Sep 6, 2010

Tuesday's Trips 09/07 (Linky)

The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz


Welcome to Tuesday's Trips Blog Hop hosted by The Coupon Challenge and Mom on Dealz! The purpose of Tuesday's Trips is to showcase any type of great shopping trip you've had this week. Share grocery store, drug store, department store, yard sale, etc. If you're excited about your shopping trip, we'd like you to share it with us! Did your trip completely bomb this week? Let us know what went wrong.

We do ask that you visit both of your lovely hostesses (#1 and #2 spots) each week to see what we've picked up. Don't have a blog? No problem. Leave a comment about your shopping trip.

NO SHOPPING WEEK
 
My amazing hubby has been cooking from the pantry this week.  Due to an unexpected illness; I've been in bed since Thursday.  Derrick went to the store for soda, creamer and milk. Our total grocery spending this week has been less than $10! 

Link up and show me all the great deals I've been missing!

Sep 3, 2010

Surfin' Saturdays (09/04) Networked Blogs


Welcome to the 9th Surfin' Saturdays hosted by Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Two Monkeys & a WashtubAnd Then There Were Four and The Coupon Challenge! Each week we will be surfin' a different social network. You will have to check back every Saturday to see where we will be! One week it may be a facebook hop and then the next an email hop! It will be lots of fun and you will get to meet new people and see old friends as well!

We kindly ask that you follow these simple requests

  • Follow the hostesses in the first four spots (We will follow you back! Just please leave a comment letting us know that you are following us!)
  • Please only link up the network that is being hopped that specific week
  • No spam please. These will be removed. 
  • It would be wonderful if you are linking up this week if you could add our button to your sidebar or in a post to help spread the word! :) The more people that join, the more fun it will be! (Plus if you add our button to your sidebar you can grab 5 extra entries into any ONE giveaway!)
  • If someone follows you please feel free to follow them back! If you follow me and leave a comment you are guaranteed a follow back!

This is a new list every Saturday, so please remember to come back and link up!









This week is NETWORKED BLOGS! Please link up your BLOG so visitors can leave a comment letting you know that they are following you through networked blogs. PLEASE DO NOT LINK UP IF YOU DON'T HAVE NETWORKED BLOGS ON YOUR PAGE!

 
 
Starting October 2nd, we will be hosting the Healthy Families Happy Kids Event which will be so much fun! We will have lots of giveaways, guest speakers, tips, and posts all about healthy ideas and products! You won't want to miss it! Tonight and tomorrow we will be posting more about the event on our individual blogs to give you a sneak peak of our sponsors and the event as well as ways to get bonus entries into the event!
 
*~*~*Current Giveaway*~*~*
 

My Lack of Posts

I know some of my wonderful, loyal readers have noticed I disappeared yesterday.  I won't go into too much detail now but, I've been in bed with a spinal headache. Sounds fun right?  After a procedure Thursday morning I experienced a rare complication - my spinal fluid was leaking!  This leakage causes a spinal headache (think migraine times 1000!)  I had a blood patch this afternoon to plug that leak, and I'm feeling so much better!  I should slowly be returning to normal over the next few days.  I'll hopefully be ready to jump back into full swing after the weekend. 

Look forward to a slew of posts and a fun event notice after I recover!'

Sep 2, 2010

Thrifty Thursday: How to Build a Stockpile

I realized after posting "How to Organize Your Stockpile" that I don't have a "How to Start a Stockpile" post.  The key to building a stockpile is to match a coupon with a sale to purchase items at a "rock bottom" price (or the lowest a price will go).  You need to purchase as many of the product as you will need to hold you over until the next sale.

Why should you stockpile? 
-Reduce your grocery budget (spending $0.24 on toothpaste vs $2.99 really adds up!)
-Saves time and gas, you could occasionally skip grocery shopping
-Prepare for the unexpected (sickness, weather, job loss)

What can you stockpile?
You can stockpile non-perishables (such as canned goods, dried beans, pastas, etc), cleaning supplies, detergents, personal hygiene products, feminine care, toilet paper, and etc.  You can also utilize your freezer to stockpile meat, bread, produce for cooking, prepared meals, and much more. 

How do you start a stockpile?

-Determine usage: Determine approximately how much your family will use of each item in 6 months or whatever your goal is.  I keep such information in my head which is not necessarily a good thing.

-Stay within your budget: If you are just starting out, you may have additional funds to work with. I routinely spent my entire budget when I started building my stockpile.  If your budget is already tight, try to allow a few dollars every week just for stockpiling.  Even $5 could make a huge difference in the long run. 

-Make a price book or list: The most effective way to know when an item is at the lowest price is to know your local prices.  I have a list of my Goal Prices and my Goal Prices for MeatSouthern Savers and Madame Deals also have thorough lists.

-Be patient: Building your stockpile will take time!  You need to wait for the sale cycles to come around and reside yourself to the fact that your stockpile won't be complete in a week.

-Try not to be brand specific: We all have our preferences, but you'll be able to make the most out of the store deals if you're not loyal to particular brands.  I really don't care what canned tomatoes or cereal I buy.  However, we can only use Tide and All free and clear laundry detergents.  Over time, you'll learn what is important to your family.

-Get multiple coupons: You need to be able to buy multiple of each item when they are at a "rock bottom" price in order to build a stockpile.   If I have 4 coupons to match up with a fantastic sale, that's 4 products that I don't need to buy later.  You may want to get extra coupons for products that you use frequently.

-Shop multiple stores: Split your time between multiple drug stores and grocery stores.  I shop at CVS, WAGS, Farm Fresh, Harris Teeter and occasionally Kroger and Target.  I DO NOT shop at all the stores every week!  I simply don't have to time or energy.  I pick the best deals from each store and get to as many of those stores as I can.

-Limit quantities:  Think about what your family can realistically use or donate.  It's not a deal if it gets thrown away.  Also, don't clear the shelves.  Remember to be respectful of other shoppers.

-You're shopping trips will look lopsided: Eventually you should already have most of the items you need each week, so when shopping you'll be rounding out your menu plan and stocking up on the best deals.  I recently had a trip where I bought granola bars, sweet moments, miracle whip and a few other things.  Nice combination right?

-Don't overdo it: Your time is money and your first priority is your sanity and family.  It is very tempting to run around to every store week after week trying to super size your stockpile (been there, done that!)  I quickly learned that I wasn't doing myself or my kids any good.  I stepped back and realized that there will always be another deal.


A few of my stockpiled items:
Toothpaste = 14
Men's Deodorant = 16
Women's Deodorant = 6
Pasta = 20
Cereal = 15
Ketchup = 4
Dish Soap = 9

What are your tips for building a stockpile?

This post is linked to Coupon Teacher, Life as Mom, Madame Deals, and Mrs Moneysaver

Sep 1, 2010

Organic and Eco-Friendly Coupon Round-Up (09/01)


Many thanks to Your Green Helper for providing a weekly round-up of the eco-friendly and organic coupons available!

Top Coupon Deals
$2.00/1 Green Genius Biodegradable Trash Bags
$1.50/1 Yogi Granola Snack Crisps
$1.00/1 Wholly Guacamole
50¢/1 Simply Asia Product
50¢/1 Thai Kitchen Product

All You Magazine Online
$1.00/1 Chef’s Requested 100 Calorie Steaks
$1.00/1 Truvia Natural Sweetener
$1.00/1 any Good Earth Restaurants Favorites Dinner Kit
$1.00/1 ½ Gallon 8th Continent Soymilk (redeemable only at Walmart)
$2.00/1 Green Genius Biodegradable Trash Bags
$1.50/1 Yogi Granola Snack Crisps
$1.00/1 any bag of Jamba Natural Fruit Smoothies
$1.00/1 any 4-pack Jamba Fruit Sorbet or Yogurt Bars
$1.00/1 Sundown Naturals or Vitamin Hero Multi-vitamins
$4.00/1 Nutro Small Breed Natural Dog Food 4 lb bag
$1.00/2 any Litehouse Products
$2.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Your Life Multi-vitamins
$1.00/1 Similasan Earache Relief Homeopathic
$1.00/3 Larabar Jocalat Bars

Betty Crocker*
$1.00/1 any Good Earth Restaurants Favorites Dinner Kit
75¢/1 any Muir Glen Product
*Requires registration to print coupons.

Brown Cow*
50¢/3 6oz Cream Top Yogurts
50¢/3 6oz Low Fat Yogurts
50¢/3 6oz Non Fat Yogurts
50¢/1 32oz Cream Top Yogurt
50¢/1 32oz Low Fat Yogurt
50¢/1 32oz Non Fat Yogurt
*Requires entering email address. However, you can opt out of receiving emails.

Cool Savings
$1.00/1 Truvia Natural Sweetener
55¢/1 Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
$1.00/1 Wholly Guacamole
*Requires entering email address. However, you can opt out of receiving emails.

Coupons.com
$2.00/1 Green Genius Biodegradable Trash Bags
$1.50/1 Yogi Granola Snack Crisps
$1.00/1 Truvia Natural Sweetener
$1.00/1 any Good Earth Restaurants Favorites Dinner Kit
$1.00/1 any 4-pack Jamba Fruit Sorbet or Yogurt Bars
$1.00/1 ½ Gallon 8th Continent Soymilk (redeemable only at Walmart)
$1.00/1 any bag of Jamba Natural Fruit Smoothies
$1.00/1 Sundown Naturals or Vitamin Hero Multi-vitamins
$4.00/1 Nutro Small Breed Natural Dog Food 4 lb bag
$2.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Your Life Multi-vitamins
$1.00/2 any Litehouse Products
$1.00/1 Similasan Earache Relief Homeopathic
$1.00/3 Larabar Jocalat Bars

Delicious Living
50¢/1 Skinny Water
$1.00/1 any 10oz Chef’s Requested Brand Bacon Wrapped Filet Product
$1.00/1 any 25 or 50oz Chef’s Requested Brand Bacon Wrapped Beef Steaks Box
$1.00/1 any Chef’s Requested Brand Steak-a-licious Box
$1.00/1 any Chef’s Requested Brand 100 Calorie Steak Packages
$1.00/1 any Ian’s Item
$1.00/2 Pacific Natural Foods Products
$3.00/1 Organic Life Vitamins

Earth’s Best
$1.00/1 TenderCare Chlorine Free Wipes or Tub Refill
$1.00/7 Organic Baby Food
$1.00/2 Sesame Street Products
$5.00/1 Organic Infant Formula
55¢/1 Organic Infant Cereal

Earth Fare*
$1.50/1 any Earth Fare All Natural Fresh Chicken
60¢/1 any jar of 7J Ranch Garden Salsa
B3G1Free Bear Naked Granola
75¢/1 any box of Bigelow Tea
$1.00/1 any Blue Diamond Product
$1.00/1 any Cascadian Farms Granola Bars
$1.00/1 Earth Fare Bacon
$1.00/1 Earth Fare Bengel Bites Children’s Multivitamin
$1.00/1 Earth Fare Organic Fresh Chicken
$1.00/1 Earth Fare Hot Dogs
50¢/1 Kombucha Wonder Drink Beverage
$1.00/1 1 lb Larry’s Beans
$1.00/3 Liberte Yogurt
$1.00/1 any Natrol Product
$1.00/2 Nature’s Path Waffles
50¢/1 Organic Valley Eggs
50¢/1 Organic Valley Stringles
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Soy
50¢/1 Organic Valley Yogurt
$2.00/1 TheraNeem Organix Shampoo or Conditioner
$1.00/1 Rainbow Lite Children’s Gummy Supplements
75¢/1 Rudi’s Organic Wheat and Honey Wheat
55¢/1 San-J Gluten Free Cooking Sauce
75¢/1 Santa Cruz Organic 6-pack Applesauce Cups
$1.00/1 Earth Fare Whey Powder
$2.00/1 Beef when you buy 2 Snyder’s Products
75¢/1 Vaska Laundry Product
$1.00/1 Ziyad Product
75¢/1 Applegate Farms Dinner Sausage
$1.00/1 Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto
50¢/1 Garrett County Product
$1.00/1 Ascentra NutraSea
$1.00/2 Pirate Brand Snacks
$1.00/2 Wild Planet Sardines
75¢/1 Horizon Butter
50¢/1 Froose Product
$2.00/1 Pearls Products
$1.00/1 Yogi Cereal or Granola Crisps
$1.00/1 H2Organics Kids 8-pack
75¢/1 Michael Season’s Product
$1.00/1 andy Similasan Product
*Only redeemable at Earth Fare now!

Eat Better America*
75¢/1 any Muir Glen Product
*Requires registration to print coupons.

Ecover
75¢/1 Morning Fresh Fabric Softener
$1.00/1 51oz Laundry Liquid
$1.25/1 100oz Laundry Liquid

HealthESavers
$3.00/1 Organic Life Vitamins
$1.00/1 Aura Cacia kids bath products
$2.00/1 any Carlson for Kids Fish Oil Product
$1.50/1 Safe & Natural Cold N Cough Relief 4 kids
$1.50/1 Calms Forté 4 Kids
$2.00/1 Sunsweet SupraFiber
$1.00/1 Sunsweet Herbal Blends
$2.00/1 any Katz Gluten-Free Product
$3.00/1 Bone Solid
$1.50/1 GoodBelly Drink
$3.00/1 any ReNew Life Cleanse or Detox 2 or 3-part kit
$3.00/1 any ReNew Life Norwegian Gold Ultimate Fish Oil
$3.00/1 any ReNew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotics
$1.50/1 Omega Nutrition Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder

Horizon Organic*
$1.00/1 any 4-pack of Little Blends Yogurt
55¢/1 any 3-pack of Single Serve Milk
55¢/1 any 6-pack of Milk Breakerz
55¢/1 any Half Gallon Milk Plus DHA Omega-3
*Requires registration to print coupons.

Honest Tea*
B1G1 Free 64 oz multi-serve Honest Kids
50¢/1 any Honest Tea or Honest Ade
75¢/1 any 64oz multi-serve Honest Tea
75¢/1 any 8-pouch carton of Honest Kids
*Requires registration to print coupons.

Kiss My Face
$2.00/1 Any Full Size Kids Product
$1.00/1 Any Full Size Product
$2.00/1 Any 16 oz Classic Moisturizer
$1.50/1 Any Full Size Oral Care

Mambo Sprouts
55¢/1 any Florida Crystals Natural or Organic Sugar Products
$1.00/2 Lifeway Kefir Products
55¢/1 any San-J Cooking Sauce or Salad Dressing
$1.00/1 Equal Exchange any Bulk or Packaged Fair Trade Coffee
$1.00/2 Helios Nutrition Organic Kefirs
75¢/1 Natural Brew 4-pack
$2.00/1 any Nelsons Pure and Clear Product
75¢/1 any 16oz Made Product
$2.00/1 Rescue Remedy Pet
$2.00/1 Rescue Remedy Kids
$1.00/1 Country Choice Organic Product
Buy 2 Get 1 Free Cesar Bistro Entrees
$2.00/1 Bach Rescue Remedy, Rescue Sleep, Rescue Energy or Rescue Cream
$5.00/1 Bach Emotional Eating Support Kit

Nasoya
75¢/1 any (1) Nasoya tofu product
75¢/1 any (1) Nasoya Asian-style noodles or Nasoya wraps
75¢/1 any (1) Nasoya Nayonaise

Newman’s Own Organics
$1.00/1 Any Soy Crisps
75¢/1 Any Fig Newman’s
75¢/1 Any 4 oz Training Treat

Organic Prairie
$1.00/1 any Organic Prairie Fresh Meat
$1.00/1 any Organic Prairie Frozen Meat

Organic Valley
$1.00/1 Organic Valley 8 oz or 16 oz Butter
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Half & Half or Heavy Whipping Cream
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Soy
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Cottage Cheese
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Cream Cheese
$1.00/1 Organic Valley 32 oz Yogurt
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Eggs
$1.00/1 Organic Valley Cheese 4 oz or larger
$1.00/2 Organic Valley Half Gallon Milk or 1 Gallon Milk

Red Plum
50¢/1 Simply Asia Product
50¢/1 Thai Kitchen Product
50¢/1 Mahatma Rice
$1.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Your Life Vitamins

Santa Cruz Organic*
$1.50 when you buy both Peanut Butter & Applesauce
75¢/1 Sparkling Beverages
75¢/1 Toppings
*Registration required. However, you can opt out from receiving email.

Seventh Generation
$1.00/1 Laundry Product when you buy one Dishwashing Product
$1.00/1 any Disinfecting Spray or Wipe
$1.00/1 Baby Care Product
$2.00/2 Seventh Generation Products

Simply Organic
50¢/1 any 2oz Extract or Flavor
50¢/2 any Seasoning Mixes, Dips or Dressings
50¢/1 any Grilling Season or Marinade
50¢/1 any Mini Spice
$1.00/1 any Grinder
$1.00/1 any Baking Mix
$1.00/2 any 6.25oz Spices
$1.00/3 any Seasoning Mixes, Dips or Dressings
$1.00/1 4oz Vanilla

Smart Source
$1.00/1 Truvia Natural Sweetener
55¢/1 Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
$1.00/1 Wholly Guacamole
$1.00/2 Wholly Guacamole
$1.00/1 Fruit2Day
$3.00/1 World’s Best Cat Litter

StonyField Farm*
75¢/1 multipack of B-Well or B-Healthy Yogurt
$1.00/1 6-pack or 8-pack Squeezers YoKids Yogurt
$1.00/1 4-pack YoToddlers Yogurt
50¢/1 multipack of YoBaby Organic Drinkable Yogurt
50¢/1 multipack YoBaby Organic Whole Milk Yogurt
50¢/1 any YoKids Yogurt Multipack
50¢/1 any Stonyfield Organic Fat Free Probiotic Multipack
50¢/1 any half gallon Stonyfield Organic Milk
50¢/1 any Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Smoothie Multipack
50¢/1 any Stonyfield Organic Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt
50¢/2 any 10 oz Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Smoothies
50¢/3 any 6 oz Stonyfield Organic Yogurts
50¢/1 any 32 oz Stonyfield Organic Yogurt
50¢/1 any 4 oz 4-pack of Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt
50¢/1 any 16 oz Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt
50¢/2 any 5.3 oz Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt
50¢/3 any 6 oz O’Soy Yogurts
50¢/1 any O’Soy Multipack
*Requires newsletter signup.

Target*
$1.50/1 6-pk. Soy Joy nutrition bars
$1.50/1 GE Reveal CFL
$1.00/1 Tom’s of Maine Oral Care Product
*Valid only at Target

Whole Foods*
$1.00/2 Annie's Homegrown Snacks - Bunny Crackers, Bunny Grahams, Fruit Snacks or Snack Mix (minimum purchase of $1.99)
$2.00/2 Arrowhead Mills Products
$1.00/1 Jar of Blue Diamond Almond Butter
$1.00/1 any Cascadian Farm Granola Bars or Cascadian Farm Cereal
50¢/1 any CLIF C Bar
50¢/1 6 ct. or 18 ct. of CLIF Kid Products
$1.00/1 bag of Popcorn Indiana Popcorn
$5.00/1 Garden of Life Wobenzym N
$2.00/3 Garden of Eatin', Rice Dream, Soy Dream, Almond Dream, Health Valley Organic, MaraNatha nut butters and Earth's Best Products (Excludes Earth's Best Infant Products)
$1.00/2 Dream Frozen Desserts
$1.00/2 32 oz. Organic Helios Kefir Products
$1.00/1 Honest Kids Product
$2.00/3 Imagine Soups, Broths, Stocks or Gravies
$1.00/2 Kashi GOLEAN Cereals
$1.00/2 Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal or Kashi TLC Cereal Bars
$1.25/2 LARABAR or JOCALAT Bars
$1.00/2 Lifeway Products
$1.00/1 Lundberg Risotto
$1.00/1 Method product
$1.50/2 Nature's Path Organic Toaster Pastries or Granola Bars
$1.50/2 EnviroKidz Gluten Free Cereal or Crispy Rice Bar
$1.00/2 Rudi's Organic Products
75¢/1 Sambazon 10.5 oz. Organic Acai Juice
$1.00/1 Seventh Generation Disinfecting Product
$3.00/1 Spectrum Essentials Supplement (including Fish Oil, Flax Oil, Flaxseed or Fish-Free DHA)
$1.00/1 Stonyfield YoKids 6-pack cups or 8-pack Squeezers Organic Lowfat Yogurt
$1.00/2 Stonyfield YoBaby Organic Yogurt 4-pack
50¢/1 thinkThin bar or thinkThin Bites Box
$1.00/1 Half Gallon or Quart So Delicious Coconut Milk Vanilla, Original or Unsweetened Beverage
$1.00/2 Van's Products
$2.00/1 Kyolic, Kyo-Green, Kyo-Dophilus or Moducare Product
*Valid only at Whole Foods Stores.

Freebies: Spin Magazine, Shout, Garnier, Planning Calendar & TRIO Car


Sign up to get a FREE 1 year of Spin Magazine


Sign up to receive a FREE sample of Shout Color Catcher (Thanks, Karen!)


Sign up to get a free sample of Garnier’s new Wrinkle Test Strips (Thanks, Clever Couponing!)


Sign up for a FREE 2011 Planning Calendar! Your calendar will ship in December (Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!)

Sign up for a free Fisher Price TRIO Car ($9 value)! Shipping is free, too! (Thanks, Common Sense with Money!)

Garnier Herbashine Hair Color- Free at Rite Aid


Get Garnier Herbashine Hair Color FREE at Rite Aid this week!

Buy 3 Garnier Herbashine Hair Color @ $5.99 each
Use 3 $3/1 printable coupons here or here
Use $2/1 August Video Values coupon for Garnier Hair Color
Use $2/1 July Video Values coupon for Garnier Hair Color (if you still have it)
Spend $4.97 OOP, Get $5 UPR
Get all three free after coupons

Thanks, For the Mommas!
 

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