Hot Chocolate Mix

Here's a yummy hot chocolate mix to enjoy during this cold weather! My mom used to make it during Christmas time when I was growing up. It uses powdered milk, and might be a good way to use some up if you need to cycle through some in your food storage! It also could be a great neighbor/friend gift when packaged in a cute container.

Hot Chocolate Mix
1 box (10 and 2/3 cups) powdered milk
1 6 oz. jar powdered non-dairy creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
1 16 oz. container instant chocolate drink mix (like Nestle)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container and use within six months. Makes 17 cups.
Mix 3 heaping tablespoons to one cup hot water.
Enjoy!

Pflugerville Holiday Parade

I'm sure you've noticed the signs up around town. The 4th Annual Holiday Stroll is this Saturday, December 12th. There are events all day, culminating in a parade at 6pm (watch for our cub scouts!) and a tree lighting with carols. Most of the events are free, but there is a $1 admission to the children's area. Click here if you'd like more information.

Below is the announcement from the town:

It's Holiday Stroll time again. This year is Pflugerville's 4th annual event and
the Schedule is bursting with shopping, kids activities, antique cars and cycles all topped off with the Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting.

Shopping and Vendor Booths
10 am - 8 pm
Kid's Activities and Entertainment
10 am - 6 pm
Santa Pictures
10 am - 4 pm
Car and Cycle Show
2 pm - 4:30 pm
Lighted Christmas Parade
6:00 pm
Community Holiday Tree Lighting and Carols
Immediately following the parade.

Trail of Lights

Here in Austin we have a wonderful light show at Zilker Park. There is a 1/2 mile pedestrian walk lined with scenes depicted in lights, Santa's house, Santa's post office, and entertainment by community groups each night.

To save on energy costs this year, it will run for one week only! Don't miss it, Dec 13th -Dec 21st from 6-10pm each night. Entry is free, and parking has been reduced to $10 per car.

Here is the link to this year's events at Zilker if you'd like more info.

Christmas Ideas

These are some ideas I got from a book my mom gave me one Christmas called Christmas Joy by Susan Branch. I plan on doing some of these things myself this year. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired too.

Decking the Halls

Use lots of candles – fat, thin, short and tall – everywhere. Set white votives in a bowl of coarse salt for “candles in the snow”. Hollow out apples and put in candles.

Sugared fruit: a very elegant and old-fashioned decoration or centerpiece – the fruit looks frosted and icy. Dip plums, red grapes, peaches, apples, etc. into egg white and roll in sugar. Put in a pretty bowl.

Bowls of pinecones, apples, pomegranates, cranberries, holly, cinnamon bundles, whole nuts in their shells, tangerines and oranges studded with cloves. Simmer cloves, citrus peel, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg for good smells.

Tape your Christmas cards around a doorway, window, or mirror.

A pumpkin cut with stars all over and lit with a candle is another fun porch light.

Hang pictures of friends and family from previous Christmases on your refrigerator with little magnets. Set out the photo album to encourage remembrance. Set up framed pictures of family, especially those unable to be present.

Tie ribbon around the dog’s neck, put a bell on the cat, dress up your children, put on a cute apron, put jingle bells on the baby’s shoes.

Christmas is for Children

On the first day of Christmas vacation, let your child choose the dinner menu. Make this a Christmas tradition.

Start a hope chest for boys and girls. Put in Great Grandma’s hand embroidered dish towels, Aunt Mary’s famous sugar cookie recipe, add a sterling silver place setting each year. Put in their baby books, keepsakes, photos and momentos. Have fun.

Have a special Christmas party just for children. Make decorations, take flowers to a convalescent home and sing some carols, eat cake and cookies, make a candy house, read a Christmas story and play pin the star to the tree. Scavenger hunts are great for older children.

Give something to charity every year and discuss it all with your children.

Make a photo album especially for your child for a Christmas present. Star him, his friends, his pets, him on vacation – include cartoons, quotes, newspaper headlines, and a big “I love you.”

Read them a Christmas story, one chapter each night – to end the day in a relaxing family atmosphere.

Enroll your child in your own personal Treat-of-the-Month Club. Make a little coupon that promises one special homemade treat a month.

Fun Christmas Cookies

Christmas Wreaths

Ingredients:
36 lg. marshmallows
½ cup butter
½ tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. green food coloring
3 ½ cups cornflakes
1 pkg. candy redhots

Over medium heat, melt marshmallows and butter together. Stir in vanilla and food coloring. Fold in cornflakes and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Working quickly with buttered fingers, form into little wreaths. Decorate with candies. They will firm up as they cool. Makes about 24.

Reuse Jars!

Here's a way I have found to re-purpose the perfectly good glass jars from peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, applesauce and other foods that I often throw away. What about transforming them into holiday goody containers?
Take for example this molasses jar:

Rinse, peel off label (might have to scrub a bit!), and run it through the dishwasher.
Find some Christmas-y srapbook paper, then cut the paper to size, a circle about aninch larger than the lid. Then fold the paper up and around the lid while hot gluing into place.


So now your lid looks like this


Ta Da!


So don't throw away a good glass jar - reuse it, make something fun, and save yourself some money!

Use The Friend!

Did you know that on www.lds.org they have cataloged every issue of the children's magazine "The Friend" back to 1971?? If, like me, you're looking for some Christmas fun on a tight budget, I recommend looking at the December issues - they are packed with great and inexpensive ideas for decorations and gifts! They also have digital versions of the magazine back to 2001, with a feature in those issues called "Christmas Workshop" that is full of fun stuff. Here's how to access them: go to www.lds.org and up at the top click on "Gospel Library", then the pop up menu, select "Magazines"; that will take you to a new page where you will see all four magazines the Church offers; click on picture of "The Friend" magazine. This will take you to The Friend's main page where you can either look at digital versions of the magazine by clicking on the link on the right side of the page under "View Magazines", or you can look on the left hand side of the page for the "Past Issues" link. Want to see a sample of the Christmas Workshop feature in the digital version of one of the past issues? Click here and then look on the left hand menu for "Christmas Workshop" and click!

Christmas Play

This one is a great show for kids. And best of all, it's free!

Doors open at 7pm with live carols in the sanctuary, performance is at 7:30pm both Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 2pm on Sunday.

Directed by B. Ida Payne Theater Award winner, Amy Downing, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever stars Trinity Street Players’s own Ashley Old, Travis Norris, David Mines, Hannah Willard, Dane Rice, Stephanie Davis, Caroline Miller, Spencer and Luke Hammett, Sarah Mines, Clayton Old, Linda Miller Raff, Ginger Young, Marillah, Matt and Amie King, Alexa Hudson, Maddy, Charlotte and Kelly Mahmoud, Carter Davis, Jonathan Belcher and Chloe McCullars. Joining us from other churches and the Austin community are Michelle Gold, Rose Smiley, Cal Ussery, Paige Hemingson, Hosea and David Downing and Allison Vanderslice!

Rev. Ann Pittman

First Baptist Church of Austin

901 Trinity St. 78701

512-476-2625

512-913-7636

apittman@fbcaustin.org

www.fbcaustin.org

www.watersedgeaustin.com

Birthday Gifts for Christ

Our family has several birthdays during the month of December. A few years ago I realized that this gave us the perfect opportunity to talk about Christ's birthday.

Throughout the month, as we're talking about what to give and what each of my boys wants for their birthday, we make a point of mentioning Jesus's birthday as well. We discuss all of the different things we could give him and try to come up with the things he would most want from us this year. In the past, our choices have been things like obedience to our parents, helping our siblings, and reading our scriptures together more.

Even if you don't have December birthdays, the season of giving will offer many opportunities to discuss what we can give our Savior.

Or, try throwing a birthday party for Jesus as an FHE. Act out the nativity as your party game, celebrate with cake, and give presents by recording what you will give Jesus as a gift this year, either in pictures or in your journal.

I can attest to how wonderful it is to turn the world's focus on gifts back towards the true meaning of Christmas. Give it a try this year!t

Great Resources

Hi Sisters! I just wanted to share a helpful site for Christmas ideas and homemade gifts that I found the other day.
Click here for lots of free printables, like calendars, Christmas countdown planners, and even pocket planners.
Click here for printable gift tags, and cute gift ideas complete with the labels for the jars.
Click here for all sorts of articles on how to save money during the holidays (scroll down the page through the ads to get to articles).
And finally, click here for homemade craft and gift ideas!
Hope you enjoy!

Gifts with #10 Cans

When using your food storage, either to save on groceries or to rotate it, you can end up with many empty #10 cans. These can be used for some easy, fun, and useful gifts. And did I mention cheap?

(Please be careful to remove all sharp edges before reusing your cans. When opening new cans, be sure to continue the can opener all the way past the beginning point.)

Stilts
Turn can over and drill two holes on opposite sides, just under the new top edge. String rope of appropriate length for kids to pull up when they step. Or try elastic to strap the cans to the kids shoes. Decorate with paint, markers, stickers, ribbon, etc.

Countertop Canisters
Spray paint the outside of the can and the plastic lid. Decorate as desired. Try handpainting designs, gluing on trim, decoupage, etc. Finish with several coats of Krylon spray coating so that the outside can be wiped clean.

Storage Canisters
Decorate as desired, finishing with Krylon if needed. Use to store kids craft supplies, garage items, whatever you can think of!

Building Toys
Spray paint or simply leave silver. They make great toys to build tall towers and pyramids, and are fun to knock down!

Can you think of any other uses? Email me and I'll add them to the list.

Also, if anyone is in need of cheap gifts but doesn't have any #10 cans, I have a dozen or so hanging around.

Use what's available

This list of ideas was originally intended to show how you could "go green" for Christmas. It struck me how many of these I could do with things I already have around the house. I'm particularly excited to try #5.

1. Chocolate Dipped Spoons! If you need a quick and easy gift for a co-worker or neighbor, this is it. Dip plastic spoons in melted chocolate, set on wax paper to set, and wrap in plastic wrap. If you have some, you could sprinkle on crushed up candy canes before they set. They can stir a little chocolate sweetness into a mug of coffee, espresso or hot chocolate. A delicious holiday treat!
2. Fruit Place Settings! Tie a festive name tag onto the stem of a pear, apple, mini pumpkin, etc. and put it on your place settings for a personal and delicious touch to your holiday spread!
3. Popcorn-Cranberry Garland! Decorate naturally this year! Children can string cranberries and day-old popcorn onto thick thread or dental floss with a plastic needle to create a decorative garland to wrap your Christmas tree.
4. Pumpkin Vases! Pumpkin vases are a beautiful and fragrant addition to every home. Cut the top off a pumpkin, clean out the inside, and fill with festive flowers. Voila! Your pumpkin vase is ready to delight. Note: In this climate, the pumpkin will last no longer than 3 days unless refrigerated.
   
5. Festive & Fragrant! Give your home a festive holiday scent without expensive chemical air fresheners. Simply press whole cloves into an orange and sew a thread through the skin for a pretty and festive decoration that smells incredible!
6. Pinecone Turkeys! Kids love to make pinecone turkeys! Collect pinecones and use colorful felt and pipe cleaners to get your turkey gobbling. These make super ornaments or place card holders!
7. Gourd Art! Make one-of-a-kind gourd art. First, collect and dry unusually shaped gourds. Paint the gourds with your favorite colors and patterns. Hang on the tree for handmade keepsake ornaments you and your kids will treasure for years to come.
8. Apple-licious! Old-fashioned bobbing for apples is a fun activity for holiday kids' parties. After each child takes his or her turn and has an apple, have them make their own candy, caramel or chocolate covered apples! A super sweet treat!
9. Colorful Cubes! Add a twist to your drink by serving ice cubes with fruit or herbs frozen into them (orange slices, lemon rind, raspberries and mint leaves freeze well and add vibrant color). Cloudy cubes? Use distilled water instead of tap water. Great for water, lemonade, or clear juices.
   
10. Get Creative! Tis' the season for décor! Fill tall glasses with cranberries, cinnamon sticks or uncooked multi-colored pasta or beans. Anything you have! Add candles, glass beads, rhinestones or crystals for sparkle and shine throughout the holidays!
    

Modified from the Newflower Market newsletter.

Draw Names and Make Gifts

I grew up in a family of eight and we didn't have much money, so this tradition was one of necessity. We would draw names at the at Thanksgiving and you had to make something for the person you drew. We had to be very creative and we came up with some wonderful gifts.

Submitted by Tamma.

A Fun and Frugal Christmas

In the coming weeks, we hope to be able to share many fun and frugal Christmas ideas. Traditions, decorations, activities, recipes, gifts, and service ideas, all that cost little to nothing.

To kick it off, I'll share one of my own.

Reindeer Food (And a follow up FHE lesson)
As part of the Christmas Eve festivities, we traditionally leave cookies for Santa. But what about the reindeer? They've been working very hard and might need a little snack. Leave a carrot or two on the plate with the cookies, and watch the kids' eyes light up when they see nibbles and gnaw marks in the morning. (Don't forget to nibble and gnaw a little before heading to bed!)

Later, you can turn the experience into an FHE lesson on gratitude for service. Those reindeer had been working very hard, and it made them feel so good that you remembered them. Many of those who serve diligently, do so from behind the scenes. When we stop and think, who do we know who quietly serves? In the home, at church, at school, and at work? And how can we show them that we're grateful for it? For the activity, act on your ideas!

To contribute an idea, please contact a member of the Provident Living committee.

Cheaper Dry Goods

Currently, Costco has several dry goods available for less than the Church Home Storage Center. Here's what I paid yesterday. (Please note that Costco sells 50 lb bags, while the HSC sells 25 lb bags.)

Home Storage Center (25 lb bags)
Flour $10.oo
Sugar $13.20
Rice $10.35

Costco (50 lb bags)
Flour $11.59
Sugar $21.99
Rice $14.15

If 50 lbs seems like a lot, remember that it will come out to around 10 cans of each of these items. And that it will go a long way toward building up your food storage!

If you don't have a Costco card, call, email, or leave a comment on this post and we can plan a time to go use ours.

Mia J

Video on How to Use the Canner

Prices have changed again at the cannery, and most have gone down. Powdered milk in particular has dropped significantly. (I remember paying over $8 a can for some of mine!) It's a great time to stock up!

The new price list can be found here. Remember that our cannery only sells the bulk and supplies to can at home. The cannery has two canners to check out and our stake has a new one that I can schedule for you.

The video below is for all of you who are afraid of canning. It's not hard at all, especially if there are two of you working together. The only possible difference between her canner and the ones we have access to would be the lines on the push/pull handle. If ours don't have them, it takes a can or two to figure out the correct pressure. Does anyone know if ours have the lines or not?

Anyway, enjoy the video. And watch for an email from me with the cannery schedule and possibly a canning party!




Thanks go to Crystal at Everyday Food Storage for making the video.

Upcoming Coupon Class

Want to learn how to save money at the grocery store?

Then come join us for a couponing class presented by Stacy Lafeber.

When: July 16^th

^{Where: Pflugerville Building, Relief Society Room}

^{Time: 7pm}

Please invite your friends and neighbors to come too!

Other Kinds of Preparedness

We often focus too much on the very temporal kinds of preparedness. Finances, Food Storage, and Emergency Prep are the focus of so many classes and discussions.

But I strongly believe that they are secondary to other kinds of preparedness. Particularly Spiritual, Emotional, and Social. I like to think of those as muscles we can strengthen. When our bonds with the Lord, our internal struggles, and our connections with others are weak, we have a hard time handling trials. But with the full strength of the Lord, our own solid beliefs in ourselves, and wonderful friends for support, we can handle anything that life sends our way.

What can we do to strengthen those muscles?

We all know how to become closer to the Lord. Pray, study his words, attend the temple, etc. It's so simple that we sometimes forget that without work, even a strong muscle will weaken.

Our emotional strength is more individual. Some of us simply need some quiet introspection to see what amazing women they are. Some need the listening ear of a friend or the Lord. Some need the help of our wonderful relief society president, or even the bishop. And some may need to speak with their doctor about getting help. No matter what, do what you need to do. Every one of you is an amazing and powerful woman and should feel like it!

Building social strength is going to push most of us out of our comfort zones. But just at the beginning. If you are feeling alone, pick up the phone! I guarantee there are others wishing they had someone to talk to at that very moment. Make effort to reach out, and I promise that others will start reaching back. Friendships don't start, or continue, without effort. But once you've formed that bond, it won't feel like work at all.

And just in case you were thinking you needed to do all of this on your own, I'd like to point out a blog post that asks the question: "Are we trying to be too self-reliant?" (Click the underlined section to go to the post.) These muscles mentioned above a resources that we SHOULD draw on in times of need.

Something to ponder today.

Stock up on price matching

Here is a couple of can't pass up deals! You can have this price matched at walmart.
Eckrich sausage 48oz at HEB is $4.99
Use manufactured coupon .55 off = $4.44
@ Walmart it is $7.47 price match it folks

Use coupons to save big @ Walmart
Kraft salad dressing $1.58 variety flavors -$1.50 coupon = .08
A1 sauce $2.08 - $2.00 coupon = .08
Bic Soliei Shavers $4.64 - $3.00 coupon = $1.64 for us ladies
Pert for Men 3 in 1 shampoo $2.32 - $1.50 coupon = $.82
Edge Shave Gel $2.00 or trial size for $1.47 - $1.00 coupon or $.75 coupon = $1.00 or $0.72
Bistro Pasta (ready meal) Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine $1.98- $1.00 coupon = $0.98 Great for hubbies to take for lunch
Kraft Deluxe Shells and Cheese or Velveeta Shells and cheese $1.50- $1.00 coupon = $0.50
Total bill $5.10 after coupons, even if you add cost of the purchased coupons = $6.06
Before coupons it would have been $16.10 big difference

These are some of the things that I purchased today. I ordered the coupons to save $$$. I saved $10 in the above purchases. I spent $.96 to have these coupons sent to me. You can really save. No buying the paper and you just order what you normally buy anyway. No hassles with any store because they are the newspaper clipped coupons.

Anybody interested I wouldn't mind teaching you how easy it really is, just let me know by emailing me at jemimabian@aol.com be sure to include the possible time frame you were thinking.

Holly

Potluck Food Storage Style

The Provident Living Committee will be hosting an event Saturday, June 13th at 6pm to 8pm in the gym at our church. Sign up to bring a dish using your food storage. This can include dry, bulk or staple items. Submit your recipe with at least one ingredient from your food storage to jemimabian@aol.com so I may distribute copies for all that attend preferably by June 12th . Otherwise they will be posted to the blog.
A short summary of all the "Cooking with Food Storage Classes" with the best of the best recipes from the classes will be provided along with the recipes of brought dishes.
This is a whole family event to come out and try new recipes and practice what you learned from the food storage classes.
Hope to see you there!

Summer Heat

I would like to extend my invitation for looking at any air conditioning problems that anyone may have. Before you call an air conditioning company let me look at the problem and I could give you an idea on how much it will cost you. I offer this service for free.

Holly

Food Storage Class

Food Storage Topic tomorrow is beans! I will review the previous information and add some new recipes. I will be looking forward to seeing some faces.

Grocery Highlights 5/7-5/12

RANDALLS

FREE Strawberries Be Sure to check this weeks Randalls e-coupons HERE - there are two coupons for strawberries $1 off 2-4 lbs and a FREE pound of Strawberries with club card and minimum $10 purchase it's not on the first page so scroll until you see it. Valid through 5/31/09. You can print 2 of these.

Texas Sweet 1015 Onions - $.49/lb
Boneless Pork Loin - $1.99/lb
18ct Large Eggs - $1.49 (Limit 1 with in-ad coupon)
Duncan Hines Cake and Brownie Mix - $1.95 (B2G3!)-Use $.35/1 DH Brownies coupon (RP 2/1)Pasta Roni - 10/$10-Use $1/4 Pasta Roni coupon (RP 3/8)Final Price = $3 for 4

Buy 5 Save $5
Juice Promotion $5 will be deducted at the register when you buy any five participating items mix and match.
Participating brands include Ocean Spray, Capri Sun, Capri Sun Roarin' Waters, Mott's, Langers, V8, V8 V-Fusion, Izze, Crystal Light, Propel and Gatorade Powder Drink Mix. The ad prices and these coupon match up prices reflect the after discount price which $1 per item off of the club card shelf price:

Capri Sun Sunrise $1.49 use $1 off from 4/19 Smart Source = .49 cents
V8 $1.99 use $1 off HERE = .99 cents
V8 Fusion $2.49 use $1 off HERE or from 4/19 Smart Source= $1.49
Ocean Spray - $1.99 -Use $.55/1 Ocean Spray (RP 4/19)

HEB

Strawberries $1.47/lb
Hormel Bacon 2/$4
Fresh boneless skinless chicken breast Hill Country Fare $1.99/lb

Target

Target Brand Sponges - $.99-Use $.75/1 Target Coupon HEREFinal Price = $.24
Target Brand Antibacterial Soap - $.99-Use $.75/1 Target Coupon HEREFinal Price = $.24
Eggo Waffles - $1.66-Use $.75/1 Eggo coupon (SS 4/5)Final Price = $.92
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $1.94-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.94
Kashi Waffles - $1.99-Use $1.50 Kashi coupon HEREFinal Price = $.49
Apples (Select Varieties) - $.99/lb-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = FREE (if you buy only 1lb)
Chex mix .99 cent bags near the register use $1 off Target coupon HERE = FREE
Hershey Bliss Bars .99 cents use the Target Coupon HERE = FREE

Bithell Farm Berry Order

Hello Sisters,I am the group representative person for the Bithell Farms berry order this year. Bithell Farms in Oregon trucks frozen berries and jams down to Texas at the end of each summer. The berries are wonderful to have year round and my family loves their strawberry freezer jam. Just make sure you have the freezer space for all the berries you order! If you don’t have a lot of freezer space but you want to have a variety of berries consider splitting an order with a friend. Attached is the order form and berry information. All orders are due June 10th by 5 p.m. Orders can be mailed or dropped off directly to my home. Please do not e-mail me the order form with the credit card number attached! We will receive a small discount per case of berries/pack of jam. We get a $3 discount on each fruit or case of jam and a $2 discount on each jam gift pack. Discount price is reflected on the order form, but not on the info brochure. Make all payments payable to Bithell Farms.Bithell Farms will contact me one to two weeks before the scheduled delivery day (end of August or early September). I will let you know as soon as I find out. When the truck delivers he is only at the delivery site for a few minutes to unload the orders of those waiting. The truck does not wait for anyone that is not there and I will not be responsible for anyone else’s order! If sisters ordering will be out of town they need to make arrangements for a friend to pick it up for them. (Berries arrive frozen.)Please pass this on to anyone else that may be interested. You’re welcome to call or e-mail me with questions!Thank you! Wendy Wells275-6173709 Leann LaneCedar Park 78613

How to make couponing easier

Where to start:
Step One
Sure everyone wants to save money but time is also very important especially when you have little ones. I have seen the coupon folders or organizers, but all that flipping is confusing and hard to do with toddlers. I suggest when time permits to enter all your coupons on a spreadsheet. Some important things to be sure to include are name (Prego), Expires (5-03), on hand (this is quantity{3}), and how much (.40 or .50/2 this would be .50 on 2 items). It seems very time consuming but in the end you will be able to skim down the page and know exactly how much you can save.

Step Two
Go through all the sales. Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Heb, Fiesta, General Dollar, Family Dollar, Sun Harvest and / or Whole Foods. This is where you sign up for email flyer's to save on time and having to buy the newspaper. Write down what you think is a good deal. Most stores advertise the same product the same week for competition of consumers. Okay now subtract your coupon amount and get the real price. Is it a good deal?

Step Three
Remember important key elements which differ between all stores.
Heb does not take manufactured coupons along with their in store coupon (a.k.a Double Couponing). So you want to aim for manufactured coupons on the combo things. Make sure the item is something you will pay for, that way you can use the coupon to get a discount. The other item that is free you can not use a coupon on. Heb will only accept colored coupons and does not price match.

Walgreens has great sales but some employees are not coupon friendly. There are rules about using so many coupons per transaction. So I just pick up the sale ad, this is all I need to do.

CVS has better sales than Walgreens most of the time. They also have a coupon rule on how many you can use at once or per transaction. So again I bypass the red tape and just pick up a sales ad.

Both Walgreens and CVS use what I call "fake money" to get you to come back. I have a hard time when you need to use this reward stuff by a certain date to actually redeem the value. So if you shop just to get the rewards but never return to actually redeem them, you are spinning your wheels along with overpaying for the things.

Randalls is tricky when it comes to sales. Most of the time it is overpriced. They triple coupons up to .39 and double up to .50 which is great only when the price is right. If you have multiple coupons for the same item they will only double or triple the first coupon and the other coupons will be at face value. This can actually hurt you if you don't expect this. Even some of the sales are not the lowest prices around.

Walmart is great with already low prices. I don't like shopping at Wal-Mart, but they price match with no complaints. So take the CVS and Walgreen's (any store sales ad) sale ads to the store to get the best deal and use your coupons with no attitude from the employees. They will not double or triple any coupons but consider the amount of time and gas before you go for Randall's or Albertsons (which is in San Marcos). Kmart is even doubling coupons up to $2.oo in some places.

Step Four
Get it together. Go with a buddy. Know what you are going to buy, which coupons you are going to use and how much it should be. Every time I go shopping I can guarantee one price will be wrong and if you don't get it corrected at that time good luck with the hopes of coming back. Don't buy anything else without research. Bring all your coupons and your spreadsheet coupon list. Write down prices if you think they are good deals and double check. Don't forget to look at ounces and limits. The larger size is not the better buy always. Break out the calculator if in doubt. A number one thing to look for is when there are multiple size boxes with different prices of the same product. Okay, most of the time the store breaks the price down into ounces for you. When they don't break the price down, this your red flag to double check the price. Sometimes the deal is not the bargain it appears to be.

To put this into perspective here are some of the great bargains I am referring to:
Walgreens
Gillette Product 12.2 oz Shampoo for him for 3.99 use the 1.25 coupon from Fiesta Coupon Book = 2.74
Huggies wipes 64 or 72 ct 2/$5.00 use two .75 coupons printable = 3.50 for 2 huggies wipes
CVS
Dawn 10.3 oz for .99 use .40 coupon for Fiesta Coupon Book = .59
Fiji Water 6 pack for 5.99 use 1.50 coupon printable =4.49
Tide 2x liquid loads 24-32 or powder loads 31-40 5.94 use 1.00 coupon = 4.94
Randalls
Raisin Brain 20 oz 1.99 use 1.00 coupon printable = .99
Dannon Activia 2/$5.00 use two 1.00 coupons coupon master= 3.00
Tyson Chicken Nuggets B1G1 2/ $7.99 use two 1.00 coupons = 2/ 5.99
Target
Skippy peanut butter 15-16.3 oz 1.69 use .40 coupon Fiesta coupon book = 1.29
Clorox 3/$5.00 use three .50 coupons Fiesta coupon book = 3/ 3.50
HEB
Combo buy Tylenol use 1.00 off coupon or St. Josephs Aspirin use 1.00 coupon get ozarka 6 pack free

Remember, I will not go to all these stores. I will get them price matched at Walmart for the most part. I will have to go to Heb for the water deal.

You can find coupons everywhere. Fiesta has a coupon book that has about $30.00 in savings. Pick up a few. The coupon master are newspaper coupons use pick and choose and have sent directly to you. Google any product to find a printable coupon or sign up for a savings from certain companies.

Grocery Highlights 4/29-5/5

HEB

I did not see much this week here. Only these combo deals I thought worth noting.

Meal DealBuy These:-
Fully Cooked Sliced Chicken Breasts or Thighs for Fajitas (26OZ)
-Kraft Regular or 2% Natural Shredded Cheese (8oz)

Get These Free:-Market Fresh Bratwurst Links (up to $3)
-Wholly Guacamole Classic (7oz)
-HCF Picante Sauce (24oz)
-HEB Flour Tortillas (20ct)
-HEB Sour Cream (8oz)
-HEB Soft Drink (2L)

AND
Buy This: Marie Callender’s Pasta Al Dente Frozen DinnersGet This:
Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine or Triple Hearts Lettuce BlendsAND
Get This: HEB Creamy Creations Ice Cream (1pt)
-Use $.75/1 Marie Callender’s Al Dente coupon HERE

RANDALLS

This is the last week of the Living Well promotion. It ends on 5/5. I hope you have been able to take advantage of this great sale. It has turned out to be even better for my family as I have seen all of the products included. I have done 3 transactions so far and paid very little out of pocket for items we love and needed. Please see the previous posts for coupon matchups and more explanation.

Other sale items this week:

Select Keebler Cookies - $1-Use $.55/1 Keebler coupon HEREFinal Price = $.45 (I had to put this one first!!!)

Broccoli - $1/lb
Mangos - 2/$1
Red Seedless Grapes - $.98/lb
Fresh Express Salad Blends - $3.69 (BOGO)-Use $1/2 Fresh Express coupon HERE (pg 3)Final Price = $2.69
80/20 Ground Beef - $1.99/lb
Chicken Drumsticks, Thighs and Quarter - $1/lb
Rice-a-Roni - $1-Use $1/4 Rice a Roni coupon (RP 3/8)Final Price - $3 for 4
Snyder’s Pretzels - $1
Quaker Rice Cakes use $1 off one from 3/29 Red Plum = FREE ( Quaker mini rice snacks are also part of the Living Well promotion )

TARGET

Don't forget Target. They have some great printable coupons right now. Here a few matchups and good deals.

Ritz Cheese and Peanut Butter Crackers - $2-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE-Use $1/2 Ritz coupon HEREFinal Price = $1 for 2
Target Brand Baby Body Wash - $1.25-Use $.75/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.50
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $1.94-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.94
Kashi Waffles - $1.99-Use $1.50 Kashi coupon HEREFinal Price = $.49

Apples (Select Varieties) - $.99/lb-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = FREE (if you buy only 1lb)

V8 V-Fusion Juice - $2.99-Use $2/1 V8 coupon HEREFinal Price = $.99
California Pizza Kitchen - $5.50-Use $2/1 CPK coupon HEREFinal Price = $3.50

Grocery Highlights 4/22-4/28

HEB

Large cantaloupe $1 each
HEB bake shop bread 1$ each
HEB sour cream and cottage cheese 16oz 1$ each
Hill Country Fare shredded cheese 8oz $1.50
By the way- the nesquik combo deal I mentioned last week is not so great. It is a HUGE container for almost $8.

Randalls

Select Fresh Express Salads - 10/$10
Buy 2 Classico Pasta Sauces - 2/$4-Get 2 Boxes Safeway Pasta Free-Use $1/2 Classico Coupon HERE Final Price = $3 for 2 Sauces and 2 Pastas
Baby Carrots (1lb) - $1
Pillsbury crescents (4 count) $1.39 buy 3 get $3 on your next order - the big ones are signed but it works for the little ones.

Saturday & Sunday Only
85/15 Ground Round - $1.99/lb
Artichokes - $1.47
Wishbone Dressing - $.99-Use $.75/1 Wishbone Coupon HERE Final Price = $.24

The Living Well promotion I posted last week continues this week. Buy $30 worth of qualifying products and get $10 coupon toward your next shopping trip. The $30 is after Randall's coupons but before manufacturer coupons so your out of pocket can be even lower than $30 and still get the $10 coupon back. Please check the previous post as all the prices and qualifying products remain the same. I also have a few more to list that I found during my trip this week. There are tags on the shelf showing the product qualifies, so you almost just have to walk up and down each aisle.

I am also going to list a great sample idea of how to really maximize this promotion with coupons you can print at home. Remember you can print 2 coupons per computer just go back to the original print button or use your back button. Feel free to ask my any questions!

Buy These Items:
4 Boxes DreamField Pastas - $8
2 Cans Muir Glen Tomatoes* - $4.10
2 Cartons Trop50 OJ - $5
2 Packages YoPlus Yogurt - $5
1 Bottle of Bright Green Bleach - $1.49
1 Bag of Mission Tortillas - $2.50
2 6-packs of Ozarka (may be called Deer Park) Water - $3.98
Subtotal = $30.07
Use $14 in coupons, pay $16.07 out of pocket
Get back $10 coupon for your next shopping trip

$1/1 Dreamfield Pasta Coupon HERE
$1/1 Dreamfield Pasta Coupon HERE
$1/1 Muir Glen Coupon HERE
$1.50/1 Trop50 Coupon HERE
$1.50/1 YoPlus Coupon HERE
$1/1 Bright Green HERE
$1/1 Mission Tortillas HERE

Also:

Hefty trash bags 80 count $5.99 use 1$ off coupon from Sunday insert 4/19

Ozarka Sports top water 6 pack is $1.99 each buy 2 get a $2 on your next order AND these are part of the living well deal - just as with the Aquapod deal I posted before you get a $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon catalina and a $2 on your next order each time you purcahse 2

Be sure to pick up a Living Well flyer in the front of the store. It has additional coupons like .50 off Caprisun.

Grocery Highlights 4/15-4/21

HEB

Red seedless grapes $1/lb
Fresh blackberries 5.6oz $1.50
Hill Country Fare split chicken breasts $1/lb
Boneless Pork Sirloin chops $1.99/lb
Buy Nestle Nesquik 48.7-56oz get Free Nestle Juicy Juice and HCF cookies with in-store coupon
(I have no idea what the Nesquick costs but sounds like a good deal)

Randalls

Red Seedless Grapes - $.88/lb
Red Bell Peppers - $.98 each
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese - $.49 (Limit 4)
Pasta and Rice a Roni - $.89 (Limit 6)-Use $1/4 Coupon (RP 3/8)Final Price = $2.56 on 4
Foster Farms Lunchmeat - $1.99
Select Mrs. Bairds White Bread - $1.39
Chef Boyardi Ravioli - 10/$10

Now for the big deal at Randalls-

Living Well Promotion runs through May 5th buy $30 of qualifying products in a single transaction and get $10 off your next order. As usual the $30 total is before manufacturer coupon but after Club Card prices. See a list of participating items HERE.
Read more about the promotion and how some people are matching up their coupons at Money Wise Moms HERE

I will try to point out a few other promotions and coupon match ups that you can use in conjunction with the Living Well to maximize:


Stay in for Dinner and Save buy 5 save $5 instantly 4/15 - 4/28 this includes Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers and complete selections and Marie Callender's Pasta Al Dente, Pot Pies 16.5 oz and Dinners. The Healthy choice double dips with the Living Well promotion but the Marie Callender's IS NOT part of living well so don't count it in your $30 if you buy it.
Sale price $2.99 each = $1.99 each when you buy 5 use $1 off one HERE = .99 cents or $1. off 2 HERE or from 4/5 Smart Source = $1.49

Bright Green products get $1 off one HERE best buy is 64 oz. Chlorine free bleach $1.49 = .49

Bertolli sauce double dip -The $4 price counts to your $30 Living Well total and earns you an additional $2 Catalina (prints out with receipt)
On sale until May 5th at 2 for $4 - buy 2 and receive a $2 Catalina coupon for your next order.
Use $1 off one coupons from the 4/5 Unilever insert (there was also a .75 cent coupon in the same insert)
$4 - 2 coupons = $2.25 at the register get back $2 Catalina = net .25

Sun Chips sale price 2 for $6 use $1 off 2 HERE = 2 for $5

Yoplait YoPlus $2.50 get a $1.50 off coupon here (remember you can always print 2 IP coupons)

Kraft Mac & Cheese dinners sale price .59 cents limit 4 and counts for Living Well total this is a great item to throw in when you are just a few cents away from the $30 total.


Walgreens

I want to add a few great Register Reward deals at Walgreens. Sorry these sales are only good through Saturday. Register Rewards are like coupons that print out with your receipt. They are good for a future purchase. There are 2 important things to know about RRs. They expire! They usually have an expiration date about 2 weeks aways. Also, you cannot use a RR that you received to purchase that same product again. For example, if you purchase the toothpaste and get your RR and then try to use that RR to purchase another toothpaste you will not receive another RR. However you can use it to buy another product offering an RR. Confusing? Always make sure you are purchasing the correct product by checking the store ad or look for tags on the shelf.

Colgate Max White Or Max Fresh Toothbrush sale $3.49 get back $3.50 register reward = FREE use $1 off HERE = $1 profit - note you will have to be registered with Smile Talk or sign in to print coupons OR.75 cents off any from 3/29 Smart Source = .75 cents profit

Scunci 18 pack Elastics sale $2 get back $2 register reward = FREE

Fiber Choice 10 count $2.49 get back $2.49 register reward = FREE

Edge Energy or Infused shave $2.99 get a $3.00 register reward when you buy one = FREE

Dave Ramsey Books for sale

I am a member of a homeschoolers buyer coop and right now they have Dave Ramsey books for sale. Visit https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=782 and scroll down to see products listed.  If you would like to buy an item then you can do it through my account and we also should have enough to get free shipping.  I need your order and money by April 26th.  The 26th is the last day to order.

Please email me instead of leaving a comment.  I do not always check the comments on this blog.  

P.S.  This is a great deal for his book, The Total Money Makeover.  It is cheaper than buying on Amazon used.

I want more! I want savings!

Okay everyone, I can't seem to get enough coupons for the things that I normally buy. What's a frugal minded mom to do? Listen up sisters, you can get 20 copies of that Loss Leader. Combining the manufactured coupon and in store coupon can save you up to 60% or more. So how do you get 20 copies of one item. The coupon master is the answer. Here's what you do. Go online, decide which coupons you would normally use. Order them, sit and wait. In a couple of days your package of already cut coupons is in your hand. Yes, no slaving over the scissors. These coupons are not printed, they are the coupons from the newspaper inserts. Check the sales and save! save! save! Don't ever pay retail again. The shipping cost of ordering online can be reduced if you pair up with other sisters.

Fresh or free only at HEB. The policy is if you find an item that is expired, you will receive the exact same item for free. You will need to bring it to the cashier and talk to them about this. Some employees may give you a hard time, or they may not know anything about it. Ask for the manager. You as a customer are working for them in helping to keep all the inventory fresh and that's why you get it free.

Summer heat with a summer bill. Lite up is up to 15% discount off your light bill from May through September. Google lite up discount for income guidelines. You will need to apply to receive this discount. Contact 211 for information. If you qualify you may need to re-apply every year. Some energy companies even offer an energy conservation program by installing energy efficient light bulbs, caulking around your windows, looking at you door jams all for free. Your electric provider will have a list of contractors.
You may also receive a discount phone line as long as you opt out of any special calling features. Call your phone company.

Many resources are available for free and are posted at the clinic on Foothills Farms Loop aka WIC office,or MAP program. These programs offer from working with finance classes to where to get free income tax service. There is also a first come free clinic on Tuesdays and Thursday, donation of $5. Look in the Chronicle or online. On certain days you may obtain free legal advice at alternating locations. Ask 211.

Walgreens is offering free health care through their clinics. The nearest Walgreen's clinic is in the Houston area. So if a family member has become unemployed or laid off, your whole family will be able to receive medical care at no cost until you find a job. Yes the prescriptions will need to be filled at Walgreen's. PS Discount card can help with a cash pay, no insurance account. Do not sign up for the Walgreen's discount card because there is a fee involved.

Now a little about this up coming food storage class. Sugar shelf life and other baking necessities. I plan on covering different types of sugar with taste tests. Basic items to get you by. How to make baking powder, evaporated milk, "homemade maple syrup." How to freeze eggs, milk, cream. What not to freeze and why. How long is too long on the spices and more. I will be teaching class at 10 am and 2pm. I am hoping to offer online classes to anyone who can not attend on a Saturday in the future.

How financially sound are you? Dave Ramsey is offering a free 30 day trial. You will have access to the snowball technique and how everything works. Most people find finances very personal and feel very uncomfortable about talking to anyone other than their spouse and this is completely understandable. Just remember we are striving to become better everyday and without mistakes learning does not take place. Just be sure to cancel within 30 days and you will have a start on how to begin to snowball THE DEBT BONDAGE down.

Grocery Highlights 4/8-4/14

Just FYI -there will not be any coupon inserts in this Sunday's paper!

Randalls

Duncan Hines Brownies - 10/$10 (Good through 4/12)-Use $.35/1 Duncan Hines (SS 2/1)Final Price = FREE
Coca-Cola & Pepsi 12packs - 3/$9.99-3/$6.99 with in-ad coupon
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - $2.99 (Buy 2 Get 3 Free)-Use $.75/2 Quaker Chewy (SS 3/2) Final Price = $4.48 for 5 (or $5.23 if your store only allows 1 coupon)

Vitamin Water 10 sale price $1 use $1 off from 4/5 Smart Source = FREE
Wheat thins Artisan crackers $1.69 use Buy one get one free from 3/15 = .85 cents each
Lays Potato Chips (Select Varieties) - $1.88
Hawaiin King Rolls 2 for $4 use $1 off 2 HERE = $1.50 each
Blue Bell Ice Cream - $3.79 (sign up at bluebell.com for a $1 off coupon
Rancher’s Reserve Whole Boneless Beef Brisket - $.99/lb
Safeway Whole or Half Ham - $.97/lb
Safeway Spiral sliced Ham - $ 1.67/lb

HEB
I am just not good with the HEB specials. They do a lot of meat specials that I don't buy. So, be sure to check the ad for the cuts of meat that your family uses.

Strawberries 1lb $1.27
Oscar Mayer bacon $2.50
HEB brand cheeses 8oz. $1.67

Target

This is the last few days for the new store specials. The signs say that they end on 4/13. Some of the coupons sent out don't expire until 4/21, but remember that the specials that go with these coupons will end Monday. Here a few other things I found.

Aparagus $1.49lb
Cambells cream of mushroom .66
Philadelphia cream cheese $.99
All Detergent - $3.99-(get a $1/1 HERE)-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE (5th one down)Final Price = $1.99
Hershey’s Bliss - $2.99-Use $1/1 Hershey’s Bliss (SS 3/1)-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE
Final Price = $.99
Betty Crocker Warm Delights - $1.57-Use 2 $.50/1 Betty Crocker (SS 4/5) AND-Use $1/2 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.57
Vitamin Water 10 sale price $1 use $1 off from 4/5 Smart Source = FREE
Market Pantry Fruit Snacks - $1.36-1.52-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE =.36=.52

$1 Makeup from ELF

EDIT: ** I found out that this company always sells their makeup for a dollar and Nordstrom is not buying them.  I am sorry I did not research this more thoroughly before posting.  So the only thing in question is the quality of the makeup.  I guess we will see.**

Nordstrom is changing the logo on their makeup, so they're selling almost
everything for $1!!!

The make-up line e.l.f.(eyes-lips-face) has been bought out by Nordstrom
and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it.

They are getting rid of the entire make up in ELF packaging.. They are
selling everything for $1. You do have to pay shipping. They have
everything - powder, mascara, lipstick, a mineral line (100% natural),
brushes & cases, nail polish, lotions, you name it - it's there. The
website is: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp

When you check out there is a space for a coupon code. Use CAROLINA and
save an additional $7.50 if your order is over $15.00.

I just placed an order for $15 and the coupon code worked great.  Happy Shopping!

Round Rock Home Storage Center

It's finally open! But only for bulk purchases. (Contact Mia to find out which of our sisters has a can sealer and which has a mylar bag sealer.)

The new Home Storage Center (Cannery) is located at 3912 Gattis School Rd in Round Rock. It's open Tuesdays from 2-8pm and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.

No need to order in advance. Just bring your order with you! (The current order form can be found here.)

Enjoy!

Saving Money

All of us are trying to save money. Lately I have been drawn to many items that seem to be on sale. But how do we know you are getting a good deal.



By understanding some basic marketing concepts, you can build confidence about how you shop, why you buy certain items, and how to save the green.



The savings or preferred card entitles you, the consumer, to purchase items at a discount. Thus saving you money. This fantastic little card also tracks the most popular items that other consumers in your zip code buy, similar to a survey. This information helps the store with target advertising specific merchandise. The store may order more of a particular item knowing when you come in for the "hot deal" you will also buy this particular item, which may be overpriced.



Floor plans are well thought out. No you are not going crazy when you can't find the item that was on aisle 4, three weeks ago. If the item moved, it didn't sell fast enough. Grocery stores rent out space for a particle item for a certain amount of time. Relocating the item has a couple of advantages: re-introduce it as an advertised item and have the current consumers searching for the item, thus increasing the odds of another unexpected higher priced item in the cart.



Eye level is the hottest selling point. It's the easiest to reach while being rushed, bumped, answering the phone, or correcting children, and any other distractions not mentioned. The item is normally overpriced. Sometimes the item has the wrong price underneath it. I noticed this more then ten times at HEB, which I could only assume happened "accidently", of course.



End Caps are loaded with items that appear to be on sale, but 80% of the time these items are not.



Wording. As advertised is not the same as on sale. Know the prices! Don't remember them? Write it down to visually see the price cycles.



Hot Real Estate is the most highly sought after place in the entire store. They stack it high, in your face and in front, it just needs the whistles and balloons and sometimes they have that too. This lowest price item is normally seen upon entrance to get you in the store. Along the way there is a good chance you will pick something up that is not on sale or overpriced.



Paycheck Cycle Refers to how the grocery stores promote their ads to get the most money out of the consumer. Surveys tell us more people have "more money" at the beginning of the month. Money is spent faster at the beginning of the month and held on to longer around the end of the month trying to catch up on unpaid or missed bills.



These are just a few basic marketing techniques that every store uses. Normally every grocery store cycles about 9 to 12 weeks, look for this. You can plan on when to buy what or know what your grocery store will be pushing to sell in the next couple of weeks. Keeping you one step ahead of the game.



I have noticed some important money saving tips at certain stores that I would like to share.



All chain stores do not offer the same price. Some stores charge more for the exact same product at different locations. I noticed this at HEB and Wal-Mart.



Larger quantities do not equal great buys. Sometimes it is more. Get the calculator out to know for certain! I noticed this at Target.



Dollar stores (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Everything $1 and Dollar Tree) can dilute certain items without telling you. This is illegal for medicine but everything else is fair game. Break down the price to know if you are really saving.



Randall's allows you to use in store coupons with manufactured coupons together while doubling or tripling the value adding savings. Just remember most items are overpriced to begin with, weigh it out with a calculator to make sure it is a good deal.


HEB does not price match but honors online coupons as long as they are printed in color.



Wal-mart price matches and accepts coupons, but Sam's does not take any coupons.



Here are some links to print coupons online.

http://smartsource.mygrocerydeals.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=site.dspHome
This is smart source, the insert from the paper. It will tell you the best deals in your zip code. You will need to install a printer program to print the coupons.

http://www.redplum.com/
Installation of a printer program is needed as well.



The link below lets you in on great deals of all types. Don't get lost in the links;)


http://frugality.alltop.com/



One thing that does not relate to groceries but helps your frugality...



No prescription coverage? cash pay customer? Call around for pricing. I noticed a savings of over thirty dollars on the same prescription at different stores. Wal-Mart is not always cheaper. The discount card link below is free and saves with generics up to 50% and brand names up to 10%. It will list available pharmacies and pricing for a particular medicine.
http://www.pscard.com/

Holly Villarreal

Grocery Highlights 4/1-4/7

Remember: the Randalls and HEB ad specials run from Wed –Tues.
Target, CVS and Walgreens specials are Sun.-Sat. and Walmart seems to vary. There was a Walmart ad sent this week which says Sun April 5- April 11. Sorry this has to be so confusing!!!

Randalls

Randalls has a few coupon deals this week. They are found in the ad, which you can pick up in the front of the store.

Quaker Life Cereal $.99 with in-ad coupon-Use $1/1 Life HERE (this is for Maple Brown Sugar Life which usually is included in the sale) Final Price = FREE
18ct Eggs $1.49 with in-ad coupon
Lucerne Butter $.99 with in-ad coupon
Green Seedless Grapes - $.88/lb
Ozarka, Aquafina, Dasani and Refreshe 24pk Bottled Water - 3/$9.99 (if you did the Ozarka deal last week and have the $1off 2 coupon from last week this would be a good deal)
Tyson Breaded Chicken Selections – BOGO
Rancher’s Reserve New York Strip Steak $3.97/lb (must by large quantity)
Softsoap Hand Soap $1 -Use $.35/1 Softsoap (SS 3/29) tripled at RandallsFinal Price = FREE
Nestle Baking Morsels $2 use .50 off 2 HERE will be doubled) = $1.50 ea.


Target

Target’s ad runs Sunday through Saturday.
Many of the new store specials are supposed to end on 4/13. I will be heading there next week to stock up on many of the specials and use my last $5 off $50 coupon. I have also been trying to collect coupons to match up with these specials.

There are several deals available using Current Target printables. Target printable coupons can usually only be used one per transaction. But the good thing about them is that they can also be matched up with manufacturer coupons. A good place to print them is from hotcouponworld.com. You can use their Target Coupon Generator to print multiples and they are available for a longer time then the ones from target.com. I have listed several deals below with target coupons. I give a link after each one for the coupon generator. However, you can just go HERE once and print out all the ones you think you will need. They print 5 to a page so plan accordingly to save on paper. REMEMBER: one per transaction and check the expirations!

$1 off Archer Farms® artisan bread Bakery Dept. HERE There are small "artisan breads" priced at $.99 in the bakery area, so they are FREE with the coupon!
Nutrigrain yogurt and cereal bars $1.77 use $1 off 2 Target HERE = $1.27 each
Hostess cupcakes $1.99 use .50 cents off Target coupon HERE = $1.50
Pledge multisurface spray $3.89 use $1 off any Pledge furniture care Target coupon HERE AND $2 off HERE = .89 cents
Nature's Source cleaners $ 3.19 - $3.29 use $1 off Target HERE and $1 off HERE or from 3/1 Smart source = $1.19 - $1.29
Dole bagged salad $2.50 use target coupon $1.00/1 HERE = $1.50 ea
Market Pantry fruit snacks rang up $1.36 use target coupon $1.00/1 HERE = $.36 each

Johnson's baby toiletry items of varying price use target coupon $0.75/1 HERE and use manufacturer coupon:
Johnsons Baby bubble and bath wash $1 off here

Other deals at Target:

Delmonte canned corn $.35 use $1 off 12 (SS 2/08) = $.26 each
Land o Lakes Butter $2 use .55 cents off one when you register HERE = $1.45

Walmart
according to the ad these specials begin April 5 but may have already started

Great Value Butter 1lb $1.50
Kraft 8 0z cheese $1.50
Blue Bunny Ice cream $3.50 use $1 off coupon HERE when you join IScream
Wheat Thins Artisan Crackers - 2/$4-Use BOGO Wheat Thins Artisan (SS 3/15)
Strawberries 1lb $1.50
Fresh pineapple $2.50 each
Asparagus $1.50/lb
Hormel Black Label bacon $2.50
Kraft Salad Dressing - $1.58-Use $1.50/1 Kraft Salad Dressing (SS 3/29)Final Price = $.08
Halls Cough Drops - $1.18-Use $1/1 Halls (SS 3/29)Final Price = $.18

Grocery highlights for 3/25-3/31

Not a lot of excitement out there this week for deals.

Randalls
This week's ad is dedicated to the same promotion they had last week. $5 off when you buy 10 participating items. (Read last week's post) There are some good deals in this promotion, but I think it is confusing. Please keep in mind that the prices in the ad are the final price. You will not receive another discount. Also you must buy groups of 10. For example if you buy 12 items you will not get a discount off the last two.

My favorite part of this promotion is the Ozarka Aquapods. They are the small bottles great for kids. The card price is $2 each for an 8pack. In the "10" promotion they are $1.50. However, if you buy 2 you will receive a coupon for $2 off your next purchase at Randalls. Good deal!

The only other deal I liked not included in last week's post is the following:

Del monte fruit naturals .75 cents use $1 off 2 HERE = .25 cents each

HEB
White seedless grapes .88/lb
Hill Country Fare shredded cheese 8oz $1
Hill Country Fare milk $2.99
Post Pebbles Cereals $1


Target
Same deals continue at Target. Please go take advantage of these! I had a great time just walking the aisles and seeing all of the "New Store Specials" And if you got this week's mailer you can enjoy your free smoothie while shopping!

CVS
If you are ready to get into the drugstore game you can pick up some free toothpaste. Crest Prohealth Enamel care is $3.49. You will receive $3.49 back in Extra Care Bucks. Also, you can use the .75 coupon from 3/1 and actually make money!

I also picked up some campbells soup for .25 each. They are $1.49 and buy one get one free. Use the coupon here to make it .25 each. $1/2 printable coupon

Bargain Shopping at Thrift Stores

As many of you know, I am a thrift store (Savers, Goodwill, and Salvation Army) shopper--I recently found a 20" girls Schwinn bike ($150.00 new and maybe ridden 10 times in it's short life!) for $20.00 for my six year old grand daughter. During the same visit, I found no less than ten almost new Gymboree girls outfits (various sizes), all for under five dollars, Children's Place outfits in the same price range and almost new, a pair of almost new "light -up" little girls sneakers for $3, and tons of dress up items for little girlies for practically nothing! I am constantly amazed at what people get rid of to thrift stores!! Gently used men and womens clothing, furniture, housewares, toys, and even single and double running strollers!! If you are familiar with good brand names and values, you can even put these things on ebay and make quite a bit of money if you're willing to spend the time on it. I don't ebay them, but love to recycle in this way! I would never spend the money for these name brands new, but at these prices, who can resist! Try it!!
Also try craigslist.com for amazing buys on just about everything you can imagine! Some of it is even free! I'll happily walk you thru it or tell you my favorite store locations if you're interested. This could be a part of your "second income" in your family--shopping for bargains and recycling in this way!
Happy bargain hunting!!

Grocery highlights for 3/18-3/24

Randalls

Fresh Boneless-skinless chicken breast 1.99/lb
Lucerne shredded or chunk cheese 32oz 4.99

This week there is a mix and match promotion where you buy 10 participating items in a single transaction and then receive $5 off. The ad is confusing because it lists the price AFTER the promotional discount. There are over 1000 participating items. They are at varying levels of pricing from $1.25-$3.00. Then, when you buy 10 from any pricing level you get $5 off the total. Basically it is $.50 0ff each item (when you buy 10) making the prices anywhere from .75-2.50

Depending on your families needs you will find good deals in this promotion. I will attempt to point out a few in my opinion. Remeber there are many,many more options.

Fress Express bags of salad .75 after card and with discount (usually includes spinach)
Cheerios 1.50 after card and discount, use $1 off coupon HERE =.50
Capri sun drinks 1.50 after card and discount
Jimmy Dean Sausage 2.00 after card and discount
Motts apple juice 64 oz 1.50 after card and discount use .55 cents off HERE = .95 cents
Angel Soft 4 pack- use .50 cents off from 2/ 22 Red plum = .25 cents
pasta roni or rice aroni use $1 off 4 from 3.8 RedPlum = .50 cents each
Nabisco 100 calorie packs use $1 off 2 HERE = $1 each
Better Crocker cookie mix use .50 cents off one HERE = $1 (may be doubled and =.50)

HEB

Large cantaloupe .88
Hill Country Fare all purpose flour $1

(remember you can take your ad to walmart and they will price match)

TARGET

Great deals at the new Supertarget in Pflugerville good through 4/14/09. You should have received another mailer this week with more fabulous coupons. Here are a few of the deals I liked.

Delimex chicken taquitos .99 after coupon
3lb bag apples 1.99
Bananas .39/lb
grapes red or green .99/lb
iceberg lettuce .79
24 pack of market pantry water $2
Hungry Jack syrup or pancake mix 1.49
Simply Orange juice .99 after coupon
Mission 10ct flour tortillas .99
eggs .99
Toaster strudel (strawberry only) .99
Kraft mac and cheese .39
Hunt's diced tomatoes .49
Prego sauce (traditional only) .99
Strawberries $2
Market Pantry milk $2.89
Tostitos scoops $1.75 plus coupon $1 off when you buy 2, plus this week only get free tostitos salsa or queso when you buy 2 tostitos chips.

This week at all Targets- coupons HERE

Betty crocker brownie mix .89
Shredded 8oz cheese 1.49

RSS Feed

As requested, I've added an RSS feed button to the sidebar.

For those of you who know what that means, there is a button for the posts and another for the comments. I'm excited to have the comment feed so that all of us can share finds like the strawberries for 99 cents a pound at Newflower market (through Wed 3/18).

For those of you who have no idea what an RSS feed is but who read a lot of blogs, comment! If people want to know, I'll post about what RSS is, how to use an RSS reader, and how much time it will save you.

We're not alone in our frugality!

Ladies, The following article is proof that we are not alone in our attempts at frugality! I personally have always found these ideas to be a very rewarding way to retain control of my resources rather than giving that control over to the merchants and vendors. The more of these kinds of things we can do, the more control we retain over our hard earned money! (This mentality can translate into our family's second income", so to speak). Lets Do It!

Extreme cheapskates: Tightwads revel in frugality

Amy VanDeventer has always been a cheapskate. The recession is taking her to new extremes.

Before the economy tanked, she was still wearing maternity clothes from her last pregnancy, clipping coupons and using hand-me-downs to dress her daughters, ages 2 and 3. Now, she's salvaging bagel scraps left on their plates for pizza toppings and cutting lotion bottles in half so she can scrape out the last drops.

"I was already cheap," said VanDeventer, a 36-year-old mortgage loan underwriter from Broomfield, Colo. "Now I am neurotic about it."

If you thought those cheapskate friends and relatives couldn't pinch pennies any tighter,think again. The recession is making tightwads like VanDeventer cut back even more. They're going way beyond sharpening their coupon scissors, replacing already cheap store-brand fabric softener with vinegar and even making their own detergent. VanDeventer was drying her hair in front of a fan after her portable hair dryer broke -- until her friends bought her a new one.

The recession is radically changing behavior among many different types of people, from the Wall Street bankers who are now waltzing into Wal-Mart for the first time to buy their groceries to teens who are now thumbing through the piles of status jeans at secondhand shops to save money

. And experts say that such behavior could linger long after the economy recovers.

What surprises frugality bloggers is that many cheapskates such as VanDeventer haven't lost their jobs and are not in danger of losing their homes. Many have stashed a good chunk of cash away. But the economic uncertainty is catapulting them to new levels of thriftiness.

"I do it out of fear because I would rather put that money in the bank or purchase something we really need," said VanDeventer, who now saves about 50 percent of her take-home pay, up from 25 percent before the recession began more than a year ago.

"Frugal people are now looking at more ways not to spend money," said Lynnae McCoy, who runs a blog called beingfrugal.net, which attracts seasoned penny pinchers. In January, her site received 110,000 hits, up 30 percent from a year ago. What intrigued McCoy was the interest among frugal folks to save even more money by making their own detergent and other household goods.