Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Softsoap deal at Walgreens

Ok, so sometimes things that seem to be too good really are! Looks like Walgreens caught on to many people taking advantage of the rolling Register Rewards on the Softsoap deal, so its no longer rolling. You will still get a coupon for a free Softsoap on your first purchase, but not on the 2nd or 3rd, or so on. So bascially, for every one that you actually pay for, you will get a free one. Don't forget about that coupon in Sunday's paper for $.75, making it even a better deal.
Still a great deal!

CiCi's Pizza...you have to check this out!

Ok readers.....who is a fan of CiCi's pizza? Well, I just found out about this promotion going on! They have dropped 1 million pennies in parking lots around their locations around the US. These pennies are marked on the back with prizes (like a free buffet, free drink....and other prizes) But it does say all specially marked pennies that are returned will be donated to Big Brothers and Big Sisters Club of America!
So, keep your heads down and be on the look out for pennies on the ground while around any CiCi's! Click HERE to read more..... (you can put in your zip code and mine told me to look within a 2 mile radius of my CiC's)

The Childrens Place Outlet

Do you have a Childrens Place outlet near you??? If you do, RUN..don't walk, as fast as you can!!!
Yesterday, we were heading for an outdoor family outing when I realized the boys didn't have a hat in the van (any other time we would have 10 different ones in there!) So, we dropped by the outlet to pick up a hat for them....and I saw some great deals on winter clothes. I was really sad that I didn't have time to shop, but I had 2 very anxious 2 year olds waiting in the car for me!
All their winter clothes were on sale for $2.99....you can't even shop consignment prices for that!!!!! Things I saw in the boys dept were: sweaters, hoodie sweatshirts, button ups, nice pants, wind pants, thermal graphic shirts.....all $2.99! Some of these clothes we had this winter and loved them all and they held up great (like their products always do!)
I am going to try to make it back up there this week and do some shopping for next winter.
They also had several of their spring clothes on sale too (not for $2.99, but still on sale)

Let me know if you find any good deals!!!

Shopping at Walgreens

Since some of you are new to this way of shopping, I want to give you some tips on shopping at Walgreens (look for CVS tips this week too!) I would have never thought before I started shopping this way that I could honestly get better deals at a drugstore than Wal-mart! But I do!!!

Walgreens has a program right now called their Easy Saver...I have heard through the grapevine that April is the last month they will have this program. But the news is there is something bigger and better coming!
I don't want to go in to a lot of detail about it since its leaving us, but we do still have one more month to shop with it, so here is a link to read about it on walgreens.com CLICK HERE!

You can find the Easy Saver booklet at the front door of your Walgreens next to their weekly ad. Its a small booklet filled with coupons.
There are 2 differend kind of coupons you will find:
1. IVC (Instant Value Coupon)...these work just like a regular coupon and take the value off immediately. They CAN be combined with a manufacturer coupon as well!!! (like the razor deal last week)
2. Easy Saver Rebate....these are rebates on the listed item. You can submit your rebates on line. You can only do one submission per month, so its best to keep all your rebates together and submit them at one time at the end of the month.

They will also sometimes have coupons in their Sunday sales ad (like the aluminum foil deal this week)and you will need to have the cashier scan this coupon as well as your manufacturer coupon too!

I know this is brief, but if you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will try to answer!
I am excited to see what Walgreens will come up with to replace this program though.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Walgreens deals 3/29-4/4

Reynolds Aluminum foil wrap-
Q from sunday sales flyer for making it $.89
Q from SmartSource on 2/8 for $1.00
total = FREE!!!! (you will actually have some overage, so make sure to get something else!)


Softsoap Body Wash-$3.99
Q from 3/29 Smart Source for $.75
total = $3.24 BUT you will get a coupon printed with your reciept for a FREE bottle of Softsoap body wash on your next purchase! I have been told it will continue to print...so when you get your next bottle free, it will pring a Q for another free bottle!

Halls cough drops (reg. price around $2.99)
Q from sunday sales flyer making it $1.39
Q from SmartSource 3/29 for $1.00
total = $.39

Chapstick 100% Naturals or True Shimmer Lip Balm
sale price $1.99
receive Register Rewards for $2.00 (this is good to use on your next purchase, like store cash!)
total = FREE

Cascade
sale price = $3.99
Q from Proctor and Gamble on 3/1 for $1.00
total = $2.99

Walgreens brand baby care items are Buy One Get One 50% off...includes diapers, pull ups and wipes


Printer Cartride refills (yes, you can refill them at Walgreens!) black or color
sale price = $7.50
mail in rebate for $7.50
total = FREE

Wal-itin Allergy relief 30ct tablets
sale price $6.99
mail in rebate for $6.99
total = FREE


*just a note about the mail in rebates...make sure you take advantage of the rebates and don't buy them if you don't plan on sending the rebate in! Which you can do online by the way!
**the register rebates are a different incentive and actually prints out a ticket with your receipt that you can use on your next purchase and you get it instantly

PLEASE feel free to comment and let me know of any other great deals you find at Walgreens this week!!!

Awesome deals this week!

I wanted to encourage you all to take a look at your sale ads this week! There are some great deals to be found! I will be posting some deals for Walgreens in a moment. I had a great shop there today!
But first I wanted to tell you that my 2 favorite places to shop are Kroger and CVS. However, I won't be able to share any deals from them for a couple of weeks. I am signed up with a site that you have to pay and they give you the list for the stores of your choice. As long as I am still with that site, I can't share the deals. It was a great way to get me started on learning how to shop the smart way, but now that I have the hang of it, I will be dropping it. Until then, I will say that you all are free to comment HERE with any deals that you find at CVS or Kroger.
I am telling you that CVS is my new best friend! That store has some awesome savings!!!! I will be posting more about how to shop at CVS hopefully this week.

The most important thing to remember is to combine a sale with a coupon! That equals the greatest deal!!!!!!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Homemade cleaner

This one comes from reader, Bethany again! Thanks Bethany for passing along your tips! I'm going to try this one for sure!!

Bethany says:
I will share my recipe for homemade cleaner, if you will pass on your recipe for laundry det! Mine comes from my mom, she is RN and a germ freak! She got this from a nurse practioner a few years ago -- you can use any empty spray container, like a glass cleaner bottle. Take 1/2 cup of ammonia and 2 cups alcohol, you can use the 70% base. Take these two combine in bottle, then fill with water almost full, and add any liquid sink soap, like Ivory - add 1 tsp full into bottle and put spray lid on. Just give it a little shake to combine, and you have a great cleaner that KILLS bacteria and odors. It gives the smell of almost a fresh hospital smell. The smell does quickly disappear , the alcohol is a bit strong, but just think of all the disinfecting its doing! By the way you must add the Ivory soap at the end, due to it will make bubbles if you add it any sooner.

Please feel free to pass this along to your readers, its a really cheap and very efficient way of cleaning. You can use it to clean bathrooms, kitchen counters, messes in the kitchen, grease and stuff. Highchairs, tables..... You can also clean your windows and mirrors with this. Just do not try it on wood! I bought the lemon fresh ammonia at Walgreens, it was like 1.99 for a huge bottle, and the alcohol, buy it a walmart, its about 1.67 for a really tall bottle. Its over where band aids are.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

One of the easiest ways to save money is to try making your own cleaning products! I have been reading about making laundry detergent for a few weeks now and I finally broke down and tried it this week. It was super easy to make and very inexpensive! I have done several loads now and I will say my clothes feel softer than ever before and smell great! No rashes or reactions at all!
I think I spent about $6-7 total on the products to make it and only one product has to be replaced with each new batch (and a batch makes about 10 gallons!)! You use 3 ingredients: Borax and Washing powder (these both come in big boxes and you use a small amount of the box, so its going to last for a while!) and Fels Naptha soap. I found all 3 of these products at Kroger, you just have to look! The Fels Naptha soap was the trickiest to find, its a small bar of soap and it was on the top shelf. If you can't find that soap, you can use something mild like Ivory soap.

I read severeal different recipes and went with the one that made the most sense to me. I actually got this particular one from The Duggars wesbite


TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)


I had also read several recipes for making your own fabric sheets. Just like the laundry detergent, there are countless recipes out there, but again, The Duggars made the most sense to me.

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipe

1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.


I will add that the fabric softener doesn't necessarily have to be in a 5 gallon bucket. I made mine in one and it only takes up about 1/4 of the bucket.
Also, if you don't have an empty laundry detergent bottle, and you make both of these recipes at the same time, just use the fabric softener bottle! Thats what I did!!!

I will also say that I have only found laundry detergent (All is what I used before) on sale for a great price once! I stocked up enough that it lasted me about 10 months and I just recently ran out. But even that deal didn't compare to this one!

Both of these are super easy and now that I have made it, I am wondering why I haven't done this before now!!!!!!

Let me know if you try it!

Old Navy




Old Navy is having a sale ONLINE ONLY with many items up to 40% off. It looks like this is summer clothes. Check it out HERE!


Also, new coupons are up on Old Navy Weekly-Click HERE!
It appears that the highest coupon this week is for 30% off your entire purchase...not too bad!
I found one and I will tell you, it is hidden pretty well!!! I read that they were going to start hiding them in trickier places, so be creative and search hard!!!!!
(these coupons are good in the store only, so the 2 offers can't be combined)

Another razor deal!

Thanks to reader Bethany for sending this one my way!

Walgreens has a new Schick Quattro Razor (looks like a cool razor with a bikini trimmer on the opposite end of the razor!) on sale for $8.99.
There is an instore coupon (IVC) for $4.00 and this past Sunday there was a coupon in SmartSource for $4.00 off. You can combine the 2....making this razor cost you $.99!!!! Thats a great price!!!!


FYI-for those of you new to shopping at Walgreens....the IVC (instant value coupon) can be found in a booklet at the front of the store, by the weekly fliers. A new one comes out each month. One coupon is usually good for how ever many you buy. (so if you buy 4 of these razors, one IVC coupon should be enough....but you will need 4 of the coupons from the paper)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Borders Coupons

Click here for a coupon for 40% off one item at Borders. This expires on 3/28, so hurry on over to Borders!


Here are some great deals from Target this week:

*Schick Intuition and Schick Quattro razors are on sale this week for $6.99
Q in SmartSource (SS) this past week 3/22 for $4.00 off
Target has a deal if you buy 2, you get a $5 gift card
$6.99 x 2 = $13.98 - $4.00q - $4.00q = $5.98 + $5.00 gift card = $.98 for 2 razors!

*Russet potatoes 5 lb bag
Target Q for $1.00
$1.99 - $1.00Q = $.99

*Archer Farms bread from the bakery
Target Q for $1.00 makes it FREE

*Cheetos grab bags
Target Q for $1.00
$1.29 - $1.00Q = $.29/bag

*Aveeno Baby care products
printable Q here
$3.49-$2.00Q = $1.49

Free Sample of Parents Choice Formula

Click HERE to get a free sample of Parents Choice formula from Walmart. I never tried this, but always wondered about it and this would have been a good way to test it out. (I have heard that when they did this in the past, that they were full size cans, not sure about this time)

Beginning with coupons!

The number one question I get asked about couponing is 'where do I start'.....the second thing I hear is 'it takes to much time and energy'.
I am going to try to address both of these things in this post.

First of all, coupons are everywhere!
The best place to get coupons are the Sunday paper. You will find 3 different types of inserts through the paper: SmartSource (SS), RedPlum (RP) and Proctor & Gamble (PG). (they are not all in the paper every week though) Occassionally, you will find special inserts from different companies.
Also, don't forget to check out the Parade insert in the paper, there is usually 1 coupon in there too (varies each week)

Another great place is right here on the internet! You can find a vast variety of coupons that you can print. I have a few links on the right side of my blog. Also, if there is a particular product you are needing to buy, just check out their direct website, many times you will find coupons right there to print!

You can also find 'blinkies' in the store. Many times these are not specific to the store!

You can sign up for many great deals through your favorite store websites!!!!

Wal-mart sells a great magazine...All You. This magazine is filled everymonth with great coupons! Its a very inexpenisive magazine and worth the money for the great deals you will find inside....and it has great articles too! But you will only find it at Wal-mart or by ordering a subscription.

And there are many clipper services that you can order coupons from online...usually for a very low price.

Just keep your eyes open, coupons are everywhere!

Now, on to the second statement....'doesn't it take a lot of time?'....the answer is 'yes and no'! When you first get started, it might take time to get your coupons collected and organized. It takes time to learn the 'right' way to use coupons and when to 'play' them at the right time. But after you get the hang of it, it goes much quicker and I think you will find the money you save is worth the extra time it takes to get things together!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Signing Time!



I am a huge fan of Signing Time! I give a lot of credit to my boys talking at such an early language to signing with them and for sharing these videos with them. They love them and have learned so much from them! So, from time to time, I will be posting udpates when they have sales and specials! I wish everyone that has ever had a baby had these videos because they are such a great learning tool!
Click here to see there current special...save 25% with any $50 purchase (making their dvds $16.49, reg. price is $21.99)

Discount Season Passes to Dollywood @ Food City

For all of you in East TN who are thinking about getting a season pass to Dollywood, now is the time! Food City is offering passes at a discount price now through April 30th.


Free from Arby's!



Here are some great coupons for Arby's! Who doesn't love a good roast beef sandwich from time to time? Just buy a drink and try out one of their new roastburgers for FREE!!!!!
Click here!

Old Navy



Did you know that Old Navy has a special website where they 'hide' coupons? You have to click around to find your coupons and they change each week! There are some great coupons to be found!!! Happy Clicking!
Click here!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Starting a New Adventure!

Several of you have asked, so I am finally taking on this new adventure! I am starting this blog, just to share what I have learned about 'smart shopping'! I plan on sharing some tips and advice on using coupons, shopping sales, any good deals I come across and any other maving-saving ideas I have!
I welcome you to share with me any great deals you find and I'll be sure to post them for everyone. Please leave comments to let me know if you find this to be helpful or not!

Most of you know how excited I get when it comes to couponing and saving all the money I can! I love being a stay at home mom, and I think of saving money as my 'job' to help my family out and to be a good steward with the money that God has given us.

I look foward to sharing everything I know with you all!