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4/30/08

What's New At Our House

Our family is music lovers. My husband is a wonderful drummer and used to play in bar bands all over. There are times I miss getting to go and see him play. *sigh*

Anyways, boy wonder has been wanting Guitar Hero for his play station since way before Christmas. It was number 2 on his list to Santa. Well it did not fit into Santa's plans for Christmas this past year. Our Christmas was very simple and frugal.

I explained to boy that Guitar Hero would not happen unless it was important enough to him, for him to make it happen by saving his allowances, Christmas money, doing extra chores/jobs. He has saved his allowances, done odd jobs for his grandparents, father and I, begged when he had half the money, brought his grades up to all A's and a couple of B's, begged some more, done some more odd jobs.... lol, you get the picture.

Needless to say he was really proud when he walked into the store, (after he hounded out the best price around for 20 miles) and was able to buy his beloved Guitar Hero with his own money, most of which was hard earned.

The three of us have had some great family fun competing against each other.


4/26/08

Tag! You're It. 3 Random Things About Me

I've been tagged by Ginger at Attention Target Shoppers for a meme. Although I only get to shop at Target once in a while, I still find information over there usueful to me. Anyways, back to the tag, I have to write three random things about myself.

The rules for '3 Random Things':
1. Post 3 random things about yourself.
2. Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
3. Tag at least 5 other bloggers.
4. Let them know you've tagged them by commenting on their blog with an invite to participate.

THREE RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME
1. I'm very disorganized. No matter how hard I try to get organized, I'm not. I waste a lot of time "searching" for things and "searching" for ways to get organized.

2. I collect cookbooks. My favorites are from the church fundraisers. Those women knew how to cook!

3. I HATE HATE HATE shopping. So to make it more enjoyable to me, I've turned it into a game. I try to only buy things on sale and with coupons and strive to get them for FREE or as close to FREE as I can.

Here, in no specific order, is the 5 I am tagging:

AJ @
Coupon Girl

Annie @
Real Life Living

Shelly @
The Life I Live

Precious @
Frugal Makes Cents

Amiyrah @
4 Hats and Frugal

I love these blogs. Be sure to give them a visit. I get so much out of them from dinner ideas to insprirations to be a better mom, wife and household manager. They've taught me to not dread shopping, cooking or meal planning.

4/25/08



Cooking with Anne and Lots of Kids are hosting a 5 for $5 dinner challenge. No, running through Arby's drive through wont qualify! Plan a complete meal for 5 people for $5 or less. To join in on the fun, check it out HERE.

My menu plan is based on me buying my groceries mainly from Thriftway and will be for 5 adults.

Meatloaf, Baked Potato, Buttered Corn and for dessert Wacky Cake. Here's the breakdown.

Meatloaf
1 lb hamburger 1.29
1 lb ground turkey 1.00 (always on sale in the 10/$10 sale)
1 egg .12
1 sm can tomato sauce .20
1 c. Italian bread crumbs .25
TOTAL $2.86

Baked Potatoes
2 lbs potatoes .66 (on sale this week for .33 lb)

Buttered Corn
2 cans .80 (always on sale for 5 for $2.00, I usually can even get them cheaper)

Grand Total $4.32

Wanna add a dessert? I always have all the ingredients for this quick cake in my pantry. I'm not sure how to cost this out or if you have to since it's all pantry stuff.

Wacky Cake
2/3 c oil
½ c cocoa
3 c flour
2 c sugar
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 Tbl vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
2 c cold water
Mix all in ungreased/unfloured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Cool then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

So I feel confident I could serve 5 adults the above menu any day of the week for $5. The meatloaf is a big meatloaf.

4/22/08

Frugal Living Tip - 11 Ways to Be an Earth-Friendly Couple

Here is an article I ran across and thought it was good information. My comments showing my hubby and I’s status on these 11 things are in red. Have you done any of these things to shrink your carbon foot-print? If so, tell me about them.

11 Ways to Be an Earth-Friendly Couple
By Alonna Friedman
Here are a few new weekend projects for you as a duo: Embark on some (or even just one) of these simple Earth-saving strategies -- you can both feel that you're helping those future generations your parents and in-laws keep talking about!
The goal here is to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are the big offenders in the global-warming crisis.

Strategy 1:
Change your light bulbs. We're sure you've heard this before -- and we know it's tempting to buy the four-pack of bulbs for $2 -- but compact fluorescent bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

The payoff:
If Americans replaced just one bulb in their home, it would save enough energy to light 2.5 million homes in one year and prevent an amount of greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of 800,000 cars.

Hubby and I have done this in the three lamps that are used the most. Need to find and buy bulbs for four ceiling fans.

Strategy 2:
Bring your own mug to Starbucks. You'll get a 10-cent discount, and it's one less paper cup to end up in a landfill. While you're there, pick up some free bags of spent coffee grounds to use as "green" fertilizer in your garden.

The payoff:
The store won't create more waste when they throw away a cup, and you can start growing carbon dioxide-eating plants au naturale.

Hubby and I do not visit these type of specialty stores but once or twice a year. No help here from us.

Strategy 3:
Save water. Run the dishwasher only when it's full, and don't pre-rinse dishes (a waste of time, water, and energy). But the real water drain is the shower -- take shorter ones (and take them together!).

The payoff:
By skipping pre-rinse, you'll save 200 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released and $40 a year. And by taking shorter showers, you'll conserve 350 pounds of CO2 and keep about $100 in your pocket each year.
Look into low-flow shower heads. They still have great pressure but conserve gallons of water from each shower.

I try not to pre-rinse dishes, but living in a rural area with crappy water pressure for the dishwasher, they don’t always come clean. The dishwasher is always ran full. I also have quit doing small loads of laundry. The washer is now full anytime it’s ran. We do have a valve on shower head, so it can be shut off while shampooing, shaving, or soaping to save water.

Strategy 4:
Turn off your computer. When in standby mode, your PC is still using energy. In fact, 75 percent of electricity used in your home comes from electronics that are turned off. Stop this phantom electro rush by plugging your computer into a power strip and shutting down completely at the end of the day. Also, remove your iPod, digital camera, and phone chargers from outlets when not in use.

The payoff:
Turning off a 75-watt monitor for 40 hours a week might only save $4.38 a month, but it reduces CO2 (greenhouse gas emissions) by 750 pounds, burning 450 fewer pounds of coal each year!

We have two laptops and one desk computer. They are always off unless they are being used. :)

Strategy 5:
Cancel catalogs. Many of us have a steady flow of unwanted and unsolicited junk mail, catalogs, and magazines. Let's say everyone in New York City received 10 a month: That would make 240,248 tons of paper waste! Call 888-5-OPTOUT or get off the lists at NewDream.org. Make sure to recycle what you do receive. Find out where to recycle in your area at Earth911.org.

The payoff:
Less energy is spent on creating paper (which kills trees we need) and less trash is created when we can reuse products. The immediate return? Less clutter at home!

Our Pledge for 2008: We will recycle junk mail, magazines and newspapers. 2007 Pledge: We no longer will buy & use paper plates, plastic cups or paper napkins.

Strategy 6:
Reuse plastic bags. Instead of chucking 100 billion plastic sacks a year (wow!), try and get a second, third, or tenth use out of them. Tote your lunch to work or your groceries home, or at least use them as garbage bags. Better yet, next time you shop, try a reusable bag. Learn how at ReusableBags.com.

The payoff:
You're reducing pollution. The amount of oil it would take to make just 14 plastic bags would run your car for one mile.

Our Pledge for 2008: 4 re-usable shopping bags have been purchased and will be deligently used. 2007 Pledge: Re-use all plastic shopping bags for trash can liners.

Strategy 7:
Green your car. The next time you're in the market for a new car, check out an eco option like a hybrid model -- whatever you do, don't get an SUV. In the meantime, take care of your current ride with regular tune-ups and properly inflated tires.

The payoff:
Driving a 13-mile-per-gallon SUV wastes more energy in one year than if you left your refrigerator door open for six years! Getting regular tune-ups, performing maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas and therefore pollute the air less. And properly inflated tires could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year.

Not feasible at this time.

Strategy 8:
Use recycled paper...in the bathroom. Most of the TP we use is made from virgin trees found in forests previously untouched by humans. Seeing as trees absorb carbon dioxide, we'd get better use from them living than we would as a roll in the powder room.

The payoff:
If every household in America replaced one roll of toilet paper with a recycled post-consumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would still be standing. Look for eco paper towels and napkins too. If every household used recycled napkins, we would spare one million trees.
That’s a lot of saved trees! Hopefully more TP companies will start using recycled materials for their products.

Our Pledge for 2008: Will look into the brands further for more information and try to purchase greener products.

Strategy 9:
Buy energy-efficient appliances. The old fridge conked out. Great! Replace it with an Energy Star appliance (EnergyStar.gov) and you'll use at least 15 percent less energy and water in your home. It might be a little pricier to buy, but you'll be saving money on your utility bills and helping the environment.

The payoff:
If we all installed one Energy Star appliance, it would be like planting 1.7 million acres of new trees.

I thought ALL appliances made in the last ten years were energy star? I guess I took this for granted, but all our appliances are energy star.

Strategy 10:
Plant a tree. Adding green to your garden is aesthetically -- and earth -- pleasing.

The payoff:
Just one tree (native to your region) will help make cleaner air and save the environment from 5,000 pounds of hot carbon dioxide each year.

Pledge for 2008: Plant 12 trees on our property. 2007 Pledge: Plant twelve trees. We actually planted around 48 trees, but only about 12-15 survived the winter.

Strategy 11:
Give and voice your support. Contribute or volunteer with the green organization of your choice. And tell a friend to do the same. Some we like: OnePercentForThePlanet.org, SaveOurEnvironment.org, SierraClub.org, and ConservationFund.org. Sign the "Emissions Petition" at EnvironmentalDefense.org, and send the message to your local government representatives that you want to undo global warming.

The payoff:
Together time. Oh, and feeling like you're doing something about this Earth-destroying epidemic.

Will check into these organizations. No 2008 Pledge will be made at this time.

Happy Earth Day

Get outside today and enjoy your mother earth.



Take a child for a walk through nature or along a river to pick up trash. Teach them to be responsible and to not litter.

4/21/08

Weekly Menu 4/21-4/27

Mon Grilled Chicken Breasts, Grilled Potatoes, Broccoli
Tues Fried Ham Steak, Baked Potato, Buttered Corn
Wed Home-Made Burritos
Thurs Grilled Italian Sausage, BBQ Beans
Friday Baked Ziti
Saturday Smoked Turkey, Mashed Potatoes
Sunday Egg Omelettes

4/20/08

Frugal Household Manager Wanted

It really irritates me to hear friends and family complain about rising prices of groceries and gas and then in the same breath say they dont have time to clip coupons and cherry pick for the best prices.

Everyone has their roles within a family. One of my roles is to be the household manager. It's my responsibility to make sure that all the food, health, beauty, pet and cleaning supplies is bought. I feel it's also my responsibility to do this as cheap as possible.

Look at it this way. If a company hired you to buy supplies for them, would you be doing your job if you bought the supplies without comparing prices and making sure you were getting the best deal for the company? That's been a part of my duties at the last 3 jobs I've had in the last 17 years. I took the concept and applied it at my home.

Here's a deal I did just last week.



This used 3 coupons. Two were clipped from Sunday newspapers. One came directly off a bottle of All detergent that I bought previously. So how much time did it take me to clip two coupons and pull one off a bottle I already had. The trip took less than 15 minutes out of my time. Here's the details:

Went to Wallys, had them price match Price Chopper's sale price on the All detergent 2.99 each. Wally's regular price has shot up to $4.97 each.

I bought three bottles: $14.97 at regular price.
After price match $8.97
Minus $4.00 in coupons...

The young woman was so excited to see the "little bottles" on sale for $2.99. She scanned my two expired $1.50 off and the one $1.00 off coupon. It didnt beep, went through without a hitch. That's because Wally usually will take an expired coupon if it's within a couple of days.

My subtotal $4.97 (the regular price of one bottle)
So it was like I bought one bottle and got two free!
Enough detergent to last my family 3 months. By then there should be another sale somewhere that I can do it again. Hopefully there will be more $1.50 off coupons as well. If not, I have several $1 off coupons tucked away.



Oh yeah, the three bottles I bought also had more hang tag coupons on them for $1 off that doesnt expire until June. So now I'm just waiting for another good sale in the next three months before I run out.

Now, what's not worth it? I dont have to worry about detergent for three months. The coupons are filed away. When I'm looking through the sale flyers for other weekly perishables that will need to be bought, I'll keep my eye out for the detergent on sale somewhere else. Usually when one store has it on sale for a loss leader, another will follow within a couple of weeks. That way it doesnt take away from my weekly budget too much at once.

So I would like to hear from all of you who doesnt think clipping coupons and cherry picking is worth while.

4/19/08

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fingers


A high school friend's mother gave me this recipe. It's an oldie but goodie that my entire family loves. It's simple and quick to make. I've even made it with crunchy peanut butter.

2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 3/4 cups powedered sugar


In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter and melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Spread melted chocolate over the crumb crust. Chill until chocolate is semi-set, then cut into bars before the chocolate is completely set, chill until ready to serve.

Edited: Ok Annie, here ya go. Here's a pic of mine. See, I really do cook! lol


AND if your family likes coconut then go check out Annie's recipe.

edited: Ok, ok. So melting butter and chocolate chips in the microwave isnt really cooking! BUT they are easy, and they dont heat the house up to make in the summer since you dont bake them!

4/18/08

What do you Repurpose?

I'm trying to break free of this throw away society. I no longer buy paper plates, paper cups, paper napkins and have been trying to cut back on the amount of paper towels we use, slowly weening the family off them.

I remember when I was a little girl some of the things my grandmother, who lived through the depression, saved and repurposed. I thought, at the time, it was funny when she would wash out zip lock bags and bread bags. Some of the things she reused didnt seem strange to me, such as cool whip containers and egg cartons.

She also would cut off buttons from clothing that was too far gone to be repaired again. Zippers were saved also. The clothing was then cut up for various applications. Shirts and dresses for quilt pieces.

When my grandmother passed away there was a hat box full of buttons, a nut/screw/bolt organizer filled with string, bread ties, and pop can pull rings to name a few as well as bags of material, and bag of zippers. My uncles were laughing about how she was a "pack rat" and was throwing these things away. The buttons, zippers, material and organizer filled with various things came home with me. I've had them for years tucked away in a closet waiting for me to do something with them. I've added buttons to the collection. I love just sorting through them. The vintage buttons have so much personality.

Anyway, back to me, (I could talk about my grandmother all day long) I have been trying really hard of late to reuse anything and everything that normally goes in the trash. Here's a list of things I reuse.

1) Plastic grocery bags are reused to line small trash cans. I've done this for over 10 years.
2) I save my margarine tubs with lids.
3) Egg cartons are saved and reused. In three years I've thrown away maybe two that some how were cracked or crushed. Friends and family save their cartons for me.
4) All old clothing is either cut up to use for rags or if they are still too good for this, (such as my growing boys clothing) it is re-sold or taken to thrift stores.
5) I save bread bags and the wax bags from cereal and snack crackers. My oldest son visited last weekend and was rummaging around in fridge for food. I told him their was left over pizza. He laughed when he finally found it wrapped in a cereal wax bag. "Mom are you out of foil or cling wrap?" I replied "No, but why throw them away when they are clean and you can re-use them?"
6) My feed bags from the chicken food and large outdoor dogs. Stop and think about, they are made strong enough to hold 40-50 lbs of food. They are usually waterproof made from plastic woven material. I use these to throw away kitty litter from the cat boxes, and anything heavy that would tear a plastic trash bag.
7) I do try to use zip lock bags more than once depending upon what they had in them.
8) The plastic coffee containers (big and small) are saved for various reasons. The hubby loves the small ones in his shop for organizing nuts, nails, and bolts.
9) Heavy chip cardboard from things we buy is saved to make templates and crafts.
10) Glass spagetti jars are used for refreezing food.

Is there something you try to repurpose? I would love to hear about them. It might be something I'm over looking and could help me on cutting down on my families waste/trash.

4/15/08

FREE ORGANIC BAG AND COUPONS


Why does it seem like everything that is good for you costs more?

I would like to buy more organic products for my family and I, but where to start was a big question. Another hurdle for me was the price of organic food.

I've been changing the way I grocery shop by using coupons, buying what's on sale, and stockpiling.

Now I'm ready to introduce more organic foods. It seems coupons for organic foods is becoming more and more popular. But which foods will we receive the most benefit from? So maybe I can introduce the organic food using coupons and making it a bit more affordable.

I did some research, googled around and found there was a list of the five best choices in buying organic food. The majority of the articles on the web all refer back to Dr. Alan Greene.

The top 5 foods to start out with that will give the biggest benefit according to him are:

1. Milk
2. Potatoes
3. Peanut Butter
4. Ketchup
5. Apples

Ok, so I'm looking at this list and think, that's easy enough! I've seen these items on sale and have seen some coupons for 3 out of the 5. I'm willing to give them a try!

Do you buy anything organic? If so what do you buy the most and like?

Two other really good websites are:

Earthbound Farm Organic. Right now if you go to their link above, take 10 minutes and answer a 10 question qquiz, they will send you this for free! They told me I passed the quiz and the bag will be mailed to me in June.


Go Organic! is another great site with excellent information and recipes. You can call them and they will send you a coupon book filled with over $18 worth of coupons plus some good information in it also. . Click the link above and it will take you to their contact page that lists their phone number.

4/14/08

Weekly Menu 4/14-4/20

Mon Frozen Pizzas & Leftovers
Tues Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots
Wed Baked Pepperoni Ziti
Thurs Fried Ham Steak, Baked Potatoe, Buttered Corn
Friday Egg Omelettes
Saturday Baked Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans
Sunday Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

4/13/08

Spring Cleaning Schedule--A work in progress

First Floor
Kitchen
Range:
Wash range hood
Wash range/clean oven
Cabinets:
Dust all Tins on top of cabinets
Wipe down all cabinet doors
Reorganize cookbook shelf
Reorganize pull out pantry
Reorganize under sink cabinet
Reorganize bar cabinets
Reorganize microwave island cabinet
Refrigerator:
Wash exterior
Wash interior
Throw out all outdated condiments
Launder all rugs
Sweep, Mop, Wax hardwood floors
Wash 1 window & window treatment
Wash backsplash
Wash microwave
Wash all light switch plates/plug in plates
Vacuum ceiling


Dining Room
Wash all 9 windows & window treatments
Wash down dining table & 6 chairs
Sweep, Mop, Wax hardwood floors
Wash all light switch plates/plug in plates
Wash all fan light globes and blades
Vacuum ceiling and walls
Wash walls

Living Room
Vacuum ceiling
Wash all fan light globes and blades
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light switch plates
Wash atrium windows & doors
Dust/Windex all wall hangings
Dust Entertainment center & components
Reorganize dvd’s
Sort/purge my magazine basket
Sort/purge table drawers
Dust tables
Vacuum furniture
Vacuum floor

Sun Room
Vacuum ceiling
Wash all fan light globes and blades
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light switch plates
Wash windows & window treatments
Dust/Windex all wall hangings
Vacuum furniture
Dust china cabinet, side bar, table & fire place
Reorganize/purge side bar contents
Vacuum floors

Foyer
Vacuum ceiling
Wash light
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light switch plates
Wash door inside/out
Dust/Windex all wall hangings
Sweep, Mop, Wax hardwood floors
Launder throw rug
Reorganize pantry closet

Office
Vacuum ceiling
Wash light
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light switch plates
Wash windows & window treatments
Vacuum furniture
Reorganize/purge bookshelf contents
Reorganize/purge desk cabinets
Dust all shelves & cabinets
Purge old computers
Vacuum floors

Hallway
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge coat closet
Reorganize/purge linen closet
Vacuum floor

Laundry Room
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge broom closet
Reorganize/purge cabinets
Wash dryer & washer
Vacuum/mop floor
Launder throw rug

Guest Bath
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge medicine cabinet
Reorganize/purge vanity cabinet
Wash down vanity
Wash down toilet
Wash down tub/shower
Wash shower curtain
Vacuum/mop floor
Launder throw rug

Sons Bedroom
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge closet
Reorganize/purge chest of drawers
Reorganize/purge captain bed drawers
Reorganize/purge desk
Dust entertainment center
Wash windows & window treatments
Wash bed spread
Vacuum floor
Launder throw rug

Guest Bedroom/Craft Room
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge closet
Reorganize/purge chest of drawers
Reorganize/purge book shelves
Wash windows & window treatments
Wash bed spread
Vacuum floor

Master Bedroom
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash fan light globes & blades
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge closet
Reorganize/purge chest of drawers
Dust entertainment center
Wash windows & window treatments
Wash bed spread
Vacuum chair
Reorganize/purge window seat & storage chest
Vacuum floor

Master Bath
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge medicine cabinet
Reorganize/purge vanity cabinet
Wash down vanity
Wash down toilet
Wash down tub/shower
Vacuum/mop floor
Launder throw rugs

Second Floor

Living Room
Vacuum ceiling
Wash all light globes
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light switch plates
Dust/Windex all wall hangings
Dust Entertainment center & components
Dust tables
Vacuum furniture
Vacuum floor

Guest Bath
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge vanity cabinet
Wash down vanity
Wash down toilet
Wash down tub/shower
Wash shower curtain
Vacuum/mop floor
Launder throw rug

Sons Bedroom
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge closet
Wash windows & window treatments
Wash bed spread
Take down baby bed
Vacuum floor
Launder throw rug

Guest Bedroom
Vacuum ceiling
Vacuum/wash walls
Wash light globes
Wash light switch plates
Reorganize/purge closet
Move chest of drawers into sons room
Wash windows & window treatments
Vacuum floor

4/11/08

Paypal is out, RevolutionMoneyExchange is IN

I've been po'd at Paypal for a while now. It just doesnt seem right the amount of money they take as their cut.

The new way to send and receive money and it cost you NOTHING is RevolutionMoneyExchange.

I'm not the type to jump on the band wagon immediately. I wait and see what happens with a new service like this. I've been watching for several weeks now and have heard no ill effects so I signed up tonite.

They are running a special if you sign up before April 15 they give you $25 FREE money.....IMMEDIATELY. Their sign up is painless and takes less than 5 minutes. Their site is https secured.

If you would like $25 for less than 5 minutes of sign up then click on the button and get signed up before April 15th. By the time you are done filling out your information your account will have $25 in it. By clicking the button below I will also receive a $10 referral fee! More FREE MONEY.

Who couldnt use $25 FREE MONEY?


Refer A Friend using Revolution Money Exchange

Mark Your Calendar-1 Million Reusable Bag Give Away

As part of Earth Month 2008,Wal-Mart will be giving away a million custom-made reusable shopping bags on Saturday, April 19 at 8AM Local Time.*

Plastic bags can take as long as 1,000 years to degrade. Wal-Mart sells reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials you can use instead, for just $1.

*While supplies last.

4/10/08

$2 off Honey Bunches Of Oats Cereal

We love the new Honey Bunches of Oats with Chocolate Clusters Cereal! Have you tried it yet?



If you would like a $2 off coupon without having to jump through hoops, click the link above.

I would like to have a good, but easy recipe for granola bars that I could use this in also. We like the moist chewy kind of granola bars. Let me know if you have one you would like to share.

4/8/08

My Meatloaf is Nothing Fancy!

2lb hamburger OR 1lb hamburger & 1lb ground turkey
2 medium eggs OR 1 large
1 sm can tomato sauce
1 c. Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Form loaf and bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

4/7/08

My Mini Convenience Store

Here's a picture of my stockpile closet or "mini store" on January 1, 2008. Pretty bare hugh?




Here's some pictures of my "mini store" as of April 5, 2008.

That top basket has Venus razors, Soft Soap Spa shower gels, shower scrunchies and Dove skin vitalizers in them waiting for the spa gift baskets I'll be making for Mother's Day and my sisters birthdays. Purchased for FREE using sales, coupons, and ECB's.



I was just stating earlier in the week I needed to figure out how to get free cereal. I now have 5 boxes sittin there, they werent free but .67-.80 a box is better than the $2-$3 a box I was paying before 2008.



Look at all that FREE dishwashing and dishwasher soap. I love FREE.



Love lookin at those boxes of Lipton Tea I got for a buck a box! Now if I can hound out some cheap coffee for the hubby!

4/6/08

Boy Wonder's Visit From The Tooth fairy


Boy wonder found coupons at our grocery store for BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on any single pack of Stride; Dentyne Ice, Fire, or Blast; Trident, Trident Splash, White or Fusion. Exp 9/30/08 They were on a cardboard display at the front of the store that also held all the gum the coupon covered. There were only two left of these. Stride is his and his daddy's favorite.

With him going on 10 but still loosing teeth, Tuesday the toothfairy left him a note on his bedroom door stating that she couldnt find his two teeth, was short on cash but had lots of coupons, and his surprise was in the refrigerator... I put a bottle of evian water and two packs of stride gum in there for him.

I was outside when he got home from school and he came running outside and said "Mom will you tell the toothfairy I LOVED my surprise! That's my favorite water and gum! She can leave me surprises like that anytime and I have two more loose teeth!"
It made me feel good that he enjoyed the surprise left for him more than he would have money. Who says you have to leave money anyhow?

Even though he knows who the toothfairy is I refuse to admit it to him and won't till he looses all his baby teeth. He's my baby and I wont get to play toothfairy after that. So I'm prolonging it as long as I can.

4/5/08

Waste Not, Want Not

Boy Wonder had a friend spend the nite last nite. The boys and I were in the living room watching a movie and my son wanted a snack. He went into the kitchen and we were discussing what they could have for a snack at 11pm. They decided on Pop tarts. My son gave the boy a choice of three different kinds. My son stated " Now see, if my mom didnt use her coupons and have a mini store here, we wouldnt have such a big choice of what to have for a snack." My son looked at me and said "his mom and dad dont understand why you have all this stuff stock piled" The boy started to stammer as I threw him a look and he stopped. Apparently the boy and his parents talk about me and my "couponing and stock piling" behind my back. This is the boy that comes over that is very picky about what he eats, will fill his plate to the hilt at dinner and only take a couple of bites, and will sneak junk food after I go to bed.

Don't get me wrong, guests at my house are welcome to anything I have. I do buy junk food, but my family eats it in moderation. None of us sit down with a brand new bag of cookies or chips and eats THE WHOLE THING. The boy will do this at my house after my hubby and I go to bed. He wont eat a full healthy meal. He wants to eat junk non-stop.

So to get a handle on the situation I started putting everything up, out of sight, and will tell my son, "I put such and such on the counter for you and him if you want a snack after I go to bed, but that's all you are getting.

This morning when I got up this is what I found on my counter by the sink. For those of you who arent familiar with these green tupperware bowls, they are a big bowl!



It pissed me off to no end. I bet there is at least two cups of milk wasted, not to mention the cereal. Errrrrrrrrrr

4/4/08

Canvas Shopping Bags

I like to use the reusable canvas shopping bags.... when I remember to take them. hehe

I was looking for a pattern to make a couple out of old jeans and ran across this one and thought it was fun.




Order yours here: Keetsa

4/3/08

FREE CHICKEN NUGGETS OR POPCORN CHICKEN


On the Fast Fixin Website you can sign up for their "Fanatics Club" and they will send you 5 coupons for $1 off their products. You can hit the back button and you will be able to print the 5 coupons one more time. There is also a coupon just on the "Coupon" part of the website to print one more coupon twice.

The Fast Fixin DinoBites (small 10oz bag)and Popcorn Chicken are $1.00 a small bag at Walmart, so you can get 12 FREE bags!! (YMMV)
I like them because they are made with white meat! I think they taste alot like the Tyson Chicken nuggets and my son loves them and the popcorn chicken!

4/2/08

More Cash In Your Pocket


Several people have emailed me asking questions about the Wellness 360 and putting their personal information out there. Any information I dont feel comfortable with giving to them, then I dont. You still will receive cash for the other areas you use such as the nutrition diary.

So go ahead and sign up today!

HAVE YOU JOINED WELLNESS 360 YET?

Wellness 360 is the only website that provides great wellness tools such as: - Diet and fitness tracking,- Personal health record,- Emergency medical record,- Medical and wellness library,- Free Genetic Testing, and- CASH! CASH! CASH!

Thats right: Wellness 360 pays its members CASH just for using it!
There's nothing to buy, no catch or gimmicks! Absolutely no tricks, just cash for its members.

Its easy to begin enjoying wellness360s services and start earning cash.
Lets begin enjoying today and putting more money in our pockets.

Click here to join: Wellness 360

4/1/08

March 2008 Grocery Totals

TOTAL $613.43
-COUPONS $261.23
ACTUAL OOP $349.86

66 FREE ITEMS
$199.70 VALUE OF FREE ITEMS

Organic Earth Day


The 38th Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2007.

Now in its third year, Go Organic!for Earth Day is bigger than ever. This April, more than 3,500 grocery stores across the nation and 40 leading organic manufacturers will come together to help consumers discover, understand and ultimately enjoy organic products as part of their daily lives.

Go Organic!for Earth Day includes money-saving coupons that are available in free booklets (a $12.55 value!) at participating retailers. Selected retailers will host Earth Day events and provide organic food demonstrations, product samples, and educational materials. The campaign's website, www.organicearthday.org, features recipes, giveaways and a store finder to locate participating retailers in your area. If your local retailer is not listed, you can also get a free coupon book by calling 866-I-GO-ORGA (NIC) to request one.