.25 ($18.30 this year) you could earn just by taking a couple of minutes. Free money, baby!

MyPoints - Get up to 75 points a month just for searching. If you do 30 searches through their site you can get 75 points each month. Sweet!

More Free Fast Fixin' For Me!

2012-01-24T13:11:00.001-05:00

We eat a lot of chicken nuggets in this house. I've often pondered buying my own chicken nugget factory because we eat so much of it. We prefer Fast Fixin' nuggets. One day I fixed the kids some nuggets and I thought "Hmmm...I could eat some too." But I wasn't feeling the same old nugget flavor. Then I noticed the recipe on the side of the bag for Spicy Chicken Nuggets. It calls for melted butter and hot sauce - two of my favorite things! ;o) So, I made another batch of nuggets dousing them in the goodness sauce. I then poured an insane amount of ranch dressing on my plate to dip them babies in. I was hooked! It was delicious. I don't suggest you try this if you're counting calories though...

The last time I was at the Commissary I picked up 5 bags and now I have enough UPC codes to get another free bag of nuggets! I love it when manufacturer's reward consumers for buying their products.

Spicy Chicken Nuggets:

10 Fast Fixin' Chicken Nuggets

1/4 cup of butter

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Hot Sauce (I use more)

Heat chicken nuggets according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in the microwave on high until completely melted. Add hot sauce and mix until well blended. Add chicken nuggets and toss to coat. Serve with toothpicks.

BAM! Quick lunch!

Disclosure: I have not been contacted by Fast Fixin' nor have a I received any compensation for this post. All comments are my own! Just sharing!

Save Money on Medical Expenses

2012-01-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

Last year we spent over $4,000 on medical expenses. Broken down that's over $300 a month! A big chunk for a family living on only one steady income. So, this year I'm on a mission to spend less on medical. I am also looking to the future. What we do and eat today will affect our health tomorrow.

To start out you should thoroughly examine your medical coverage. See what is covered and which physicians are covered. One mistake of going to a doctor out of network could cost you big time. Always call and check because if you're looking in a book or online they may not update the network lists that often.

Make sure you take advantage of any programs. With our insurance I logged in and got a $50 debit card to use on medical expenses just for doing a health assessment and taking coaching classes. It only took about 30 minutes of my time to get it. Last year I got $100 taken off of my deductible for taking the health assessment. Well worth the 30 minutes it took to do it. They also sent us the above pedometers for free just for doing the assessment. Our insurance offers a deep discount at participating gyms as well. Set aside a time and check out the site or give your company a call. Get the most for your money!

Once you get a medical bill double check it. Compare it to what your coverage is. I've found errors on about 75% of all medical bills I get back. Make sure you take the time to call and get it all straight. It may take several calls, but it's worth the effort to save you money.

If you get a bill that is more than what you can pay call and ask for a payment plan. Or if you do not have coverage you can offer to pay a certain amount up front at a deep discount. A lot of times doctor's will accept cash up front even if it's less than what they bill. They don't have to worry about billing or chasing down the money owed.

Check with your employer and see if they offer a Flex Spending Account. Basically what this does is take money out of your pay pre-taxes and set it aside for qualified medical expenses. Since the money is taken out pre-tax it can save you a substantial amount with payroll taxes.

When it comes to prescriptions ask for generics. As long as they have the same active ingredients why would you pay a $25 copay when so many pharmacies offer $4 on long lists of generic brand prescriptions? Granted some prescription types don't offer a generic brand yet, but if they do I suggest giving it a try to save you big moulah!

I also suggest checking into mail order pharmacies if your insurance offers it. One of my son's prescriptions usually costs us $39 a month copay at a retail pharmacy, but if we purchase a 3 month supply through mail order it's only $90. Although $90 seems like a big chunk to come up with all at once it saves us $27 - making his monthly supply $30 instead of $39. Over a year this saves us $108.

Us in the couponing field know that about 90% of the foods we get for free or cheap aren't exactly healthy for you. Sure, fresh produce coupons are hard to come by, but that doesn't mean that you should eat less of them. Fruits and veggies are very important to our diets. Don't scrimp on this! It's very important to eat healthy or you will in turn spend more on medical expenses. Make sure you take vitamins as well. Stores usually offer excellent deals on them so make sure you grab some.

Ok, Another Trip to Kroger

2012-01-22T01:13:00.001-05:00

I went to Kroger again last night. This time I came bearing more coupons for some closeout items:

(2) Brawny Paper Towels $1 (reg. $1.59 each)

(used $1/1 printable from HERE)

made them FREE

(2) Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner $1.69 each (reg. $3.39 each)

(used $3/2 coupon from the January PG insert)

made them $.19 each

(2) Garnier Fructis Shampoo $1.39 each (reg. $2.87)

(used $1/1 printable from HERE)

made them $.39 each

(2) Suave Men's Shampoo $.99 each (reg. $1.99 each)

(used $1/2 coupon from the 1/8 RP insert)

made them $.49 each

(1) John Frieda Root Awakening Spray $2.09 (Reg. $4.19)

(used $1/1 coupon from a sample I got in the mail)

made it $1.09

(1) John Frieda Hair Color $5.20 (reg. $12.99)

(used $2/1 Kroger eCoupon from HERE)

made it $3.20

(1) Herbal Essences Shampoo $1.49 (reg. $2.99)

(used $1/1 coupon from the January PG insert)

made it $.49

(1) Pampers Kandoo Wipes $1

(used $1/1 coupon from a pack of diapers)

made it FREE

(1) Raisin Bread $.99 (reg. $1.99)

(1) Croissants $1.99 (reg. $3.99)

(1) pack of Buns $.99 (reg. $1.99)

(1) Italian Bread $.49 (reg. $1.49)

(1) Poise Liners $2.99

(used Get One Free Catalina from an earlier transaction)

made it FREE

Total before sales & coupons: $53.30

Paid: $11.38

Friday's Fabulous Finds - Green Edition

2012-01-21T13:02:00.001-05:00

It's Friday and that means it's time for my Friday's Fabulous Finds. I shop around online and find good deals or interesting things I think others might like as well. Here's what caught my eye today:

BluApple - I would love to stock up on fruits and veggies when they're on sale, but they have a super short life. I found this goodie at The Daily Grommet and I think it would be more than worth the price. The starter kit costs $19.95 which includes two BluApples and twelve months of refills.

Green2 Laundry Washing Ball - The Truegreen Laundry Washing Ball is an alternative Earth friendly, people friendly product that replaces the need for any bleaches, harmful synthetic detergents, bleach alternatives or softeners that contain perfumes, dyes animal products or oils. It's a must for those with sensitive skin. It has a very long list of benefits. You can wash 240 loads with only one ball. The cost is $22.92 at Alice.com. I usually purchase the 33 load bottles of All Free & Clear for about $5. It would take more than 7 bottles of All detergent to equal what this ONE little ball can do. This saves you more than $12 just for the product. Not to mention with this handy little ball you don't have to do a rinse cycle because there are no synthetic detergents or Tallows. It's just an all around good product to use!

Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor - The price of power is only increasing, and the first step toward conservation is knowing where it's being wasted. Placed between any appliance and its outlet, Kill-a-Watt measures energy use by the kilowatt so you can calculate consumption patterns, assess appliance efficiency and see what needs replacing. It costs $28.97 at Home Depot, but you may be able to find it cheaper! It's amazing to think how much money this could save you in energy costs!

I Had Mushy Bananas

2012-01-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

I had some mushy bananas and those that have been here a while know what that means...

Banana Muffins!

This is one thing that can always be found at my house. I keep them in case I have company.

Kroger Trip

2012-01-20T13:38:00.000-05:00

I had a doctor's appt. this morning so I stopped by Kroger to grab a few things. Here's what I got:

(1) box of Comforts Diapers $13.99 (reg. $14.99)
(used Get One Free coupon from BzzAgent)
made it FREE

(1) gallon of milk $1.99 on markdown (reg. $3.79)

(3) loaves of Kroger Whole Wheat Bread $.79 each on markdown (reg. $1.49 each)

(2) Kroger Hot Dog Buns $.49 each on markdown

(1) Purdue Chicken Breasts with Italian Seasoning $1.99 on markdown

(1) Ivory Soap $1.59
(used $.35/1 coupon from the 1/8 PG insert - doubled to $.70/1)
made it $.89

(4) Samabazon Drinks $2.69 (reg. $2.99)
(used $2/1 printables from HERE)
made them $.69 each

(2) Brawny Paper Towels $1 each (reg. $1.59 each)
(used $1/1 printable from HERE)
made them FREE

(2) Hormel Pepperoni $1 each (reg. $1.89 each)
(used $1/2 coupon from the 1/15 SS insert)
made them $.50 each

(1) John Frieda Hair Color $5.20 on closeout
(used $2/1 Kroger eCoupon from HERE)
made it $3.20

(1) LaChoy Chestnuts $1 (reg. $1.29)
(used $.75/1 Kroger eCoupon from HERE)
made it $.25

(1) Yoplait Greek Yogurt $1.19
(used Get One Free coupon I had in my binder - not sure where I got it from)
made it FREE

Total before sales & coupons: $51.44+
Paid: $15.43
The before price is actually higher because I do not know the original prices of the John Frieda hair color, the hot dog buns or the Purdue Chicken Breasts.

I looked for the UP2U gum, but did not find it at my Kroger. The $1/1 coupon from the 1/8 SS would make them free. They were also out of the soft packs of Huggies wipes which are on closeout for $1.19.

Publix Trippin'

2012-01-19T10:37:00.002-05:00

I love shopping at Publix and not only because they have great B1G1 deals and a great coupon policy. They really do make shopping a pleasure. I have never once been to Publix and had an associate be ugly with me. On top of that if I have a problem with my receipt (which very rarely happens) they are always easy to get along with. Ok, enough of my gushing love for Publix...on with the show.

I went to Publix again this morning. Here's what I got:

(4) Quaker Instant Oatmeal B1G1 $3.05
made them $1.53 and $1.52 each

(4) I Can't Believe It's Not Butter tubs B1G1 $2.69
(used $1/1 printables from HERE)
made them $.34 and $.35 each

(4) Cole's Garlic Breadsticks B1G1 $2.99
(used $1/1 printables no longer available)
made them $.49 and $.50 each

(2) Vans Waffles B1G1 $3.15
(used $1/1 printables no longer available)
made them $.57 and $.58 each

(1) Vlasic Stackers B1G1 $2.89
(used $.50/1 coupon from a Kroger home mailer - doubled to $1/1)
made it $.45

(1) Pompeian Olive Oil B1G1 $5.99
(used $1/1 printable from HERE)
made it $2

(3) Dole Fruit Bowls B1G1 $2.19
(used $.50/1 printables from HERE - doubled to $1/1)
made them $.09 and $.10 each

(1) Silk Vanilla flavor $2.50 (reg. $3.19)
(used $1/1 coupon I got in a cereal box a while back)
you can also print a $1/1 coupon from HERE
made it $1.50

(1) Pop Secret 3 pack $2.99
(used Get One Free coupon from Disney Movie Rewards)
made it FREE

I really wanted to get the Chocolate Chex Mix, however, my Publix does not carry them. Yes, I am crying like a baby. :o(

Total before sales & coupons: $62.55
Paid: $14.85

Get $20 To Spend At Overstock.com For Only $5

2012-01-18T13:38:00.000-05:00

Right now Groupalicious has a deal at Overstock.com. Get $20 to spend for only $10. However, if you're new you get $5 for signing up under my link - making it only $5 for $20 to spend.

Fine print:

Limit per person: 1

Promotion Expires on January 20, 2013

Promotional value may only be redeemed through April 21, 2012, by 11:59 PM MST, except where prohibited by law; the cash value does not expire

Limit one voucher per person, per transaction

Cannot ship to P.O. boxes; certain items cannot be shipped to Alaska and Hawaii

This offer applies to U.S. orders only

May only be used to purchase goods or services under the "Shopping Tab"

May not be used to purchase gift cards, cellular telephone plans, or for international orders

Offer excludes orders comprising products from Books, Music, Movies, Games, and Electronics categories, as well as items within the Cars, Travel, Insurance, and Gold Redemption categories

This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer or coupon

Go HERE to get it!

SuperPoints

2012-01-17T11:49:00.001-05:00

I am fairly new to the SuperPoints website, but I'm liking it so far. It's similar to InboxDollars except you need to be invited into the program. You earn points for reading emails and completing offers. If you would like to join you can use one of the following links. If you use one send me a message and let me know so I can scratch it off the list.

~~http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/o9un3n~~

http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/3y51zp

http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/hv9wyc

http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/la9y7d

http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/tzdxbv

Ways To Make Extra Cash

2012-01-17T10:23:00.001-05:00

I can't count the number of emails I get asking me how to make extra cash from home. These days everyone could use a little extra income. Here are some ways that I make extra cash and I find them all to be reliable.

Surveys:
Here are a list of survey sites that I've found legit. If it's a scam site you WON'T find it here.

MyPoints - get points for doing surveys, opening emails, doing searches and a lot of other activities. I have been with MyPoints since 1/7/2001 and I love, love, love them! Use your points to get great gift cards or a deposit into your PayPal account. I prefer gift cards because it takes more points for a PayPal deposit.
InboxDollars - Earn money by doing surveys, searches, opening emails and accepting new offers. There are a lot of ways to earn with InboxDollars. I've cashed out several times with them and although it takes a few months to get the $30 minimum for cash out it is well worth the time since there's little effort put into it. Plus, they give you $5 just for signing up! Easy cash!
MySurvey - Earn points for doing surveys and use the points to get gift cards or checks. You need a minimum of 1150 points to get a $10 check.
Mindfield Online - With Mindfield you only need $5 to cash out and they send out great surveys. I qualify for most that they send to me and I always get my checks quickly when I request them. They also send out invites for Focus Groups often. I just qualified for a Focus Group from them and will get paid $125 for a 30 minute session. Sweet!
Survey Savvy - Get paid by check to do surveys and there's no minimum to cash out!
Valued Opinions - Get paid to do surveys. You need a minimum of $20 in your account to request a reward. They offer gift cards as rewards.

Craigslist & Ebay:
Chances are you have lots of stuff laying around the house that you don't use. It's just taking up room and not contributing to your life. Get rid of it. Sell it and use the cash on something special! I enjoy perusing all the ads on Craigslist. We got a lot of nice stuff for our new house from there. You can find great deals on furniture. If you do choose to sell on Craigslist I advise you meet someone in a public place if you're selling something small enough to carry around. I do that with boxes of kids clothes I sell.
You can also sell items on Ebay. It takes some planning to sell items on Ebay because you need to research how much the item is worth and how much it would cost to ship it. Plus, you'll need a PayPal account if you don't already have one. It's easy to sell on Ebay once you get the hang of it. You can go HERE for information on how to sell.

Have a Garage Sale:
Gather up your unwanted stuff and have a yard sale! One man's trash is another man's treasure. It makes it more fun when you get together with friends and have a multi-family sale. There are some tricks to making it a successful sale. Be sure to have it in a convenient location. Make sure you advertise your sale and get the word out. Price your stuff accordingly. Keep in mind that it is a garage sale and most people aren't willing to pay top dollar for items. Another little thing I like to do is get the kiddos to make brownies and such to sell. They get a little extra money and people can purchase a cheap snack. Win-Win Bam!

Etsy:
Do you have a knack for making cute stuff? If you have a talent at making crafts and such chances are people will want to buy it. Why not sell your cutie petutie items on Etsy? It's free to open an account with Etsy, but there are fees involved. You can go HERE for a list of fees and how they work. Once you make your store you'll need to advertise in order to get business.

Sell Scrap Metal:
I know of several people who actually make a living by selling scrap metal. I, myself, sell my aluminum cans. Yep, I do it. And you'd be surprised how much I get from it. It is a pain in the keister saving all those cans, but I like the cash I get from them. I save them until I have a truck load and drop them off when I'm headed off to that side of town. This drives my hubby absolutely mad. He hates me saving the cans, but I can't throw them in the recycling bin knowing I can get something for them. He's learned to just let it be. I'm too stubborn. ;o)

Sell Your Pics:
Do you take fabulous photos? If you are a photographer and would like a little extra money you can submit your photos to Shutterstock. They are choosy about what they allow and if you don't get your photos approved the first try you have to wait 90 days to submit again.

Tutor:
There are lots of children out there who need a little extra help with their school work. Even with the economy the way it is most parents will not hesitate to pay a tutor in order to better their grades. Offer a competitive rate and ask around. I enjoy tutoring. I miss being in the education field, but I love staying home with my babies. You can even submit your application to Tutor.com, but right now there is a waiting list. You'll need to complete timed tests in the subjects you wish to tutor in.

Clean Houses or Mow Lawns:
If you have the time and can find a babysitter offer to clean people's homes. It's a great way to earn extra cash. And chances are you have a neighbor who can't do yard work for health reasons or who doesn't have the time. Offer your services!

Mystery Shopping:
There are a lot of sites out there who offer a Mystery Shopping gig. However, over 90% of them make you pay for a list of participating stores. That's bogus. Do not pay for it! There are legitimate sites that offer Mystery Shopping. Now, you will definitely NOT get rich doing this, but you can earn a little extra cash. The trick is to choose the shops that are close by or where you're going anyway because they don't usually pay a lot and they don't reimburse you for gas. But a free meal and getting paid to get it is nice. :o) The mystery shopping site that I recommend is MarketForce.

Bottom line? Every little bit helps!

50% Off Outlet at Coldwater Creek

2012-01-16T09:39:00.000-05:00

I love Coldwater Creek, but their prices tend to soar above what I like to pay. So, I wait until they have a sale like this one. Right now they're taking 50% off everything in their outlet.

See that shirt up there? I've been waiting for that puppy to go on sale low enough for me to bite. And I think $11.99 is a fabulous price for a shirt that was originally $49.95 Plus, I'll get a little money back from Ebates.

Check out the sale and look around and be sure to check out the home clearance section too. So much cute stuff!

Be sure to shop thru Ebates to get 2% cash back and choose between a $10 gift card or $5 cash when you sign up!

Organization Is Key

2012-01-14T13:46:00.000-05:00

Like most people on Earth I have fallen into the "just put it somewhere" trap in life. When you're in a hurry you sometimes just chunk stuff somewhere without any rhyme or reason. My pantry and medicine cabinet have become awful. When I sit down at the computer to work I am thinking about the state of my cabinets and pantry and can't really concentrate. When I opened up my medicine cabinet to get a band-aid yesterday a bottle of Dayquil fell and clocked me in the head. This just was NOT working. Something had to be done...So, I organized my mess.

Wanna see?

Medicine Cabinet Before:

Medicine Cabinet Now:

Pantry Before:

Pantry Now:

While cleaning it all out I found some expired things that I put in the recycling bin and I donated some items that I knew I wouldn't use. This is the most naked my pantry has looked since I moved in!

You should regularly clean out your pantry and use up things that are about to expire. Don't want to waste it - that would be like throwing money away!

And you definitely don't want to use expired medications so be sure to clean out your medicine cabinet.

2 Year Subscription To Parents Magazine Only $5!

2012-01-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

Eversave has a great deal on Parents Magazine. For only $5 you can get a two year subscription to Parents Magazine (reg. $24.) That's only $.21 each issue!

Plus, if you are new and sign up under this link you get $2 for signing up and members get $2 when you purchase the deal. Although, credits and promo codes aren't valid on this deal you can use your $4 toward your next Eversave purchase.

So, it's like you only paid $1 for a two year subcription.

Parents magazine is where I get my 20% off coupons for Crazy 8 and Gymboree.

Go HERE to get it!

If you want it you might want to hurry before they sell out.

Savannah Area: 50% Off at 17Hundred90

2012-01-13T10:11:00.001-05:00

Today thru Sunday only you can get 50% off at the 17Hundred90 Restaurant.

Located in the Heart of Downtown!

Plenty of On-Street Parking!

Family Owned and Operated!

Full Open Bar!

Great Location for Parties and Receptions!

Stock Up and Purchase Up to 5 Vouchers!

Pianist Every Thursday-Sunday Night!

Choose between $16 to spend on Lunch for $8 or $40 to spend on Dinner for $20.

I love this place!

Go HERE to get it!

Friday's Fabulous Finds

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-05:00

I know it's been awhile, but it's Friday and that means it's time for my Friday's Fabulous Finds. I shop around online and find good deals or interesting things I think others might like as well. Here's what caught my eye today:

Chris Madden Harvest Collection - JCPenney has the Chris Madden Harvest Dinnerwear Collection at a deep discount. The 16 piece Set is on clearance for $28 down from $139.99. The Harvest Bowls are on clearance for $6.40 - $8 down from $31.99 each. I'm getting it and putting it up for this coming up fall! So cute!
Use the code RMNAFF10 to take an additional 10% off and shop thru Ebates to get 3% cash back

Chewie Brownie Pan - $5.98 down from $14.98 Chewy edge brownie pan design adds two chewy edges to each serving and features built-in sidewalls to evenly circulate heat. No more burnt edges or gooey centers! Pan also features non-stick coating and rounded corners for fast clean up. Pan, steel with non-stick finish, 13 x 9".
Use the code ADLIST20 to take an additional 20% off your order and shop thru Ebates to get 7% cash back. - making it $4.45

Ceramic Bakewear Set - $19.99 down from $59.99 Oven-safe 3-pc. stoneware looks and works great in your kitchen. Dishwasher safe. Includes: Small 2"Hx4¼"Wx8½"L, Medium 2¼"Hx6"Wx11½"L, Large 2¼"Hx7¼"Wx13¼"L. Set Of 3
Use the code BHJA25 to take an additional 25% off your highest priced item and shop thru Ebates to get 4% cash back. - making it $14.39

Walgreens Nice! House Party

2012-01-13T09:14:00.000-05:00

I was chosen for the Walgreens Nice! Shopping Made Easy House Party. This is the 4th House Party I've been chosen for. I love doing house parties because it gives me a great excuse to get my friends and family together and share something with them. Such a fun way to try new products and get the word out for companies. I got my party pack yesterday filled with all sorts of great stuff. It included:

- Nice! Shopping Tote

- Nice! Quick Oats

- Nice! Raisins

- Nice! Baking Soda

- Nice! Cinnamon

- Flower Seed Packet

- Nice! Zipper-Seal Storage Bags

- Nice! Traditional Snack Mix

- Nice! Microwave Popcorn

- Nice! Trail Mix and Natural Almonds in Single-serve Snacks for guests

- Nice! Sturdy Cups

- Nice! Shopping List Pads for guests

- Nice! Coupons

- Each member who comes and registers will also get a free DVD rental from a Redbox ( at Walgreens locations)

I like generic items and I love Walgreens so I am excited about this party.

You can go HERE to apply for a house party.

I've only applied to 6 house parties and was chosen for 4 of them so you definitely have a good chance at being chosen!

Irony

2012-01-12T12:10:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you find it ironic that I place my mound of grocery store bags beside my stash of reusable totes. Maybe you find it hypocritical. It's cool. I am a very "green" person. I recycle every single thing that can be recycled - including the little paper tags that come on tea bags. It all goes into the recycling bin. And the tea bags? They go into the compost bin. I compost anything that's compostable including nasty little Q-tips. My OCD "green" ways drive my family crazy, but it's who I am.

So, why on Earth do I have all those plastic bags when I have so many reusable totes?

Let me explain.

Yes, I am environmentally focused. However, I am also very financially focused. I have several small trash cans in my house and I usually change them out about twice a week. Why would I pay for small trash bags when I can get grocery store bags that fit them for free?

I also do a huge amount of my grocery shopping at the Commissary. Once a month I load up two whole buggies full of stuff. I have 21 reusable totes (I only paid for one of them) and they don't hold two buggies worth of stuff. So, I end up coming home with some plastic bags. What to do with them? I reuse them!

I'm a complicated sort, but aren't we all?

Go HERE to check out 36 uses for those plastic grocery bags you bring home!
Just in case you're sitting on the fence like me. ;o)

Publix Trippin'

2012-01-12T09:54:00.001-05:00

I haven't been to Publix in awhile...like several weeks. But I got up and went this morning. Here's what I got:

(6) Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers $2
(used $1/1 printables from HERE)
(used Buy 5 Get One Free coupon from inside another product)
made them $.83 each

(2) Hunt's ketchup B1G1 $1.74
made them $.87 each

(2) Apple & Eve Fruitables B1G1 $3.49
(used $1/1 printables no longer available)
made them $.74 & $.75 each

(4) Sunbird Seasonings $.99
(used $1/1 printables from HERE)
made them FREE

(2) Chapstick $.97
(used $.25/1 printable from HERE - doubled to $.50/1)
made them $.47 each

(3) Ritz Crackers B1G1 $2.99
(used $2/3 coupon from the 1/8 SS insert)
made them $.83 each

(1) Coffee-Mate Creamer 32 oz $3.35
(used Get One Free coupon for being a member of Brew Crew)
made it FREE

(1) Lipton Decaf Tea Bags B1G1 $4.29
(used $.75/1 printable from HERE)
made it $1.40

(1) Smart Balance Milk $2.50 (reg. $3.99)
(used $1.50/1 coupon from the 1/8 SS insert)
made it $1

(1) State Fair Corn Dogs B1G1 $3.49
(made it $1.75)

(1) Crinkle Cut Carrots $1.50 (Reg. $1.99)

(1) Lender's Bagels B1G1 $1.89 (not pictured)
(made it $.95)

Total before sales & coupons: $57.45
Paid: $18.24

New Progresso Souper You Contest

2012-01-11T11:09:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for a new look this New Year? Progresso is excited to announce the return of their Souper You Contest giving you the change to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!

Now that the ball has dropped and the confetti has settled, it´s time to consider how you will stick to your resolution for the New Year and maintain your weight management plan, without sacrificing on variety or the taste of foods you love. Thanks to Progresso, you can have your soup and eat it too!

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

o This year, the Souper You Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season´s live finale of NBC´s The Biggest Loser

o Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd

o Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th

o In addition, you can go HERE to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today

o Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

Go HERE to check out the 2011 winner experience.

This information and coupon link were provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

My Christmas Present

2012-01-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

Do you know what this is?

Guess...

It's a Microdermabrasion Machine.

When my hubby asked me what I wanted for Christmas I told him I wanted one of these. He thought I was crazy, but he got it anyway 'cuz he loves me. :o)

We didn't do big presents this year because we just bought a house and a golf cart.

Back in the day I was a sun worshipper. My bestie Kim and I spent our summers on Tybee Island with a cooler full of drinks. I loved having a tan and I really loved being at the beach. However, after experiencing trips to the dermatologist for skin cancer I no longer desire to kill my skin cells. Along with my skin cancer I've developed an uneven skin tone on areas of my face and chest. Microdermabrasion helps with this problem.

Why would I buy a Microdermabrasion Machine?

I've had them done before and they cost about 125 bucks a pop. You need several sessions to successfully get the look you want. Six sessions, actually.

My hubby paid $165 for this machine. Six sessions at $125 each = $750. Plus, it's advised that you do six sessions twice a year - making it $1,500 a year.

Let's say that my machine lasts 5 years. At $1,500 a year that would cost $7,500.

$165 sounds pretty good, huh?

I have done extensive research and had a friend who is an aesthetician direct me on how to use it correctly. The treatments aren't "pleasant." It's like scraping your face with sandpaper, but I feel like it's worth it.

Big Heart, Small Wallet - Part Dos

2012-01-10T10:53:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I posted on the Big Heart Small Wallet topic. Basically, what I do is find ways to help charities out for free or next to nothing. You may want to read Big Heart, Small Wallet - Part Uno to get a better feel of what I'm talking about.

Today I'm introducing you to The Breast Cancer Site. If you've been here for awhile you know how much I LOVE The Breast Cancer Site. You can help fund mammograms for women who can't afford them just by doing daily clicks on the site. It's totally free.
You can download the Touch To Give app HERE to make it even easier to do your free clicks. They also have a store that you can buy awesome stuff from that also funds charities.

Last year I had pain in my right breast and I felt a lump. My grandmother battled breast cancer so I was a little nervous. I called my doctor and made an appointment. My appt. was late in the afternoon so my doc said that he would have the pavilion call me. As I was pulling out of the parking lot they called and said they wanted me in the office first thing in the morning. Everyone was super nice and didn't mind my endless questions. I find that the more I know about something the less nervous I am about it.

It turned out that I had a cyst in my breast probably from my excessive caffeine consumption. I was incredibly lucky. However, there are so many women (and men) out there who aren't so lucky. I am also fortunate because we have excellent insurance through my hubby's work. Some women do not have insurance and cannot afford to get checked out. And with cancer early detection is vital in fighting the disease.

Doing your free daily clicks can help save a life.

Check out how much this site has helped HERE.

They also have sister sites that you can click on that help fund all sorts of charities:

The Rainforest Site

The Literacy Site

The Child Health Site

The Autism Site

The Veterans Site

The Animal Rescue Site

The Hunger Site

Southern Hospitality

2012-01-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

Let it be known that anyone who visits our home shall be offered food - anyone. Including spiders. Conner found this little guy in our pantry and gave him a piece of turkey bacon because "he might be hungry."

He knows his roots. I'm raising my babies right. :o)

New House

2012-01-09T10:23:00.000-05:00

So, I'm finally putting up the "New House" post. Well, new to us. We've been renting from family for many years now and we came across an awesome deal on a local golf course. My hubby is an avid golfer (he's the club champion at our golf course.) We've been looking around for awhile and finally found a deal on a house that we liked. I noticed that when we were looking for houses just two years ago foreclosure homes were nearly nonexistant around here. However, if you look now they nearly equal the amount of regular homes for sale. It's a sign of just how much our economy is strained. We did end up buying a foreclosure home. And luckily it was in great condition. It was in an area that we liked, my son didn't have to change schools and it was in our price range.

We looked at this house first and I instantly fell in love with the kitchen and butler pantry. The jacuzzi tub and two person walk in shower were also quite awesome. For a couple of months we looked at other houses, but none of them could quite compare. We kept coming back to this one. So, after many late nights of us debating we made an offer. And with me being the cheapskate that I am I seriously low balled them. Like so much so it would have been insulting if we were making an offer to anyone other than a bank. After a couple of counter offers we got this house for about half of what it's worth. Sweet! I never pay full price for anything including a house!

With the house being a foreclosure the bank wouldn't pay for any repairs - plus we were getting it for such a good deal. With the loan that we got we had to have an inspector come in and check for problems. For under $700 we got it all fixed. Doing most of the work ourselves saved us a ton of money. Plus, we had family members that helped out giving us discounts. We had to trim the trees around the house which we did ourselves. The doorknobs were having issues and we fixed them ourselves. A screwdriver and WD 40 did the trick. One window had to be replaced and that cost about $300. We had to buy a dryer vent cover that cost about $5 at Home Depot and we had to have an ornamental piece replaced on an eave that we paid about $175 for. We also had to get new garage door openers that cost $135.

kitchen before

kitchen now - where I spend most of my time

butler pantry - oh, how I love it

sunroom

master bathroom - the walk-in two person shower is behind the door.

side patio (before we cleaned it)

bonus room upstairs

The attic will eventually be turned into another room and another bathroom. The guy who built the house had intended to do that, but just never got around to it.

There's a pond in the neighborhood that the kids can go fishing in and feed the turtles and ducks.

We've been here for nearly 3 months now and I'm still getting used to the new sounds and smells that come with the house. And I still haven't unpacked about 30 boxes that are up in the attic. I'm a slacker.

The ONLY thing I don't like about moving is now I can't plant my vegetable garden because there's no room for it in our yard. :o( However, I do think that a herb garden would do nicely.

TIP: Did you know that if you pay one extra mortgage payment a year that you'll pay off a 30 year mortgage in just 18 years?

Free Right Bites White Fudge Dipped Pretzels After Rebate

2012-01-08T09:57:00.000-05:00

You can try the 100 Calorie Right Bites White Fudge Dipped Pretzels for free. Simply purchase a pack, send in the token from the package, original cash register receipt and the filled out rebate form found HERE. There's a limit of one rebate per household.

Expires 8/31/2012

So, give them a try. You may find a new favorite!

My Coupon Binder

2012-01-08T09:02:00.003-05:00

Question from a reader:
Amy, I was just wondering how you keep track of your coupons. I keep all of mine in folders and I seem to miss out on good deals. Any help would be great.
Melanie

Hey Melanie! It took me a while to figure out the best way for me to organize my coupons. At first I used a small binder that I kept in my purse. My parents bought it for me years ago. But as time went on I had too many coupons and they wouldn't fit.

Then, I went to the manila folder method. I would label each folder with the date and keep the coupon inserts in it. As I would go through ads I would pull the coupons out and clip them. But like you said I would go to the store, see a deal and not have that coupon with me.

So, I decided that clipping and placing them in a binder was the best way for me. It's more time consuming but it has been worth the extra effort.

I got this Thirty-One Organizing Utility Tote from my sister in law for my birthday last year and I LOVE it! It has handy little pockets on the side for scissors, pens and all sorts of stuff. It has plenty of room for all that I need for my couponing.

I place my manufacturer's coupons in this 2" ring binder. I got it at Goodwill for $.50. I bought a 100 pack of Baseball Card Holder sleeves on Amazon for $15 using my credits. I also got dividers for $.15 at Walgreens during a BTS sale.

I do keep another 1" binder that I place all my store specific coupons and rebate forms in. There's no pic of that binder because it's quite boring.

If you like to organize your coupons by date you can do that or you can organize them by type of grocery (like cold/frozen/meat etc.) Just find which way works for you and go with it.

A Couple Of My Fave Sites

2012-01-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

I love buying cute clothes and gifts for my kiddos, but I don't like paying big prices for them. I've found two sites that offer excellent deals on some of the cutest clothes I've ever seen.

Zulily

Totsy

(The above is a Little Lass dress available for $14.99 at Zulily. So cute!)

School Programs

2012-01-07T13:59:00.001-05:00

With all the budget cuts going on today schools are getting a hard hit. Matter of fact, if I had stayed at my last employer I wouldn't have a job now because my position was cut last year. They need all the help they can get. How can you help?

Clip those boxtops, Labels for education and register your shopping cards. Every little bit helps.

Taking a few seconds of clipping could make a big difference to a school. It's another way to ensure you're getting the most for your money.

Here are some programs that contribute to schools:

Boxtops For Education

There are four ways to earn with BoxTops For Education. You can clip the BoxTop labels from participating products, shop online through the site, earn eBoxTops and enter for bonus BoxTops. Schools use these to get materials they need!

I love this program!

Campbell's Labels For Education

Clip UPC labels from participating products and send to your local school. Schools can turn these in for educational merchandise. You can also sign up to earn bonus points through your frequent shopping cards.

Tyson Project A+

Clip and save labels from participating Tyson products and send them to your local school. Schools can redeem them for cash.

Target Take Charge of Education

Get 1% of your purchases made at Target with your REDcard donated to your school of choice.

Harveys Supermarkets Hometown Education Rewards

Register your Hometown Rewards card and link your school of choice. Your purchases at Harveys earns points. Your school can use these points to get free education items they need.

Giant Food A+ School Rewards

Earn points for your school by making grocery purchases at Giant Food Stores. At the end of the year your school of choice will receive a check for a percentage of your purchases. You must register your Bonuscard.

Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards

With A+ School Rewards your school earns points from your purchases that become CASH for your school. You must register your school and your card.

Private Selection Review

2012-01-05T13:06:00.002-05:00

As a member of BzzAgent I was chosen to try Kroger's Private Selection line of food. I had never tried any of their products so I was really excited. I got coupons to try a pizza, appetizer and dessert for free. They also sent me coupons to share with family and friends.

For the appetizer I chose the Southwestern Style Chicken Trumpets. I found that the cooking time listed was a little long for my oven so mine got a little too crispy, but they still tasted delicious. And my children were begging for more even though they were overdone.

I chose the Pepperoni & Roasted Garlic Pizza. It honestly tasted like a homemade pizza. The flavors went well together and my whole family liked it. I will definitely be buying more. And they will be a first choice for me for our next get together.

As for the dessert I chose the mini eclairs. Oh-My-Goodness. They were awesome. So much so that I had to go back to Kroger the next day and buy more. A lot more. They were the best deal for the price by far!

Disclosure: BzzAgent provided me with the coupons to try these products and with coupons to give away. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Rewards Programs

2012-01-04T10:47:00.001-05:00

There are lots of great rewards programs out there. But, sometimes you have to be careful of your spending to get those "rewards." Here's a little story I'd like to share with you. A few years ago I was working with a girl who came into work everyday with a bottle of Pepsi. She told me one morning that she stopped at the convenience store and got one every morning. I then told her that it would be cheaper if she just bought a 12 pack and brought them from home. She then told me that she was saving the points for the rewards program that Pepsi had (they no longer have it.) She went on to tell me that they had a movie that she wanted for a certain amount of points. I can't remember all the numbers exactly, but I do remember that after I did the math it was going to cost her $98 to get the points just for that DVD. So, when I was at Target one day I found the exact same movie she wanted for only $7.99. I bought it and also grabbed a 12 pack of Pepsi. I gave it to her the next day.

Rewards programs are a good call, but it's not worth buying a store full of product just so you can get a $3 prize. Be patient and shop for those deals. In the long run the rewards will pay off, but only if you're selective with what you buy. My rule of thumb regarding rewards programs is - If you're going to buy it anyway a reward program can help you get the most for your money.

Here are some great rewards programs that I recommend:

Hanes Comfort Rewards

Stouffer's Dinner Club

Huggies

Pampers Gifts To Grow

Fast Fixin' Fanatics

Land O' Lakes Simple Rewards Club

Starbucks Rewards
CVS ExtraCare
ACMoore
Piggly Wiggly
ACE Harware
Toys R Us
Staples
Seventh Generation
Office Max
Beech-Nut
Best Buy RewardZone
Papa John's
Rite Aid Wellness+
Famous Footwear

ULTA
JCPenney
TGI Friday's
Do Good Get Rewards
AMC Stubs
Regal Crown Club
This is by far not a complete list of rewards programs - just a starting point.

Frugal Breakfast Recipe - Sausage & Cream Cheese Casserole

2012-01-03T14:12:00.000-05:00

When we were on vacation my sister in law and mother in law made this recipe for breakfast. It was the first time I had tried it and I loved it. It cost $1.25 for the Philadelphia cream cheese, $2.40 for two cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls ($1.50 each - $.60/2 printable) and $1.99 for the Jimmy Dean sausage roll - $5.64 total. All 12 of us ate off one casserole and still had some left over - $.47 a serving. Sweet!

Ingredients:

(1) 8 oz Cream Cheese

(2) cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (I use the seamless kind)

(1) 16 oz roll of pork sausage

Directions:

- Brown the sausage in a pan.

- While the sausage is cooking unroll one can of crescent rolls and place in bottom of a greased 9x13 glass baking dish.

- After sausage is done drain it.

- Add cream cheese to sausage and cook until throughly mixed.

- Add sausage/cream cheese mixture on top of crecent roll.

- Place the other can of crecent roll on top of mixture.

- Bake at 375 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes

Year End Totals For 2011

2012-01-03T12:59:00.000-05:00

For the year 2011 I saved $9,879.23 with coupons and sales.

I got $847.25 for doing surveys and $95 in Amazon Credits from Swagbucks.

Monthly Trip To The Commissary

2011-12-31T11:41:00.001-05:00

I headed to the Commissary yesterday because a huge chunk of my coupons expire 12/31 and I wanted to use them before I lose them. I found the following good deals:

Avocados (pack of 3) $1.89

Yellow Onions (3 lb bag) $1.39

Hillshire Farm Lunchmeat 1 lb $2.79
(used $.75/1 coupons from the 11/6 RP insert)

Tyson Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.49 lb

Hamburger Meat $1.29 lb

Marcal Bath Tissue $3.99
(used $1/1 coupons from the 11/6 RP insert)

Chinet Classic White paper plates 36 pack $1.79
(used $.55/1 coupons from the 11/20 SS insert)

Pepsi Max 12 pack cans $3.29
(used $.50/1 tearpad on product)

Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts 16 oz $1.99

Folgers Gourmet Selections Coffee $3.99
(used $1/1 coupon from the 11/13 RP insert)

Minute Maid Juice Boxes 10 pack $1.99
(used $1/1 printables no longer available)

Minute Maid 12 pack cans $3.29
(used $1/1 printables no longer available)

Welch's Grape Jelly 32 oz $1.69
(used $.55/1 coupons from an insert)

Green Giant Canned Veggies $.60
(used $.50/2 coupons from the 11/13 GM insert)

Smart Balance Milk $2.50
(used $1.50/1 printables from HERE)

Smart Balance Buttery Sticks $2.39
(used $1/1 coupons from the 11/20 SS insert)

**These aren't the only things I got - just some of the best deals. Each Commissary may have different prices and the prices change monthly.**

Starbucks & Fandango Deal Available Again

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

Plum District has the Starbucks & Fandango deal available again. For $28 you get a $20 Starbucks gift card and two Fandango movie tickets.

They have lots of good offers available.

Go HERE to get it.

Our Vacation

2011-12-29T17:49:00.003-05:00

I got a few emails asking where I went on vacation and if I had pics. You bet I do! My mother and father in law have a timeshare condo in Sevierville, Tennessee. Growing up we spent nearly every summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains camping out. I've been up there every season but at Christmastime. When my mother in law suggested this trip last January I was super excited. Our family, my sister in law and her family and my in laws all stayed in a 4 room condo. There was a total of 12 of us.

We left early Saturday morning and arrived just a little after dark - it was over a 6 hour trip for us. We stayed at Wilderness At The Smokies. This place was the bomb! It had an indoor water park that stays 80 degrees year round. When we got there Santa was in the lobby and the kids (except for my niece Whitney who doesn't do the whole Santa thing because he freaks her out) got their pics taken with T-Ma and Da (that's what the grandkids call them.) Santa then actually went and swam with all the kids in the park - how cool is that? But we were too pooped to go so we went to our room and ordered pizza.

On Sunday, we spent the whole day in the water park.

And the kiddos were some kind of tired.

When it got dark we went out to see the Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. For dinner we ate at the Cracker Barrel. Conner loves the wooden peg games.

On Monday we headed out to go snow tubing at Ober Gatlinburg, but it wasn't cold enough for the fake snow to stick. :o( So, we decided to go to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg instead. I was UBER excited that we got a 90% discount on admission with our Military ID's.

After spending a few hours at the aquarium we walked around Gatlinburg and ended up playing arcade games and chowing down on the world's best sausage dogs at Fannie Farkles. Our plan was to head over the mountain to see some Elk that come down the mountain to a river that we had heard about, but no one could actually tell us how to get there. It was getting mighty close to dark so we decided to try and make it to Cade's Cove. We got there too late to actually drive the loop, but we did see some wildlife right at the gate. Seeing a huge buck out in the field was pure torture for my hubby who's an avid hunter.

After admiring the wildlife and scenery we headed back into town and ate at No Way Jose's Cantina. They had the BEST Fajitas.

Tuesday morning was heading home time. We stopped in at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant to eat breakfast where I found a new favorite - Apple Fritters. I was some kind of glad that I could buy the mix to make it at home. Oh, and the Apple Butter they make is to die for! I'm sad to say that it tasted WAY better than mine.

Except for Tuesday we ate breakfast in the condo. When we go on vacation we budget for lunches and dinner out, but breakfast is easy to do in your room. We also brought our own snacks.

Post-Christmas Savings

2011-12-29T12:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, so you opened up all the Christmas presents and have a house full of stuff to show for it. Now what? Time to recover financially. If you didn't save up ahead of time chances are you have a chunk of change on a credit card or a depletion in your savings. It's never too late to start saving for next year nor is it too late to start living frugally.
Here are some good ways to start:

Save those bags (and boxes) from Christmas! If they're not torn and are in good shape re-use them next year. The cost of gift bags can add up in a hurry.

Hit the after Christmas clearance sales. It's much better to get it 75% off now than pay full price next year and you know you'll use it.

Figure out how much you want to spend on Christmas next year and start saving for it. If you want to spend about $400 set up a little savings account and put about $35 each month in it. I use my credits and money from surveys to help with our Christmas expenses.

Set up a monthly budget and stick to it. We use the printable form from HERE to set up our budget each month. We found that the envelope method works fine for us.

Plum District Deals

2011-12-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I love Plum District. Here are some deals you can take advantage of today:

~~For $28 get a $20 Starbucks Gift Card and two Fandango Movie Tickets~~

SOLD OUT

For $5 get a one year subscription to Good Housekeeping.

Get $20 towards Kid's Clothes at ThredUp for only $10

You'll also get a $5 credit for signing up under this link, but you can't use it on the above deals because they are "Plum Steals."

Savannah Area: 50% Off at Sonic

2011-12-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day you can get $10 to spend at Sonic for only $5. Only redeemable at these locations:

•Beaufort, South Carolina – Robert Smalls Parkway

•Beaufort, South Carolina – Sea Island Parkway

•Bluffton, South Carolina

•Hinesville

•Jesup

•Pooler

•Rincon

•Savannah – Highway 80 East

•Savannah – King George Boulevard

•Savannah – Montgomery Crossroads

•Savannah – Ogeechee Road

Expires July 4, 2012

Click on ALL DEALS tab to find it!

Go HERE to get it!

I'm Still Here...

2011-12-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

I know it's been quite a few days since I posted. Where have I been? First, we went on vacation, then there was the holiday rush and I was also dealing with a sick child. Now that things have slowed down I can catch up with my emails which have reached over 2,000. Geez...I'm seriously behind.

50% Off at Bayou Cafe

2011-12-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

For today only you can get $20 to spend at the Bayou Cafe on River Street for only $10! This would make an excellent gift!

Go HERE to get it!

Savannah Area: Movie Ticket Plus Popcorn Only $5

2011-12-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

This is a great deal! You can get a movie ticket and a 46 ounce popcorn to Eisenhower Square 6 Cinemas for only $5. Or you can get two movie tickets and two 46 ounce popcorns for only $10. Makes a GREAT Christmas gift as well.
I see a cheap date night in my near future!

The Fine Print:
Expires Apr 25, 2012
Limit 1 per person, may buy 3 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. Subject to availability. Extra fee for 3D movies.

Go HERE to get it!

Savannah Area: Two Tickets To Ice Skate For Only $7

2011-12-14T15:15:00.000-05:00

After spending the beginning of the holiday season on the ice, you learned that you lack the incredible talent of Sasha Cohen and Evan Lysacek. Before you abandon your aspirations of greatness, become a gold-medalist gift giver by wrapping up today's deal from Savannah Civic Center. Pay $7 for two tickets to Skatefest, and you and a friend will attend this annual event during the week of January 1 to 8 (a $14 value). Attend a 90-minute public skating session, and you'll glide gracefully (or not) across 20,000 square feet of ice while enjoying festive music and holiday décor.

Go HERE to purchase if you're already a member of Living Social.

Go HERE to sign up if you're not a member of Living Social.

I'm excited about this deal. I'm not very graceful at ice skating, but it sure is fun!

Confessions...

2011-12-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

I have a few confessions to make. It's good for the soul, right?

- I don't totally read through the magazines that I get. I thumb through them and stop to read only if a pic catches my attention.

- I have over 1,400 emails that I haven't read yet (some of them dating back to 2009)

- I hide stuff under my bed when I can't think of a place to put it.

- Sometimes I drink my coffee out of my son's Diego cup because I'm too lazy to wash my fave coffee cup.

Ok, I feel better now.

Kroger's Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-12-13T13:43:00.002-05:00

I'm a member of BzzAgent and when they contacted me and asked if I would like to try and review Kroger's Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies I said count me in! You had me at chocolate! Yes, I have a love affair with chocolate. I received two full size boxes and coupons to hand out.

First off, I'm a chewy cookie type person. Crumbly is good, but not as good as chewy. These cookies were of the crumbly sort. They were a bit dry at first, but then I read on the back of the box that they taste good heated in the microwave. So, I put my first cookie in for 5 seconds (my microwave is a monster and will burn down the house with a few seconds.) It did taste better, but still now chewy. However, the amount of chocolate chips totally made up for the lack of chewiness. There was a ton of chips and they were delicious.

I then grabbed a big glass of milk and went to town dunking my cookies. They were to die for. It was hard for me to share them after that. ;o) I have since purchased more and prefer to "dunk" them.
The suggested retail is $2.79, but I've seen them on sale for $2 each at my Kroger often.

I would post a picture of my face after downing a few of them, but it wasn't pleasant. I'm like a cave woman when it comes to chocolate - no table manners.

Disclosure: BzzAgent and Kroger sent me the cookies and coupons to try. All opinions and comments are of my own.

Dipping Into The Stockpile

2011-12-12T17:45:00.000-05:00

I have so much food saved up and decided a couple of weeks ago that I needed to use some of it. Today I was looking for something sweet and wondered what I had out in the freezer so I headed out to the garage and started moving things around and found this lovely guy:

Oh, yes, I am in love.

See that chocolate ganache on top? Oh-My-Goodness.

I totally forgot I had these in there. And you know what the best part is? They were only $.75 each after B1G1 and coupons (down from their $3.49 original price.)

Winner(s)!

2011-12-11T22:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks for playing everyone! My favorite Christmas movie has always been A Charlie Brown Christmas with Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer coming in a close second. I used Random.org to choose a winner.

The winner of the 5 free Redbox codes is commenter #1:

Lori said:

Without a doubt my favorite Christmas movie is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer... claymation version. It was fun to watch when i was a kid and even better now watching it with my girls!

However, I didn't want Lynn and Kris to go out empty handed. And because I'm resourceful I remembered that I had codes in some Fast Fixin' chicken nugget bags in the freezer. I headed out to the garage and found two bags with codes. So...both Lynn and Kris will get one free code each as well.

I already have Lynn's email address, but I need Lori and Kris to email me (ameej1978@gmail.com) so I can get your codes to you!

If You Need Me Today...

2011-12-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

I can be found here...

This is what happens when you don't do laundry for 2 days in this house.

(Oh, and I forgot to get the clothes out of Mitch's basket upstairs.)

Dollar Tree Finds

2011-12-10T15:49:00.001-05:00

I love to make a trip to our local Dollar Tree. I load up the buggy with goodies because Hey! It's all $1 or less! Granted some things can be found elsewhere for a few cents cheaper, but the Dollar Tree can make Holiday celebrations more affordable. I found these goodies and they were all $1 each. I also loaded up on several loaves of Nature's Own bread, wrapping paper, bags and scotch tape.

The toothpaste is going in the kids stockings. Yes, I have children that get excited about different flavored toothpaste. You can place the chocolate covered pretzels in a cute little bowl for a nice festive treat at a party. I'll use the brownie mix to make brownie bites. And the Piroulines can be placed in a cute Christmas coffee mug. Pretty affordable way to add cheer to your table.

Be creative and have fun...that's what it's really all about.

Quick Giveaway - 5 Free Redbox Codes

2011-12-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

You know what I love during the holidays? Snuggling up on the couch with my honey and kiddos watching a good Christmas movie. I'm giving away 5 free Redbox Codes to one of my readers! And all you have to do leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Christmas movie is. Easy peasy! I'm not messing around with bonus entries with this one because it's a quick giveaway, but if you do "Like" me on Facebook I will love, love, love you! :o)

I will randomly choose a winner Sunday night (December 11.) I will email the codes to the winner. All codes are for $1 off a DVD rental and expire 12-31-11.

It's a Rainy Day

2011-12-07T17:23:00.000-05:00

It's a rainy day here. Oh, how I love a good rainy day. Wanna know what we do on rainy days? We make cookies out of our uber cheap cookie dough.

Tastiness.

Printable Grocery Store Coupons

2011-12-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print the following coupons for Harveys:

- $1.00 Off One (1) Pack Oreo Cookies

- $1.00 Off One (1) Bag Harveys Brand Frozen Biscuits

- $2.00 Off Three (3) Bags Kraft Shredded Cheese

- $1.00 Off One (1) Bag Russet Potatoes

Go HERE to print the following coupon for Food Lion:

- Save $1.00 on Nestlé Candy Cane Box

Go HERE to log into your Earth Fare account and print a coupon for a free Earth Fare Organic Sugar Brown or White with $5 purchase.

$10 Credit at Rue La La

2011-12-02T15:43:00.000-05:00

If you sign up thru the link HERE you get $10 to spend at Rue La La. They have tons of great gift ideas. Like the below pictured Vera Bradley Mailbox Stationery Desk Set. It's on sale for $15.90 - making it only $5.90 after credit.

Hurry, this offer is only available until 12/8!

Savannah Area: 50% Off at Ryan's Steakhouse

2011-12-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

Savannah's Daily Deal for today (and thru the weekend) is 50% off at Ryan's on Stephenson Ave. Get $40 to spend or only $20.

Fine Print:

•Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Deals, Offers, or Promotions

•No Cash Back

•Must Be Redeemed in Full

•Gratuity Not Included

•Expires 6/4/2012

Go HERE to get it!

Good Deal on Dress Up Clothes

2011-12-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

Zulily has Rubie's dress up clothes at up to 55% off. Madison LOVES to dress up and these are the best prices I've seen on quality clothes. I'm thinking she's going to love opening these up on Christmas morning.

Go HERE to check them out.

The below pictured Yellow & Purple Winter Fairy costume is priced at $13.99 down from $25

The below pictured Pink Ballerina Dress is $14.99 down from $35

Weekend Activities

2011-12-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

Lowes Build and Grow - Saturday 12/3

Take the kiddos to Lowe's on Saturday and build a Caboose.

Home Depot Kids Workshop - Saturday 12/3

Take the kiddos to Home Depot to build a Snowman Napkin Holder.

Bass Pro Shops

Visit Santa's Wonderland to get a free picture with Santa, play games and do free crafts.

25% Off at The Children's Place

2011-12-01T08:56:00.000-05:00

The Children's Place is taking 25% off everything for their Friends & Family event. Use the code FRIEND for online purchases. Shipping is a flat $5 or free with $75 purchase or if you use your Place Card.

Valid thru 12/4

Plus, thru December 15th you can earn $20 Place Cash to be used on your next purchase of $40 or more for each $40 you spend.

Shop thru Ebates to get 2.5% cash back and get $5 just for signing up!

12 Days of Godiva

2011-12-01T08:34:00.001-05:00

Mmm...chocolate. Visit Godiva.com daily today through 12/12 for their one day only holiday offers. Today's deal is the Belgian Chocolate Appreciation Gifts for $40 (reg. $50.) It includes two 19 piece Holiday Ballotins.

Use the code HOLLY to get $5 flat rate shipping with $59 order or use code MERRY to get free shipping with $60 order.

(I'm thinking you should spend the extra $1 to get the free shipping.)

You also get a free $10 Reward Card for each $50 you spend.

Shop thru Ebates to get 4% cash back and get $5 just for signing up!

25 Days of Christmas - Disney Movie Rewards Points

2011-12-01T08:25:00.000-05:00

Disney Movie Rewards members can earn 5 points daily from 12/1 to 12/25!

Just visit ABC Family's 25 Days Of Christmas home page starting TODAY, and click on the Disney Movie Rewards logo – it's that easy!

12 Days of Gifting at Starbucks

2011-12-01T08:06:00.000-05:00

If you've got a family of Starbucks lovers like I do then I'm sure you'd like to know that Starbucks has started their 12 Days of Gifting. Each day for 12 days they're offering a deal. Today's deal is $1 off Hot Cocoa or Hot Cocoa Sampler. These offers are available online and in stores.

New Month = New Coupons

2011-12-01T07:59:00.000-05:00

It's the start of a new month and for us in the couponing world that means new coupons! Get them before they're gone:

$.50/5 Spaghettios

$1/1 Minute Maid Juice Boxes

$1/1 Minute Maid 12 pack cans

$1/2 Stash Teas

$.55/1 Odwalla 12 oz

$.75/1 Pillsbury Funfetti Whoopie Pie Kit

$1.50/1 Maalox Advanced

$1/1 Hormel Refrigerated Entree

Betty Crocker

Pillsbury

Eat Better America

Smart Source

50% Off at McDonalds

2011-12-01T06:56:00.000-05:00

Travel from Florida to Alaska and the landscape and accents may change, but one thing stays the same: the Big Mac. This holiday season, give those on your wish list a gift they'll really savor. Pay just $13 and receive one voucher booklet good for five Big Mac sandwiches and five large fries that can be shared and redeemed at any participating McDonald's in the US during multiple visits (a $26 value). There are few things as quintessentially American as sinking your teeth into a juicy beef patty topped with pickles and onions... on top of another juicy beef patty with rich, American cheese. Add in lettuce, special sauce, and McDonald's "World Famous Fries," and you have the perfect stocking stuffer for friends and family everywhere.

Go HERE to get it.

Read The Fine Print

2011-11-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

There are several websites that offer you a credit to join their site. However, some of these websites do not advise you up front that the credit is only good on a minimum purchase. They simply tell you that you have money waiting for you in your account in order to get you signed up. Although they may still be good deals it is still misleading. Always thoroughly check the site before signing up!

Wrapping Paper

2011-11-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

Us couponers usually get the Sunday paper and a few of them at that. So, why not hang onto those Sunday comics and use them to wrap a few gifts in? I know it won't wrap big stuff, but it would work fine with smaller gifts. I do it each year.

Updated Bonus Card List

2011-11-30T09:03:00.000-05:00

I updated the Bonus Card list with a few more offers.

Go HERE to check them out.

Printable Grocery Store Coupons

2011-11-30T06:25:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print the following coupons for Food Lion:

- Save $1.00 on one (1) Vlasic Product

- Save $0.55 on any one (1) Sargento Cheese

- Save $1.00 on Stouffer's Farmer's Harvest

- Save $1.00 on Stouffer's Lasagna (90-96 oz)

Go HERE to print the following coupons for Harveys:

- $1.00 Off One (1) Vlasic Product

- $0.55 Off One (1) Sargento Cheese

- $1.00 Off One (1) Stouffer's Farmer's Harvest

- $1.00 Off One (1) Stouffer's Lasagna (90-96 oz)

**Remember to check with your local Publix to see if they consider either of these stores a competitor.**

B1G1 World Market Coffee 11/30

2011-11-29T13:57:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow World Market will have their 12 oz coffees B1G1. There's a limit of 5 free bags per customer.

They will also have non-paper cups and gift sets B1G1.

Valid 11/30 only

$12 For Two Fandango Movie Tickets - Available Again

2011-11-29T11:50:00.000-05:00

They've added more inventory and are offering it again.

Go HERE to get two movie tickets on Fandango for only $12. That's 50% off.
If you want them hurry before they sell out again.

We Have A Winner!

2011-11-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone who entered the Carmex Giveaway. We have a winner! I used Random.org to choose a winner.

Congrats to:

littleangel_mw said...

I love their carmex in a jar (lip stuff). It works really well to soothe the dryness quickly.

Little Angel, I've sent you a message. Send me your address so we can get your prize pack to you!

The First Time In Years

2011-11-29T09:48:00.000-05:00

For the first time in at least 10 years I missed my very first Black Friday. Gasp. Yes, the queen of all frugalness did not drag herself out to the stores and partake in the dark side of shopping. In the past I have gotten up and went shopping with a cold, the flu, laryngitis, bronchitis and burning up with a fever. I refuse to miss a good deal. For some reason I always get sick this time of year and this year was no different. I had a virus - one that definitely kept me out of long lines. So, with a sad heart I missed out on a family tradition this year. The tradition of acting like an insane person to save a few bucks.

However, I did not miss out on the deals. I shopped from the comfort of my own home Yep, that's right. I got everything that I had on my shopping list online. I got the $49 Christmas tree from Home Depot (our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree has injured during the move), gifts from Wally World and toys from Toys R Us - all shipped FREE. Most of the deals listed in the sale papers were available online. Plus, I got cash back from shopping through Ebates.

50% Off at Old Navy

2011-11-26T11:57:00.000-05:00

Groupon is offering $20 to spend at Old Navy for only $10 today.

Look under Grouponicus gifts.

Go HERE get it before they sell out!

Free 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens

2011-11-23T16:29:00.000-05:00

Use the code RGIFT2U to get a free 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens.

Valid thru 11/25

Choose in store pick up to avoid shipping charges.

Amish Friendship Bread

2011-11-23T15:07:00.000-05:00

My hubby came home from work one day with a plastic baggy containing something that looked like mush. On the bag it said "Day 1, Sunday 11/13." I was instantly intrigued because, unlike myself, my hubby isn't much of the science experimental type. He read the look on my face and said that a lady from work sent it to me - that it was called "Amish Friendship Bread." He then handed me a sheet that gave precise directions on how to make the bread and share it with others. It was going to take 10 days to make. I looked at him and said "Well, you know I'll screw it up." He just smiled and said "I think it'll be ok." Each day I followed the directions and babied my little bag until Day 10 came around and then I made four baggies to give away as starters to friends and family and made two large loaves of the bread. It was delicious.

I know you're thinking what on Earth does this have to do with Frugal Living? Actually, I thought that this Amish Friendship Bread idea was a fantastic idea for the Christmas holidays. And since you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry anyway it wouldn't cost a whole lot. The sheet that came with the starter said that you can only get the starter recipe from the Amish and you can't make your own. I didn't believe this for one second because you can find just about anything online these days. I set to Googling and wouldn't you know I found the recipe. (sorry if this ruins the fun for some)

If you would like to start your own Amish Friendship Bread chain you can find the starter recipe HERE along with the directions.

2 Fandango Movie Tickets For $12

2011-11-23T10:27:00.000-05:00

Groupalicious is offering two movie tickets through Fandango for only $12 (reg. $24.) Great way to see Breaking Dawn!

Go HERE to get it.

Bridesmaids DVD $5.99

2011-11-21T13:32:00.000-05:00

Amazon has the new Bridesmaids movie for only $5.99 - if you want it get it before the price goes up.

B1G1 50% Off Plus Free Shipping at Coldwater Creek

2011-11-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

Coldwater Creek is offering B1G1 50% off on everything using the code WZH2831.

Valid thru 11/28

Plus, until December 20th they are offering free shipping on any size order.

The pictured Relaxed V-neck Sweater is on clearance for $16.99 - making it only

Shop thru Ebates to get 2% cash back and get $5 just for signing up!

$2 For 5 Blockbuster Express Rentals

2011-11-19T10:05:00.000-05:00

Groupon is offering 5 Blockbuster Express rentals for only $2. They're usually $1 each rental - each night.

Go HERE to get it.

Publix Trip

2011-11-18T20:46:00.000-05:00

We stopped in at Publix tonight to pick up a few things:

(2) I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Sticks B1G1 $3.69
(used $1.50/1 printables from HERE)
made them $.34 and $.35 each

(2) Gold Medal Flour $1.99
(used $.50/1 printables that are no longer available - doubled to $1/1)
made them $.99 each

(2) Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce $.99
(used $1/2 printables from HERE)

(2) Cool Whip B1G1 $1.69
made them $.84 and $.85 each

(2) Degree Deodorant B1G1 $2.23
(used $1/1 printables from HERE)
made them $.11 and $.12 each

(2) Philly Cream Cheese $1.25 each

(2) Betty Crocker Muffin Mix $1.50 each
(used $1.10/2 printable from HERE)
made them $.95 each

Total before sales & coupons: $31.11
Paid: $9.97

50% Off at The Lady & Sons

2011-11-18T09:22:00.000-05:00

Yay! Today's deal for Savannah is 50% off at The Lady & Sons. Get $20 to spend for only $10! For those not familiar with this restaurant it belongs to Paula Deen. I love that place!

Go HERE to get it.

$5 Off $25 Coupon For Dollar General 11/19

2011-11-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print a coupon for $5 off your $25 purchase at Dollar General.

Valid 11/19 only

I Just Cashed In

2011-11-17T13:38:00.000-05:00

I just cashed in on several of the survey sites that I use and will be finishing up Christmas and putting some towards our vacation in a few weeks:

MySurvey - I requested a $20 check.

InboxDollars - I requested a $29.55 check. I had $32.55 in my account. You have to have $30 in your account to request payment and they take $3 out for processing. But they give you $5 just to sign up and they put $3 right back into your account as a payment bonus.

Opinion Outpost - I got $29 in Amazon Credits. You have to have 50 points to request Amazon Credits or 100 to request a $10 payment into your PayPal account.

Mindfield Online - I got $24 in Amazon Credits. You can also request a check. You only have to have $5 to cash out.

SurveySpree - I got $25 in Amazon Credits. You get $5 just for signing up.

I also have money in my SurveySavvy account but I'm going to wait to cash out. You can cash out at anytime with SurveySavvy.

So, doing surveys and searching on Swagbucks this year has more than paid for Christmas and probably my vacation - depending on how much we spend.

OshKosh B'gosh Coupon

2011-11-17T13:26:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print a coupon for 20% off your $40 purchase at OshKosh B'gosh stores.

Valid thru 11/23

5 Pampers Gifts To Grow Points

2011-11-17T12:26:00.000-05:00

Enter the code HOLIDAYGIFT2011 to get 5 free points in the Pampers Gifts To Grow program.

Carter's Coupon

2011-11-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Carter's PJ's are B1G1 this weekend and they also have Holiday Dressing up to 60% off.

Go HERE to print a coupon for 20% off your $40 purchase.

Valid thru 11/23

B1G1 PJ Pals & Nightshirts at The Disney Store

2011-11-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

I LOVE PJ Pals and I was excited to open an email from the Disney Store this morning saying that they're B1G1 with the code SWEETDREAMS.

Valid thru 11/20

Shipping is free with $75 order using the code SHIPTODAY.

You can use both of these codes together!

Shop thru Ebates to get 8% cash back and get $5 just for signing up!

Cultivate Peace In The World Necklace Only $4 Today Only

2011-11-17T06:51:00.000-05:00

The Rainforest Site has the Cultivate Peace In The World Necklace for only $4 down from $14.95. This purchase also preserves 1,145 square feet of rainforest land.

Use the code HARVEST to take $10 off your $50 purchase.

Cici's Coupon

2011-11-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print a coupon for 2 buffets and 2 drinks for $10.99 at Cici's Pizza.

Bonus Card Time!

2011-11-16T12:38:00.023-05:00

It's that time of year again...Bonus Card Time. Here's a list of companies that are offering a little "extra something" for purchasing their Gift Cards this holiday season:

I'll be updating this list as I find new deals so you may want to bookmark this page and check back!

Bonefish Grill - get a bonus $20 Gift Card when you purchase $100 in gift cards. Plus, get an entry into their 12 Days of Happiness Sweepstakes.

LL Bean - get a bonus $10 gift card with your $50 purchase

Outback - get a bonus $20 gift card when you purchase $100 in gift cards

Carrabbas - get a bonus $20 gift card when you purchase $100 in gift cards. Plus, get an entry to win $5,000

Sonny's BBQ - get a bonus $10 gift card when you purchase $50 in gift cards. Plus, get an entry to win a race of a lifetime experience.

Steak n' Shake - get a free $5 certificate when you purchase $20 in gift cards.

California Pizza Kitchen - get a bonus $20 gift card when you purchase $100 in gift cards.

IHOP - get $5 off your next order when you purchase a $25 IHOP Gift Card.

Joes Crab Shack - get $5 in bonus bucks when you purchase $25 in gift cards

The Children's Place - get a $10 eGift Card when you purchase $40 in eGift Cards

Cici's Pizza - Get a free buffet with each $20 in gift card purchase

Kroger - Get 4X Fuel Points when you purchase gift cards at Kroger.

Applebees - Get a free $10 Bonus Card when you purchase $50 in gift cards

Godiva - Get a bonus $10 Rewards Card for each $50 spent Mmm...I love me some chocolate.

Macaroni Grill - Get a $5 bonus card with each $25 Gift Card purchased.

Texas Roadhouse - Get $5 off a future visit when you purchase $30 in gift cards.

Barnes & Noble - Get a free $10 gift card with each $100 worth of gift cards purchase.

Ruby Tuesday - get a $15 bonus coupon with purchase of $50 in gift cards

Chuck E Cheese - get 20 free tokens for each $25 in gift cards purchased

Cheesecake Factory - get a free slice of cheesecake when you purchase $25 in gift cards

Ruth's Chris - get a $25 bonus card with each $100 gift card purchase

Captain D's - get a $3 coupon for each $20 gift card purchase (in store only)

Printable Grocery Store Coupons

2011-11-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print the following coupons for Food Lion:

- Save $1.00 on any two (2) Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese or Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dinners (any variety 9.4-14 oz)

- Save $1.00 on any two (2) Kraft Dressing (16 oz)

- Save $1.00 on any Maxwell House Coffee (11-11.5 oz)

- Save $1.00 on any Coffee-mate Powder Flavors (15 oz)

Go HERE to print the following coupons for Harveys:

- $1.00 Off Two (2) Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese or Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dinners 9.4-14 oz

- $1.00 Off Two (2) Kraft Dressing 16 oz

- $1.00 Off One (1) Maxwell House Coffee 11-11.5 oz

- $1.00 Off One (1) Coffee-mate Powder Flavors 15 oz

Go HERE to log into your Earth Fare account and print a coupon for free Stemilt Braeburn Apples

Holiday Taste of Sam's Club

2011-11-16T11:10:00.001-05:00

Sam's Club will be having their Holiday Taste of Sam's Club event this weekend. Starting Friday 11/18 you can sample holiday favorites that are available for purchase at Sam's.

Go HERE to check out the calendar.

$1.50 Off 2 Breyer's Products Coupon

2011-11-16T06:44:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to print a coupon for $1.50 off two (2) Breyer's products.

Look down at the bottom of page for banner.

Printable Egg Coupon

2011-11-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

Head over HERE and become a "liker" to print a coupon for $.55 off two dozens of eggs.

Share Your Delight

2011-11-14T10:53:00.000-05:00

Look for the bright red scarf adorning the delicious line of International Delight seasonal flavors and each time you register the UPC code HERE, they'll make a donation of $.50 to either Toys for Tots or Coats for Kids up to a maximum donation of $100,000 per charity. It's that easy!

50% Off 2 Movie Tickets at Fandango

2011-11-14T10:40:00.000-05:00

Saveology has two Fandango movie tickets for only $12 (reg. $24.) If you want them you'll need to hurry they always sell out fast.

Go HERE to get it.

50% Off at Western Sizzlin'

2011-11-13T10:03:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day to get 50% off at Western Sizzlin' in Pooler, Ga. Get $20 to spend for only $10. We love to eat there! They have an awesome buffet.

Go HERE to get it!

Publix Trip

2011-11-12T15:45:00.000-05:00

Here's what I got at Publix today:

(7) New York Texas Toast B1G1 $2.59
(used $.50/1 coupons from the Commissary - doubled to $1/1)
made them $.29 each

(3) Lucky Charms Cereal B1G1 $3.14
(used $.50/1 printables from HERE - doubled to $1/1)
made them $.57 each

(2) Nestle Chocolate Morsels B1G1 $3.15
(used $1/2 printable from HERE)
(used $.50/1 competitor coupon)
made them $.82 & $.83 each

(3) Nestle Cookie Dough B1G1 $2.89
(used $1.25/2 printable from HERE)
(used $.75/1 coupon - not sure where it came from)
made them $.78 each

(5) Campbell's Cream of Mushroom & Cream of Chicken Soups B1G1 $1.33
(used $1/5 printable from HERE)
made them $.46 and $.47 each

Total before coupons & sales: $49.17
Paid: $10.89

I also got rainchecks for the Hunt's tomatoes and Smart Balance milks because they were out of the kinds that I like.

Santa's Wonderland is Open at Bass Pro Shops

2011-11-11T13:17:00.000-05:00

Each year Bass Pro Shops open up Santa's Wonderland with tons of fun activities for the little ones. Now thru December 24th you can get a free 4x6 picture with Santa. Go HERE for your store's schedule. They're giving out free Santa Bands everyday and have fun crafts for the kids each week. This week they're making a Popsicle Santa (thru 11/13.)