Saturday, February 12, 2011

My Bountiful Baskets Food Co-Op Share

I picked up my Bountiful Baskets Food Co-Op portion today, and this is what it contained:


  • 1 Head leaf lettuce
  • 1 Bunch Spinach
  • 1 Bunch Broccoli
  • 1 Carton Strawberries
  • 1 Carton Mushrooms
  • 1 Bag Carrots
  • 1 Cantaloupe
  • 3 Orange Peppers
  • 3 Lemons
  • 7 Apples
  • 10 Minneolas
All this cost only $16.50 (there is a $3 fee for your first basket pickup, but none after that). It comes to about 50% of retail cost for fresh, delicious produce.

If you've never used Bountiful Baskets, I highly recommend giving it a try! They even have an organic option if you choose. Simply log onto their website at noon MST on Monday and order your basket for pickup Saturday morning at your neighborhood site. That's it! Super easy and definitely frugal.

1000 Bonus Rollover Minutes for AT&T Users!


Listen up! If you've got an AT&T cell phone plan, text the word YES (in all caps) to 11113020, AT&T will add a bonus 1000 rollover minutes to your account! It's a special promo they're running for iphone users, but anyone can do it!

Let me know if it works for you! I just did it and got a confirmation reply. Hooray!

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Benefits of an Amazon Mom Account


The Amazon Mom program is free for anyone to join, and it gets you a free 3-month of Amazon Prime (their free 2-day shipping perk that normally costs $78/year), and a 30% discount on select diapers & wipes. Those perks alone are pretty sweet.

However, I recently discovered that purchasing baby items through your Amazon Mom account can actually extend the life of your Amazon Prime! I purchased a tricycle in December for a Sub-for-Santa project that was needed quickly (and the 2-day shipping came in handy). I also purchased The Bambina's Britax convertible carseat through Amazon, because the new models were 20% off (cheaper than any store I could find around town) and they had free shipping & no tax (which makes a big difference when you're buying a $200+ item!).

Later, I received an email stating that for purchasing these two items, my Amazon Prime membership had been extended an additional 12 months. Yipee! That means I can use it to order last minute stocking stuffers again next year. :)

If you haven't joined yet, you can do so HERE.

In essence: the more I buy, the longer they will extend my Prime. And the longer they extend my Prime, the more I will buy. Such a pleasant cycle! Thank you, Amazon.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Few Things Worth Pricematching @ Walmart This Week

I don't know about you, but I was a little disappointed in the Smith's ad this week. However, a few things caught my eye at some other stores around town. Here's a list of items that might be worth pricematching at Walmart this week:


Asparagus - $1.49/lb @ Ream's
Roma Tomatoes - $0.79/lb @ Ream's

Red Seedless Grapes - $0.88/lb @ Sunflower Market
Organic Broccoli Bunch - $0.99/lb @ Sunflower Market

Farmland Bacon - $2.50 @ Harmons (use $1 MFQ SS 1/23 == $1.50)
Gold n Soft Margarine - $1.00 @ Harmons (use $1.50/2 MFQ SS 11/21 == $0.25 each)

Bar S Bologna - $1.19 @ Fresh Market (use $1/2 MFQ RP 1/30 == $0.69 each)
Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce - $1.25 @ Fresh Market (use $0.50 MFQ SS 1/30 == $0.75)

Old El Paso Taco Shells - $1.19 @ Dan's (use $0.50 MFQ SS 1/30 == $0.69)
Apples, Small Pink Lady - $0.99/lb @ Dan's
ShurSaving Milk - $1.99 @ Dan's

Pineapple, Gold - $0.79/lb @ Macey's
Crisco Oil, 48 oz - $1.99 @ Macey's
Nestle Morsels - $1.99 @ Macey's (use $0.50/2 MFQ HERE == $1.74 each)
Pillsbury Cake Mix - $0.79 @ Macey's
Western Family Active Yeast, 3 pack - $0.69 @ Macey's


Remember that Walmart will match any competitor's prices, and will even match store brand for store brand. You can take your ads with you if you choose, but all you really need with you is a list just like this!

Smith's Deals (2/9 - 2/15)


Click HERE for the Grocery Smarts List (a printable matchup of all weekly sales with manufacturer's coupons). I also added a link to it on the right hand side! -->

Don't forget to add e-coupons to your Smith's Fresh Rewards card HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE. (Keep in mind that Smith's no longer accepts a paper MFQ combined with an e-coupon MFQ.)


{Print the Smith's coupon policy HERE.}


Sale Prices:
  • Navel Oranges, 8 lb bag - $4.99
  • Roma Tomatoes - $0.88/lb
  • Anjou Pears - $1.00/lb
  • Armour Lunchmakers - $0.88
  • Duncan Hines Cake Mix - $0.77 (2/11 -2/14)
  • Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream, 48 oz - $1.99 (2/11 -2/14)
  • Kroger Orange Juice, Gallon - $2.88 (2/11 -2/14)

$1.88 Dannon Yogurt 32 oz or 4-pack
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/9, SS 1/30)
= $0.88

$2.99 Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage
-$1/2 MFQ (SS 1/23)
= $2.49 each wyb 2

$1.99 Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies
-$1/2 MFQ HERE
= $1.49

$1.88 Kraft Salad Dressing, 16 oz
-$1/2 MFQ (SS 1/23)
= $1.38 each wyb 2

$0.88 Rice A Roni or Pasta Roni
-B3G1 MFQ (RP 1/2)
= $0.66 each wyb 4

$0.78 Trident Gum, 18 ct
-$1/3 MFQ (SS 1/2)
= $0.45 each wyb 2

$3.88 Red Baron Pan Pizza or Pasta
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/23)
= $2.88

$0.98 Colgate Toothpaste, 6.4 oz
-$0.75 MFQ (SS 1/30)
= $0.23

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Free Valentines Day T-Shirt from Vistaprint!



Right now at Vistaprint you can get a free T-shirt, which might make a fun Valentines Day present! Just pay shipping.


(They also have totes and mugs and cards -- all free for Valentines Day.)

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

My Budget: January

I decided at the beginning of the year to set a goal of $200 per month for all of our groceries, household supplies & toiletries. (We are a family of three.) I also decided to start keeping a spreadsheet to track how much we spend eating out. I predicted that writing things down would actually help us spend less, and I was right!


Total spent in January on groceries: $197.87
Total saved in January on groceries: $523.58 (72.6%)

We did pretty good here! This included some frozen chicken stock-up (when Fresh Market had their 10 lb boxes for $13.90) and all of The Bambina's soy milk that we buy in bulk at Costco. (But hey, at least we're finally off soy formula -- hooray!)


Total spent in January eating out: $59.34

I'm actually pretty pleased with this number. This included our yearly eat-out with my hubby's sisters that we do every January ($30), two dinners we ate out using Groupons or City Deals Certificates, and the rest were small work lunches on days hubby was outside the office.

Every so often my hubby will come home from work exhausted, and if I haven't started dinner yet he'll say, "let's just go to Carl's Jr!" because it's his favorite. (Does anyone else's hubby do this!?) Every time he made that request in January, I asked him if he wanted to know the status of our eat out budget. It put the kabosh on his Carl's Jr. ideas every time! (My hubby is Mr. frugal.) So I was right -- writing it down did help us spend less.

The other perk of all this was that at the end of the month, hubby was pleased with the size of the credit card bill (which is where we put all the groceries & eating out so we can get reward points). So it was a good thing! We're going to keep up this eat out spreadsheet.


How are you all doing with your budgets? Have you set goals for this year? If not, do it! I predict that writing down what you spend will help you spend less, too!

Free Sample Roundup

freeflys

Here are a few free samples available right now:

Walgreens Deals (2/6 - 2/12)



{Confused? Read the Walgreens FAQ HERE.}

{Print the Walgreens coupon policy HERE.}


$5.49 Got2b Styling Products
$0.00 Got2b Styling Products (BOGO)
-$2 MFQ (All You Magazine, De 2010) x 2
= $0.75 each

$9.99 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor
-$4 MFQ (P&G 1/30)
-$4 RR
= $1.99

5/$5 Gain Dish Washing Liquid
-$0.25 MFQ (P&G 1/16) x 5
-$1 RR wyb 5
= $0.55 each wyb 5

2/$5 Colgate Maxfresh or Maxwhite Toothpaste
-$3 RR wyb 2
-$0.75 MFQ (SS 1/30) x 2
= $0.50/2

$3.99 Right Guard Total Defense 5 Body Wash
-$3 RR
-$1 peelies on some packages
= FREE or $1

$5.99 IcyHot Naturals Pain Relief Cream
-$3 WAG Q (in-store)
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/30)
= $1.99

$8.99 Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers x 2
2/$5 Huggies wipes x 2
-$5 RR wyb $25+
-$2 Huggies MFQ HERE x 2
-$0.75 Wipes MFQ HERE x 3
= $14.23 for all five!

$11.99 Lysol Healthy Touch Hand Soap
-$7 RR (monthly deal)
-$3 MFQ (SS 1/9) or HERE
= $1.99

$2.99 Irish Spring Deodorant
-$2 RR
= $0.99

$3.99 Veripure Hand Sanitizer, 3 oz
-$3.99 RR
= FREE

$0.99 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers
-$1/2 MFQ (SS 1/30)
= $0.49 each

4/$5 Progresso Soup
-$1/4 MFQ HERE or (SS 1/2, SS 1/16)
-$0.50 WAG Q (instore - deducts $2)
= $0.50 each wyb 4

$0.49 Select Mars Valentines Day Candy
-$1/2 MFQ HERE or (RP 1/30)
= 2 FREE

Printable Coupon Roundup


Monday, February 7, 2011

Winco Shopping Trip

I stopped by Winco last Saturday with the hubby and immediately realized it was a mistake when we pulled in the parking lot. There was not a single cart available in the cart bay, and people were hiding out and hunting them down in the parking lot! I walked inside, saw the line was to the back of the store, and walked back out. (Since I knew the mailer would be good through this week!)

So I ran to Winco this morning with my friend who had never been (gasp!) and we snagged some awesome deals with our mailers from last week. She was in complete awe of the bulk bins. (Plus the place was practically empty at 9 in the morning, which was awesome.)


$2.28 Tillamook Butter x 2
$3.98 Frozen chicken, 3 lbs
$4.51 Frozen Breakfast Sausage
$7.39 Pork Sirloin Roast
$20.36 Ground Beef, 10 lbs
$0.55 Chicken Broth x 2
$0.98 Bertolli Pasta Sauce x 2
$0.74 Fresh Ground Peanut Butter ($1.48/lb)
$0.83 Black Beans ($0.77/lb)
$0.41 Navel Oranges ($0.18/lb)
$3.66 Dried Apple Rings ($2.75/lb)
$0.78 Saltines (not pictured)
$0.78 Tortilla Chips
$2.98 Gala Apples, 3 lb bag
$1.87 Reynold's Slow Cooker Liners x 3
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/30) x 3
$2.48 Minute Maid OJ x 2
-BOGO MFQ (previous printable)
$1.68 Athenos Hummus
-$1 Athenos MFQ HERE
$0.98 Bar S Bacon x 2
-$1/2 Bar S MFQ HERE
$2.98 Precious String Cheese
-$1 String Cheese MFQ (SS 1/2)
= $62.75 + tax
(Saved $15.58 -- 20%)

I feel really good about this shopping trip overall! Here are my thoughts:
  • I plan to divide the ground beef into 1 lb sections to freeze, which will essentially make 10 dinners.
  • The bacon ended up being $0.50 each after coupon. Score!
  • My BOGO OJ coupon was going to expire, so I used it.
  • The slow cooker liners ($0.87 for four after coupon) are worth every penny in my book.
  • I feel like I should have bought more oranges for only $0.18/lb! Does anyone do anything creative with large quantities of oranges? Just curious.
  • The fresh ground peanut butter is amazing!
{PB & honey for lunch. Mmm-mmm.}

Did anyone else venture to Winco this week?

Monday Drugstore Deals

I hit up Rite Aid this morning for some Huggies & cold medicine.


$9.99 Huggies (20% discount)
$6.99 Coldcalm
$4.99 Chestal
$1.83 Uncle Ben's Rice
$1.99 Excedrin
$1.99 Excedrin
-$2.50 Excedrin MFQ
-$2.50 Excedrin MFQ

-$3 Coldcalm MFQ

-$3 Chestal MFQ

-$0.75 Uncle Ben's MFQ

-$0.30 Uncle Ben's RAQ

-$2 Huggies MFQ

-$4 +UP Reward (previous)
-$4 +UP Reward (previous)

-$2 +UP Reward (previous)

-$2 Wellness RAQ

-$1 Wellness RAQ

= $0.73 + tax

I'll get back $11.98 SCR for the two cold medicines, and I got back $1 +UP Reward for the rice. Plus, this pushed me over the edge for my Winter Rewards, so I got my $20 +Up Reward. Hooray!


See more of this week's Rite Aid deals HERE.

FREE $2 MP3 Credit @ Amazon


Amazon is offering a free $2 MP3 credit when you enter code VDAYMP3S in your account! Credit must be redeemed by 2/14/11.


{Thanks, Slickdeals!}

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Rite Aid Deals (2/6 - 2/12)


Load e-coupons to your Rite Aid card at Upromise HERE. Watch 16 of the February beauty videos to earn a $4/20 RAQ.

This is a great week to qualify for the Winter Rewards -- buy $100+, get $20 +UP Reward! You can qualify $46.93 toward this rebate just by purchasing the freebies this week!

Note: If there is no +UP limit stated in the ad, it is usually unlimited.

{Learn how to shop at Rite Aid HERE.}
{ Read the Rite Aid FAQ HERE.}
{Print the Rite Aid coupon policy HERE.}



$4.99 Boiron Children's Chestal Syrup, 4.2 oz
-$4 SCR (limit 1)
-$3 MFQ HERE or $1 MFQ HERE
= FREE to $2 profit!
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$6.99 Chestal Cough with Honey Adult Formula, 8.45 oz
-$6 SCR (limit 1)
-$1 MFQ HERE
= FREE
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$4.99 Revitalens Multi-Purpose Solution, 2 x 2 oz
-$4.99 SCR (limit 1)
= FREE
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$5.99 Adult Coldcalm Multi-Symptom Cold Relief, 60 ct
-$5.99 SCR (limit 1)
= FREE
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$6.99 Children's Coldcalm Multi-Symptom Cold Relief, 80 ct
-$6.99 SCR (limit 1)
-$3 MFQ HERE or $1 MFQ HERE
= $1 to $3 profit!
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$8.99 Adult Oscillococcinum, 6 ct
-$8 SCR (limit 1)
-$2 MFQ HERE or HERE
= $1 profit!
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$4.99 OcuFresh Eye Wash or MiniDrops Eye Therapy
-$4 SCR (limit 2)
-$1 MiniDrops MFQ HERE or $0.50 Occufresh MFQ HERE
= FREE to $0.50

2/$2 Halls Cough Drops
-$0.50 Jan Video Values Coupon
-$0.50 Feb Video Values Coupon
-$0.50 MFQ (SS 1/2) x 2
-$1 +UP Reward wyb 2
= $1 profit wyb 2
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$3.49 Chloraseptic Lozenges, Sprays or Strips
-$1 +UP Reward
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.49

2/$4 Betty Crocker Cake Mix & Frosting
-$1/2 Feb Video Values coupon
-$0.75 MFQ Cake & Frosting (SS 1/30)
-$2 +UP Reward wyb 2
-$1 +UP Reward (unadvertised) x 2
= $1.75 profit wyb/2

2/$4 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
-$1/2 Feb Video Values coupon
-$0.40 MFQ HERE x 2
-$2 +UP Reward wyb 2
-$1 +UP Reward (unadvertised) x 2
= $1.80 profit wyb 2

$1.99 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
-$1 MFQ (RP 1/9)
-$0.30 Jan or Feb Video Values coupon
-$1 +UP Reward (unadvertised)
= $0.29 profit!
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

2/$1 Mentos Candy
-$0.50 MFQ (SS 2/6)
= FREE

$4.99 Biotrue, 4 oz (this is the regular price!)
-$1.00 discount (only if you have a 20% discount on your card!)
-$4 +UP Reward
= FREE
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$9.99 Tide 2X Detergent, 75 oz or 36-48 loads
-$2 +UP Reward
-$0.35 MFQ (P&G 1/30) or $1 MFQ (P&G booklet)
= $6.99- $7.69

2/$5 Lysol Neutra Air Fabric Mist
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/9, SS 2/6) or HERE x 2
-$1 Jan Video Values coupon
-$1 +UP Reward wyb 2
= $1.00/2

$1.99 Excedrin, 20-24 ct
-$2.50 MFQ Excedrin PM (SS 12/5) or $1 MFQ (SS 12/5)
= $0.50 profit or $0.50 cost

2/$11 Kotex Pads, Liners & Tampons
-$4 +UP Reward wyb 2
-$2.50/2 MFQ HERE *if U by Kotex is included*
= $2.25 each wyb 2
*Buy $100, get $20 +UP Reward.

$1.29 Bounty Basic Paper Towel
$0.00 Bounty Basic Paper Towel (BOGO)
-$0.25 MFQ (P&G 1/30) x 2
= $0.39 each wyb 2

2/$8 Gillette Deodorant
-BOGO MFQ (P&G 1/30)
-$3 +UP Reward wyb 2 (limit 2)
= $1.00/2

2/$6 Finesse Haircare
-$5 +UP Reward wyb 2
= $1.00/2

$1.99 Non-Chocolate Valentine Candy
-$1 MFQ Wonka Sweet Tarts Lollipops HERE
= $0.99

$1.99 Kellogg's Raisin Bran
-$0.70 MFQ HERE
= $1.24

$17.99 K-Y Intrigue or Yours+Mine or Kissable Sensations
-$5 MFQ HERE
-$3 Jan or Feb Video Values
-$5 +UP Reward
= $4.99


Physician's Formula Foundations, Powder, Concealeror Blush are BOGO50% this week. Get $5 +UP Reward wyb $20 worth. Keep your eye out for peelie MFQ's on some packages.

Olay, CoverGirl, Pantene and Secret products are BOGO50% this week. Get a $5 +UP Reward wyb $25+. Use your P&G insert MFQ's to make it a good deal!


Scenario #1:
$6.99 Children's Coldcalm Multi-Symptom Cold Relief, 80 ct
$4.99 Boiron Children's Chestal Syrup, 4.2 oz
$11.49 Huggies Jumbo Pack
-$4/20 RAQ
-$3 Children's Chestal MFQ HERE

-$3 Children's Coldcalm MFQ HERE
-$2 Huggies Jan Video Values coupon
-$2 Huggies MFQ (SS 1/23)
= $9.47 + tax
(And get back $10.99 SCR == $1.52 profit!)

Scenario #2:
$9.99 Tide 2X Detergent, 75 oz or 36-48 loads
2/$2 Halls Cough Drops
$4.99 MiniDrops Eye Therapy
$8.99 Adult Oscillococcinum, 6 ct
-$4/20 RAQ
-$2 Oscillococcinum MFQ HERE or HERE

-$1 MiniDrops MFQ HERE
-$0.50 Halls Jan Video Values Coupon
-$0.50 Halls Feb Video Values Coupon
-$0.50 Halls MFQ (SS 1/2) x 2
-$0.35 Tide MFQ (P&G 1/30) or $1 MFQ (P&G booklet)
= $15.97 + tax
(And get back $3 +UP Reward & $12 SCR == $0.97 laundry detergent!)

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