Making Life Sweet...one deal at a time!: 6/1/09

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Calling all readers!

By popular request, I will be starting a regular feature with YOUR tips, frugal advice, and frugal shopping finds.

So many of you out there have awesome ideas and tips to share, and I want to hear them! I have already been getting many in my email inbox.

Please email me any tip or advice you want me to share on my blog. I can't wait to hear what you have to share with us!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Menu Plan Monday: June 29

Last week's menu went really well. It's another reminder to me that when I have a plan life is less stressful! The BBQ chicken roll up recipe we tried was SO yummy....it is now on my regular rotation list. The egg stratta was really quite gross...so I won't bother posting THAT recipe. :) I will come back later and post link to some recipes, I am having internet issues.

MONDAY: Frozen lasagna

TUESDAY: Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas, veggies

WEDNESDAY: Ham and cheese braid

THURSDAY: Taco Salad & mini cheese dog wraps

FRIDAY: Maui burgers and hot dogs on the grill, fruit and veggies

SATURDAY: Spaghetti and breadsticks, salad

SUNDAY: Grilled Cheese and soup (easy!)

Friday, June 26, 2009

Frugal Living Friday: Lemonade Kool-Aid

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

You know all those lime stains that build up in your dishwasher? Have you bought those cleaners at the store for $4-$5 a bottle? Sure, they do the trick....but, there is a less expensive way to clean your dishwasher...save those pennies and do it the frugal way!

photo courtesy of Real Simple

Yes, you are seeing correctly....lemonade Kool-Aid! Real Simple magazine says that the citric acid in the Kool-Aid is a pro at wiping out stains. You put the packet into your dishwasher soap dispenser in an empty dishwasher. Run through a cycle. And whalla!! For a whopping 10 cents you can have a stain-free dishwasher! Oh, and lemonade Kool-Aid is the only flavor of Kool-Aid that works. :)

Granted, it doesn't clean it perfectly but it does do a mighty fine job at wiping out stains. Try it! It works for me.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Thrifty Thursday Tip

Do you have some overripe bananas and are tired of making banana bread? Don't throw the bananas out! Here is a yummy recipe for banana brownies...they are divine! It's a perfect way to use up overripe bananas.

Banana Brownies

3/4 cup butter (soft)
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 ripe bananas (mashed)
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
chocolate chips (I did about 1/4 of a bag or a little more)

Mix everything together, put in a 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Let cool and enjoy (don't overbake -- they look a bit "undone" sometimes).

I also use overripe bananas in smoothies. How do you use overripe bananas?

Edited to add: This recipe is originally from Stacy Julian.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Free 2 year subscription to Parents magazine!

Wednesday Freebie at Arby's

Don't forget about the Wednesday freebies at Arby's all summer! Here is today's freebie:

Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

For the entire freebie list at Arby's during the summer, CLICK HERE. There are lots of good deals you can get all summer, so don't miss out!

Want more summer fun and free stuff? GO HERE for lots of ideas!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Free Redbox code

Here is a new free dvd rental code from Redbox! Get a free dvd rental by using this code at any Redbox location: RBXTHXU6.

Code is valid for one night free rental. The code expires at midnight on Tuesday, June 23rd.

Free Photoshop photo editing class: Registration today!

Don't forget about the free Photoshop photo editing class from Jessica Sprague! I posted about it HERE. Signups begin today! Click HERE to sign up!

Free Yoplait Whips

Here is a great offer! Betty Crocker is giving a Yoplait Whips free product coupon when you sign up for their e newsletter.

However, this offer void in the following states: CA, ID, LA, MN, NJ, NV, ND and TN. For those states, click here for a printable cents off coupon.

Thanks Freebie Blogger!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Menu Plan Monday: June 22

I am finally getting back to planning menus. For a few weeks after having my baby I didn't have to worry about meals since I had put some in the freezer and people from church brought me meals for a week straight! I have good people around me. :)

This week I have company coming so I have planned food more in detail than usual (all three meals). I love all the summer foods! Some of these recipes I have not posted yet on my recipe blog so I can't link to them but I will soon.

MONDAY: Pepperoni Pull Apart Pizza, Rainbow Jello, veggie sticks

TUESDAY: Chili (or bean) and Rice Wraps

WEDNESDAY: Fabulous Fettuccine, salad

THURSDAY: Mexican Chicken and Rice, corn, angel food cake roll for dessert

FRIDAY: Egg Stratta (for breakfast), BBQ and Mexican layer dip for dinner

SATURDAY: BBQ cheddar chicken roll ups, my all-time favorite fruit pizza

SUNDAY: Corned Beef Casserole, salad

Walgreens deals 6/21-6/27

Thanks to The Freebie Blogger for these matchups!

If you are new to Walgreens shopping, make sure you know how Walgreens Register Rewards work. They have discontinued their monthly rebate program.

Accu Check Meter
$14.99 and earns $5 in Register Rewards
$14.99 MIR on package
Free + profit after coupon and rewards!

Aquafresh Advanced Toothpaste
$3 and earns $3 in Register Rewards
$1 off printable, $0.75 6/21 SS
Free + profit after coupon and rewards!

Band-Aid 2/$3
$1 off 4/26 RP & 3/15 SS, $0.50 off 5/17 RP
As low as $0.50 each after coupons!

John Frieda Root Awakening
3/$15 and earns $5 in Register Rewards WYB 3
$3 off 6/14 SS
Only $0.34 each after 3 coupons and rewards!

Kerasal One Step Exfoliating Moisturizer Therapy
$7.99 and earns $5 in Register Rewards
$2 off 5/17 SS, $1 printable
As low as $0.99 after $2 coupon and rewards!

Kotex $2.99
Buy 3 and earns $3 in Rewards, buy 2 and get $1
$1 off any printable, $2/2 & $1.50/2 printables here, $1.50/2 printable, $1 coupon (came with samples), $0.75 off Pantiliners 6/14 SS, $1 off Pads 6/14 SS, $0.75 off Tampons 6/14 SS
As low as $0.99 each after 3-$1 coupons and rewards!

Lysol Disinfectant Spray
2/$7 and earns $2 in Register Rewards
$2 off 6/7 SS
Only $0.50 each after 2 coupons and rewards!

Nabisco Cookies 4-8 oz.
$0.55 off 8 oz. or larger 5/17 SS
Only $0.45 after coupon!

Organix Shampoo or Conditioner B1G1
Mail in Rebate on package
Get 2 for free after rebate!

Planters Trail Mix
2/$3 and earns $1 in Register Rewards
Only $1 each after rewards!

Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel
$1.99 with in-ad coupon
$1 off Skintimate, $1 off Edge Shave Gel
Only $0.99 after coupons!

Speed Stick or Lady Speed stick
$2.99 and earns $2 in Register Rewards
Only $0.99 after rewards!

Rite Aid deals 6/21-6/27

Thanks to The Freebie Blogger for these matchups!

If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid, they offer a monthly rebate program called Single Check Rebates (SCR). Combine the sale price with a coupon and rebate, and you will get yourself some great deals! This is how I have stocked up on many of my hygiene items. GO HERE for coupon lingo information.

Air Wick Plug In Scented Warmer
$0.50 in-ad coupon
Only $0.49 after coupon!

Crest Pro Health Enamel Shield Toothpaste
$2.69 with a $2.69 SCR
$0.50 off 6/7 PG
Free + profit after coupon and rebate!

Lamasil Gel
$9.99 with a $9 SCR
Only $0.99 after rebate!

Mentos 2/$2
$1 off 5/3 SS, $0.55 off 6/7 & 5/3 SS
As low as free after coupons!

Renuzit
Odor Neutralizer or Pearl Scents
$2.49 with a $1 SCR
$1 or $0.75 off 5/17 SS
As low as $0.49 after coupon and rebate!

Skin Clinic Wart Remover
$14.99 with a $14.99 SCR
Free after rebate!

Stayfree 2/$5
$2/2 coupon 4/26 SS, $1 printable
Only $1.50 each after coupon!

Suave Deodorant
$1.99 with a $1.50 SCR
$0.75 off 5/17 RP
Free + profit after coupon and rebate!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Frugal Living Friday: Recycling

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

Using what we have and reusing anything we can is a big part of being frugal. Many of us recycle on a weekly basis, but there are also many of us that don't recycle. For some it is too time consuming. For others, it is not offered with their city's trash program. And for others it is because it just doesn't make sense to them. I don't necessarily want to make this post into a debate about recycling, but there are many points to both sides.

Whether or not you recycle on a weekly basis or not there are basic, everyday ways to recycle items that you use everyday. You don't have to go all out if you don't want to. Here are some ideas.

Freecycle: Instead of getting rid of stuff in the garbage that someone might use, try giving it away on freecycle. Even items like empty baby food jars. I love Freecycle!

Cardboard boxes: There are so many uses for empty boxes of every shape and size. Here are some ideas for using cereal boxes as file holders and many different ways to use shoe boxes.

Gifts: There are many creative ways to use handmade items to make personalized, recycled gifts. HERE is one idea. Carry it further by using notepads, pens, empty tins, and other things you are just going to throw away anyway. I read somewhere online recently about using those flat magnets you get on your new telephone books by covering them with photos of your kids. What a great idea!

This week I challenge you to look around and think before you throw things away. Maybe you can find a use for it.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Any brand dairy coupons for Idaho and Utah

At Coupons.com, you can print off some great dairy coupons for any brand! These are only available it seems for Utah and Idaho areas. Here are the coupons you get:

$1-Off Any Brand Cheese (2 lbs or more)
$.75-Off Any Brand Milk (1 gallon or 2 half-gallons)
$75-Off Any Brand Yogurt (1 32 oz or 4 yogurt cups)

Print from the coupon bar up at the top of my blog or from the links here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Free DiGiorno Flatbread Melt is back!

If you missed this offer last month, it's back again! Sign up to get a FREE DiGiorno Flatbread Melts!!

If you signed up for this in May, I don't know if you will get it again. It doesn't say. But make sure you sign up if you didn't the first time!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Free Virus Software

Get McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 3-User free after rebate when you purchae it from Amazon.com!

Purchase it for just $43, and get free shipping! You can also then get a $50 Mail-in Rebate!

Make sure you click where it says: Get McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 for free, after mail-in rebate, only when you buy from Amazon.com. You will only be able to get it for free if you shop through that link.

Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Fun Father's Day Crafts

With Father's Day coming up, Make and Takes has some fun and frugal Father's Day ideas your kids can do.

What are you planning for Father's Day?

Friday, June 12, 2009

Top 50 Frugal Blogs

There is so much information in blogland to help you save money! FrugalDad has given you a good place to start looking. He has put together a list of the Top 50 Frugality Blogs. Check it out! There are some great websites on there.

Frugal Living Friday: Frugal Living Links

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

Here are some frugal living ideas you might be interested in. I want to try making my own ketchup. Do you even realize how much sugar and corn syurp is in ketchup from the store? It's unreal. Do you know of any other neat ideas to share?

Homemade Ketchup

$5 Dinners

Homemade Bread Crumbs

Homemade Carpet Refresher

Canning: Where to start?

Making your own spice mix

Make ahead recipes for your bread machine!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Free Photo Editing Class

If you have read my blog at all you know that I love digital scrapbooking. There are so many freebies out there (look down on my right sidebar for a list of TONS of digital scrapbooking freebies).

Here is a great one you don't want to miss out on! Jessica Sprague (whom I knew in high school with incidentally) is offering a two week FREE photo editing class! Sign ups begin in June 22nd. GO HERE for all the juicy details. This is the perfect time to really learn Photoshop and what you can do with your photos.

I am so excited about this!

Free Geo Trax dvd from Fisher Price

This offer is now all over the Internet. I am a little slow in posting it, so I hope you all can get one if you haven't ordered yet!

CLICK HERE to order a free Geo Trax dvd from Fisher Price! No credit card required. Just like the Planet Heroes free dvd's from last year, and the Princess dvd I posted about awhile back. You can expect to get your dvd in 12 weeks or so.

Super Why! Play day at Toys R Us

Do your preschoolers love Super Why? Mine do! Toys R Us will be having a fun play day this Saturday! HERE is the link to find a store near you.

Bring your little hero to a Super Why! play day at your local Toys"R"Us Saturday June 13, 2009 12pm - 2pm.

Free Mask & Giveaways*

Storytime

Alphabet Bingo

* Parental Supervision required at all times.

Free gift and activity materials available while supplies last and are distributed only to participating children

Free subscription to Car and Driver magazine

Here is a great Father's Day gift for the car enthusiast! Get a free one year subscription to Car and Driver magazine. Hurry and sign up before the offer is gone! No credit card required and no purchase necessary.

Home Depot Garden Club

Sign up for the Home Depot Gardening Club and you will get gardening tips, advice, and lots of great coupons! Last year I received many valuable coupons in my email inbox. Coupons like B1G1F hanging plants, 50% off perennials, and many more like that. I hope the coupons this year are just as good!

Website Review: Shopwiki Buying Guide

I did a post on Shopwiki a few months ago, but today I will tell you more in detail about what this website can do. It's pretty cool. No matter what you are shopping for online for your children, whether it be clothes, furniture, toys, infant items, games, or books, and no matter what website you want to shop from, go to Shopwiki to find it all in one spot.

Isn't that cool? No more browsing website after website to find what you want. Just head on over to Shopwiki and view everything at once. For example, if you are looking for boys clothing, you will find over 7,000 results to look at. You will find a photo of the item, the price, and a link to the website.

The toys and games buying guide is cleverly organized. You can start right away by narrowing down your search...do you want classic or educational toys? Or maybe creative toys or outdoor toys? From there you will find results just like I explained in the boys clothing. Shopwiki is really easy to navigate and understand. Even if you haven't spent much time on the computer it won't be difficult for you to find your way around.

One of my personal favorite things for kids are books! We love books at our house. I appreciate how Shopwiki has their children's books buying guide set up. There is a list of all-time best sellers from Publisher's Weekly and magazines for children section. Then you can view any book on the web by age category: babies and infant, ages 4-8, ages 9-12, foreign language books, and book alternatives (like audio books). There are also links that take you directly to the Barnes and Noble bestseller lists for the age groups.

What is nice about Shopwiki is you will find every available item online. Shopwiki actively seeks out every store on the internet and what they have for sale. Other shopping websites only show items for sale from websites that have paid to have their items advertised. Shopwiki gives shoppers everything, no matter what! Since I just had a baby I like the infant clothing buying guide. Not only can I find clothing items, but also basic buying tips and sizing information.

When you have the chance, check out Shopwiki and their many different buying guides. You will find them most helpful.

Website Review: R&S Avenue Children's Clothing

R&S Avenue is a clothing website for kids that is more on the upscale end. I am a garage sale girl myself, but you or someone you know might find this website fun to shop at. Especially if you like your child to dress in fun and trendy styles.

As I browsed the children's clothing, I noticed how cute and hip many of the styles are. Check out the children's costume section....simply ADORABLE costumes! And the prices on the costumes really are reasonable, compared to other products on their website.

The child clothing at R&S Avenue is quite frivolous, with wild patterns and fabrics and choices galore. If you are the type of person that likes options when you are shopping for your child, this is the place for you. You have so many choices that it's almost mind-boggling! But what is mostly mind-boggling to me are their prices...I mean really...who is going to spend $40 on a pair of sunglasses for a toddler? I'm sure some people do...but I don't.

Now, the jewelry section has a ton of options for that sweet little darling of yours. I cannot justify spending $78 on a bracelet for my daughter that will most likely be lost or broken in one use but hey...some people will like the idea. They sure are pretty cute though.

There are so many places to buy children clothes online, but I have never seen a website quite like R&S Avenue before. I am assuming that parents who like to dress in cutting-edge styles want their children to dress that way too. R&S Avenue is the place for that. Many of the clothes are unisex as well.

What do you think? Would you buy clothing items from them?

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Organic printable coupons

Ever wonder if there are coupons out there for organic or natural foods? Here you go! Thanks PYP for listing these out!

link

Annie’s Cookies or Crackers .75/1
Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese 6oz, $1/2
Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks $1/1
Earthbound Farm Packaged Salad .75/1
Earthbound Farm products $1/2
EnviroKidz Cereal or Bars $1/1
Green Mountain Coffee 10oz or 12oz bag, or one package of 12 K-Cups, $1/1
HappyBaby, any $2/2
HappyBabyPuffs $1/2
HappyBellies , any $1/2
HappyBites, $2/2
Late July Mini Sandwich Cookies or Sandwich Crackers $1/2
Late July Organic Mini Endangered Animal Sandwich cookies, 5oz box $1/2
Late July Organic Snacks Multipack, $1/1
Nature’s Path Granola Cereal $1/1
Nature’s Path Optimum Cereal, $1/1
Nature’s Path Toaster Pastries $1/1
Newman’s Own Organics 10oz bag or one package of 12 k-cups $1/1
Oikos Greek Yogurt, two 5.3oz or one 16oz, save .75
Organic Valley Cheese, any $1/1
Organic Valley products, any $2/2
Organic Valley Soy product, any $1/1
Stonyfield Organic Fat Free Probiotic Multipack .75/1
Stonyfield Organic Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt, .75/1
Stonyfield Organic Yogurt 32oz, .75/1
Stonyfield Smoothie, two 10oz or one Stonyfield Smoothie Multipack, save .75
Stonyfield yogurts 6oz .75/4
YoBaby Yogurt 6-pack or 4-pack of YoBaby Drinkable Yogurt .75/1
YoKids Yogurt 6-pack or 8-pack YoKids Squeezer, .75/1

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Rebate on Gerber Graduates Smart Sips

Here is a great tip from a reader I got via email:

Graduates just introduced a shelf milk Like Horizon Milk called Graduates Smart Sips. Some of the packages have a rebate for $3.79 per 3 pack. It's right on the packaging. The store I bought it from is selling them for 3.99 so in the end they will be 20 cents for three shelf milks. I live in Cali so I don't know if it's the same else where but I just bought a bunch and am going to fill out the rebates.

Thanks for sharing Megan!

Free Special K crackers at Target

Coupons.com has a FREE coupon you can print!

FREE (up to $3.49) any one package of Special K Crackers redeemable only at Target! (When you buy 2 Special K products)

Print the coupon from my convenient coupon bar at the top of my blog. Don't forget to print it twice!

Your input is needed!

Having a newborn, I am up a lot at night, so I have plenty of time to think. Granted much of that thinking time isn't too coherent but last night during a 3am feeding I was thinking about this blog. My blog has grown so much in the past 6 months, even though I started it two years ago. And...I would like to make some changes! There are so many 'deal' blogs out there many times I feel like I am just repeating information you already have seen. So...my wonderful readers...I need your input!

What would you like to see on my blog? What topics would you like to see regularly addressed?
Do you want shopping lists every week?
What topics would be most beneficial to YOU and your lifestyle?
What is it that keeps you regularly coming back to visit my blog? Freebies? Giveaways? General good deals?
How can I make my blog better? Be honest!

I am not promising anything, but I want to get a feel for what YOU want, so please comment and let me know! I am also looking for someone to give my blog a makeover. Any pointers in that direction?

Friday, June 5, 2009

Save 80% at Restaurant.com!

Restaurant.com Weekly Promo Offer 300 x 250

Another great sale at Restaurant.com! 80% off!!! Get $25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for only $2.00!

Save 60% off of $25 Gift Certificates when you use code PRESENT Pay only $2 thru 6/15/09 only at Restaurant.com. Each restaurant has different restrictions so be sure to read them first. Usually you have to spend $35 on your order, minimum. After all is said and done you can have a really nice meal for around $15 for up to a family of four. Not too bad!

Frugal Living Friday: Frozen Burritos

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

Here is a fast and frugal lunch or snack to have on hand in your freezer. Instead of purchasing frozen burritos in the store try making your own. I have a good recipe you can try. I made a bunch of these before I had my baby for my husband to use in his lunches.

FROZEN BURRITOS
1 lrg can refried beans
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 12 oz taco sauce
small can chopped green chilies
grated cheese
flour tortillas

Brown hamburger. Add beans, taco sauce, and chilies. Roll 4-5 TBL in each flour tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Wrap up tight. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to eat, place in microwave. Top with sour cream, salsa, etc.

I like to wrap my burritos doing the sides first so they stay folded nice and neat and the filling doesn't come out.

Nice and neat!

Then I labeled them and stuck them in the freezer. It's a quick and easy item to have on hand.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Free subscription to Shape magazine

HURRY!

Rewards Gold is offering a free one year subscription to Shape magazine. This goes fast, so sign up now.

Free Child Safe Kit

I ordered this freebie a few years ago and I think it is a great item to have. I'm glad it's still available.

It's A Child Safe Kit, which includes pertinent information to keep your child safe: identification, picture slot, and fingerprints. Even the ink is included. I did this a couple of years ago for my kids. It is something important to keep on hand just in case.

Thanks Wendi for reminding me about this great freebie!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Free float night at Sonic tonight!

Don't forget...tonight is free rootbeer float night at Sonic!

See my previous post HERE for all the details.

Another RAOK Gymboree code GONE

I have another 20% off your entire purchase at Gymboree that expires on August 2, 2009. The first person to comment on this post can have it. Please leave me your email and I will email you the code.

If you are wondering where I am getting all these 20% off codes....I am getting them in the FREE magazine subscriptions I get. The one I am giving away today is in the July issue of Family Fun magazine. The code I gave away yesterday was in the July issue of Cookie magazine. One more reason to sign up for those free magazines!

Oh, and for those that asked...RAOK stands for Random Act of Kindness. :)

Making my way back...

I'm slowly starting to come back to reality! New babies always zap your energy, don't they? But it is worth it! We having so much fun with our new little bundle of joy. My other 3 kids simply adore having another baby. It has only been a week but it seems longer than that for some reason.

As I try to balance my new responsibilities in life, sneaking naps in, and summertime beginning, I may be short on posts. If you find any deals or know of freebies or sales, feel free to email me and I will do my best to post them. I haven't been deal shopping for almost 2 weeks! I haven't even stepped foot into Albertson's in a week. That is really abnormal for me. Hopefully I will feel up to shopping soon.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

ROAK Gymboree code

I have a 20% off your entire purchase at Gymboree that expires August 2, 2009.

The first person to leave a comment on this post can have it! Please leave me your email and I will email you the code.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Michaels free craft event and coupons

The Knack Free Family Event Powered by Klutz®

Bring the whole family to Michaels on Saturday, June 6, from 10am to 1pm and create two Thumb Doodles cards to take home. Plus, all Klutz products are 20% off on Saturday, June 6, only!

Also, CLICK HERE for two printable coupons to use on any item and on your entire purchase! Both coupons good through Saturday, June 6th.