Freebies

Free cappuccino at Barnes & Noble for all you coffee lovers:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nav.asp?r=1&PID=24816&r=1

Free samples from Walmart:
http://walmart.triaddigital.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx

Free printable Pumpkin stencils:
http://www.huggieshappybaby.com/tools/games/pumpkinstencils.aspx?d=1&_nc=633583849487393823&_nockcheck=true&_nc=633598612903724402&_nockcheck=true

Free Always and Tampax samples:
http://www.beinggirl.com/en_US/sampling_teen.jsp

Free sample of Tide Total Care:
http://www.univision.com/contentroot/uol/10portada/content/jhtml/tide/NOMETA_tide_sweeps.jhtml

Free Garnier Wrinkle Treatment...not that any of my readers need that....
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid56658.aspx

Free sample of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn cakes (I recieved these and they are mighty tasty):
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid52190.aspx


Plenty more where these came from so get started!!!!

Fun and inexpensive things to do this Fall

Fall is my very favorite time of the year. The cooler weather is just what I need after our scorching summers. I love the colors and even the smell of the outdoors during the fall months. So I have found many things to entertain myself during this time of year but now I have a pretty active toddler and one starting on that same path so I have devoted some time to thinking of ways that they, as well, can be entertained in the season between wearing shorts to wearing snow boots. And in true deals on the side fashion....all of these things are either free or very inexpensive.

• Take pictures. I, personally, love taking pictures. This is a great season to do that because it is so beautiful. Get your children involved. My kids are hams and want all the attention of having thier picture taken. And what better background than that of these wonderful warm colors. Plus, there are tons of projects they can help with after the pictures are printed, such as, making fall frames with paper, glue, leaves, acorns, glitter. Get creative! The best crafts you have in the fall are out lying on the ground.

• Take the family to your local pumpkin patch. This is a great outing even if your kids are small. I have pictures of Jillian last year, just over one year old, having a blast. She of coarse wanted to pick up the biggest pumpkin she could find. Take your time and let them play. The owners wont care one bit.

• Build a HUGE pile of leaves and play in them! C'mon parents...you know you want to! You have to rake the leaves anyway, so you might as well make it fun, right?

• Decorate your pumpkins and gords. What you can do really depends on the age of your child. We plan on carving one and letting Jilli decorate one herself with some crayons and markers. Just make sure babies dont get ahold of the pumpkin seeds...my kids are famous for it!

• Make a scarecrow - I found this site that guides you through it and you can get away with it for free if you use stuff lying around the house. http://www.kidsturncentral.com/crafts/scarecrows.htm

• On rainy or too cold days you could make fall treats. bettycrocker.com and kraftfoods.com have some good ideas out right now. Of coarse, let the kids help, or in my case, she thinks she's helping ;)

• Packing away summer clothes, as sad as it is, doesn't have to be just a sad chore. My daughter likes to make every clothing experience a fashion show. And her sister is following in her footsteps. Something about underwear on your head seems to be particularly funny!

• Take a nature walk. Most areas have at least one nature walks or paths close by. This is a great free way to spent outdoor time with the family. I usually combine this with taking pictures as well.

Ok, I may end up adding to this but that's all I have for now. I would love for anyone to add on in the comments. Tell me what your favorite fall activities are.

Sam's Club Membership Just $10 for 10 Weeks!

Thanks to my friend at Just Living Life here is a great deal for anyone who wants to wander around Sam's Club, but has'nt gotten a membership yet.
*TIP* If you time your Sam's Club trip just right you could fill up on free vendor samples.

Starting tomorrow Oct 17th and through Oct 26, Sam's Club is offering a ten week membership for $10 to families and businesses who are not currently members.

For more info on this promo click here.

Meijer shopping trip 10/16/08

I went to Meijer last night after the kids went to bed (Jerry was here of coarse!) and I did quite well. I listed most of the deals I was after already but there were a couple that I found once I got there as well.

mac & cheese on sale 2/$1

I mentioned FREE South Beach cereal bars with this coupon, but also you get a $2 off your next order hosted by Kraft. So that means $2.00 overage!!!!

I got my free jello, free Taco Bell taco shells, and 7 boxes of Kellogg cereal for $1/box as listed below along with everything else I listed (and a little more).

Oh, for anyone who has the $2/1 Endust Free coupons...they are still half price $1.74 which not only makes them free but gives you .26 to put towards other things! Hurry up though, last week they flew off the shelves so I was supprised to see them there and still on sale. Unfortunately I was unprepared so if I want free Endust I will have to venture back out today. And if I do, I'm picking up some more mac & cheese.

Sorry, no pictures, too much in this trip and I needed to get the cold stuff put away.

Grand total spent $38.39
Grand total saved $110.03

$24.00 of my saved was from my $4 oyno from the Glade deal I mentioned below. Oh, and what popped out of the catalina machine:

$2 off your next order coupon (from Kraft)
coupon for FREE Campbell's Select Harvest soup!!!
$1 off 6 cans of Campbell's Select Harvest soup
$1 off 3 V8 Splash or V8 Splash-Smoothies

Giveaways Galore!

Stop by Freebies4mom.com this week for thier 1 year anniversary!!! Heather is hosting 14 days of 14+ giveaways starting today. She is starting out with a chance to win one of 2 $10 gift certificates to Baskin Robbins. Just a first and last name and an email address gets you a chance to win! I can't wait to see what else she has in store.

Dumpster Diving...LOL!

Well, I've heard of this "dumpster diving" and have to admit that I never thought I would actually go THAT far. I have, although, told my husband a few times about my reading about it. So last night on our trip to the recycling place he walks up to the newpaper dumpster and starts going thru them!!! "What are you doing?" I asked him. He said, "Well, you want coupons...there's coupons in here....so I'll get them for you." What a sweetheart. I think deep down he is more excited than he would like to admit about this recent transformation of how we spend our money. So it wasnt that bad anyway. We have a fairly clean newspaper dumpster and it was full enough that we just had to stand over the edge and fish papers out. Great way to get free coupons!!!!

Meijer Deals - Week of 10/12-10/18

There are some great deals at Meijer this week. I'm going to list some of the things I plan on getting with the coupon matches because I'm affraid, with my sick kids, if I wait until I am able to go then you will miss out on these deals.


Free Jell-O!!
.63/4 serving box
$1.50/2 in the meijer mealbox
= Free I dont know if they give you overage on Meijer coupons but if they do that would be a .24 overage!!

Taco Bell Meal Kits or Salsa
Salsa costs $1.85
$1.50/1 in the meijer mealbox
= .35
Taco shells cost $1.30
$1.50/1 in the meijer mealbox
= Free plus possible overage of .20

Miracle Whip 2/$5
$2/2 in the meijer mealbox
= 2/$3 or $1.50 each

Aveeno products - FREE!
read about it here
*EDITED* Word on this is that not all meijers are printing the $3 oyno's...check with your meijer.

South Beach Cereal Bars -FREE!
read about it here

Kellogg's Cereal 3/$6
$1/1 coupons here it will let you print up to 6!!
or here
= $1 each

V8 Spash 3/$5
$1/2 (sunday insert)
= $1.17 each if you buy 2

DanActive 4 pac 2/$4
$1/1 (sunday insert)
= $1 each

Campbell's V8 Soup 2/$4
$1/1 (sunday insert)
= $1 each

Nestle Juicy Juice 4/$9
$1/1 (found on the internet...havent found link yet)
=$1.25 each

Tyson Boneless/Skinless chicken breasts
= $4.99 (no coupon...just good sale)

Green Giant boxed or bagged Steamers 5/$5
There are a ton of $1/1 coupons out there try this one
I will also be using some .50/2 insert coupons because my meijer is doubling coupons up to .50 this week!
= .50-FREE!!!

There were coupons for all of the Campbell soups on sale in the last weeks paper. Here are the ones I will be using this week.

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup 10/$6
$.40/4
= .50 each (or .40 each if your meijer is doubling this week)

Campbell's Canned Pasta without meat (SpagehettiO's) 6/$3
$.40/2
= .30 each (or .10 each if your meijer is doubling this week)


What's more is the 4 $4 off your next order coupons I will be using towards this order because of the Glade Scented Oil Warmers Deal:
For every Glade Plugin Scented Oil Warmer you buy (usually around $4.76) you get a $4 oyno that pops out at your sale. Use the B1G1 (sunday insert) and get both $4 oyno coupons!!! So that's a money maker!!! Read more about it here.

WALGREENS

Week of 10/12 - 10/18

Transaction #1

3 Dimetapp - 3.99 each (sale)

$2/1 here x3

I used a $2 RR from last week

=4.69 oop (out of pocket)

Recieved $10 RR from Dimetapp

Transaction #2

3 Robitussin - 3.99 each (sale)

$2/1 here

2 Lindt chocolate bars - 2.29 each

B1G1 (sunday insert)

.75/1 (sunday insert)

$1/1 ESC (should take off $2)

= FREE + .46 overage!!!

4 Bounty Basics Paper towel - .89 w/walgreens coupon (in circular)

$1/2 x 2

= .39 each

2 Lysol Wipes - $3.79 each B1G1 sale

$1/2 (sunday insert)

= $1.40 each

I used my $10 RR from Transaction #1

= $1.02 oop

Recieved $10 RR from Robitussin

Transaction #3

2 Lysol Wipes - $3.79 each B1G1

$1/2 (sunday insert)

= $1.40 each

2 Bounty Basic paper towels - .89 w/walgreens coupon (in circular)

$1/2

= .39 each

2 Bic Comfort 3 disposable razors - 3.99

$2/1 x2 (sunday inserts)

$1/1 ESC (should take $2 off)

= .99 each

2 Benefiber Strawberry-kiwi individually wrapped - $7.99 each

$2/1 x2 (sunday inserts)

$5/1 ESC (should take off $10)

= .99 each

Used my $10 RR from Transaction #2

= $.34 oop

Total Spent - $6.05

Total Saved - $80.82

TARGET

Week of 10/12-10/18

2 Kashi cereals - Sale 3/$8
$2/1 here
makes them .66 each

3 Smiley Grip children's toothbrush w/Crest toothpaste .99
$1/1 Crest kids toothpaste (sunday insert)
makes them FREE plus .01 overage!!!

16 Soyjoy bars (one is missing. Jilli got hungry in the store ;))
Price Cut from .94 to .47
B1G1 (sunday insert)
$2/10 bars (sunday insert)
$3/5 bars here
makes them FREE to .27

Spent $3.05
Saved $21.13

The Beginning

Ok, my first blog! Please remember I am a beginner. I guess what I am going to state here is why I am blogging in the first place. I have just recently entered the wonderful world of coupons! I know, I know, coupons are something you remember your grandma clipping while she sat at her dinning room table and smoked a cigarette (ok, maybe that was just my grandma). But, really, most people compare coupons with grannies. WRONG!! I now compare couponing with extremely intelligent people. How many times have you walked out of your local grocery store with buyers remorse? As the price of products are going up more and more people are starting to wonder how they will survive on their set grocery budgets. How about this, how many times have you looked into your fridge to , instead, have your fridge looking back at you looking as empty as your stomach feels? My family will no longer have that problem. I have not only cut my grocery budget (as if we had one) in at least half, but I have been able to stockpile many items that my family uses on a regular basis. All of this spending less than we used to spend in one shopping trip at times. So from now on I will be posting my deals on here. Enjoy!