Friday Finals

I have a budget of 100 a week for all of my shopping. Everything - that includes groceries,diapers, gifts, runs to walgreens, cvs and rite aid. Here's how I did this week with trips to Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target, Kroger and my first trip to Kmart:

Total value/cost bef0re sales and coupons: $320.74
total out of pocket (what I actually paid): $ $61.50
total % of savings: 81%

not too shabby.

dinner with a bear

Our little man shares how to make tacos...

Step One: Quickly lift the lid to the suckers and grab one before Mom sees you.

Step Two: Eat the Avocado as soon as you find it, do not wait for it to be peeled or diced.

Step Three: Show mom how you did not eat the nasty little brown thing on top. She'll be impressed and probably reward you with the sucker confiscated in step one.

Step Four: Grab and lick everything. If it looks like it has flavor, go for it.

Step Five: Cram as much cheese into your mouth as possible. This applies to any situation.

Around Town

WENDY'S
Sign up for the Wendy's email list here and you'll receive a $1 off coupon in your inbox within the next week. This coupon can be used on anything on their menu, so if you get something off the Dollar Menu, you'll get it for free

DENNY'S
Denny's is offering three different B1G1 coupons which are good through Friday (February 27, 2009). You can print them here.

The Start Making Choices Welcome Kit (including a free sample of Orville Redenbacher popcorn and coupons) is available again. If you didn't get a chance to sign up for it last time around, you can go here to do so.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE
Sign up for the Texas Roadhouse email list and you'll get a coupon for a free appetizer.

CHILI'S
Sign up for the Chili's email club here and you'll get a coupon for free chips and queso.

ZONE PERFECT BARS BUY 2 GET FOUR FREE
Here's how to get your B1G3 coupon:
1) Go here and register to become a Zone Perfect VIP member. You'll be able to print a B1G1 coupon after you register.
2) Then, go here and login. You'll then be able to print your B1G3 coupon.
So, buy 2 and get 4 free :)

KASHI
you can go here to request a coupon for a free Kashi frozen entree.

Walgreen's Run

What can $1.42 buy you? A Coke? A bag of chips? A head of lettuce?

How about 8 rolls of Reynolds Wrap, 1 tube of Revlon concealer, 1 bottle of One A Day women's vitamins, 2 bags of Starbucks candy, and 1 tube of Sally Hansen Lip Gloss!
Original price before sales, rebate and coupons: $47.99 (before tax)
Total after coupons: $1.42 (before tax)
Total Savings: 97%

Walgreens Deals 2/22-2/28

February Free EasySaver Rebates
(Free after Easy Saver Rebate done online at Walgreens.com or you can mail in)

Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer or Foundation $9.99

Revlon Creme Lip Gloss $9.99

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Hair Care $3.99

ThermaCare Heat Wrap $2.49

Walgreen's Multi-Purpose Solution $1.99

Other EasySaver Rebates Worth Doing

Walgreens Brand Nutritional Drink (6 Pack) $4 Plus get a $4 EasySaver Rebate
Final cost FREE!

Various Glade Products 2/$5Plus get a $2 EasySaver Rebate

Theraflu $5Get a $6 EasySaver rebate on 2
Purchase two and use two $2 coupons from here
Final cost FREE!

Register Reward Deals

Purchase five Nature Valley Granola Bars $1.19 each for a total of $5.95 get $3.50RR (In the candy aisle, look for the small 2-count packs)
Pay 5.95
Get back a $3.50RR
Final cost 5 for 2.45 or 24.5c a bar!

Gillette Fusion Gamer or Venus Spa $8.99 get $6RR
Final Cost - $ 2.99

Excedrin 20-24 ct $1.99 and get $1RR
Use the $2 coupon from here
or the $1 off one from www.smartsource.com
Final cost as low as FREE plus a $1 moneymaker!

Other Great Deals

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil (20 sq ft) $.89 w/ in ad coupon
(There were 1.00 off Reynold's Wrap coupons in the Smart Source from 2/8 - if you don't get the paper, go to ebay and order some of these coupons to make this free plus .11 overage!)

Hershey's Candy Bars buy one at .89 get one free with in ad coupon

Purchase Reese's Whips bars buy one at .89 get one free with in ad coupon

One A Day Vitamins (60 to 200 ct) prices starting at $7.99
Use $6 in ad Walgreens coupon
Plus this $1 coupon, IE or Firefox
Final cost as low as .99!

One A Day Flinstones Vitamins (60 ct) $7.99
Use $6 in ad coupon (pictured are the other One A Day vitamins, but since these are also One A Day vitamins and 60 ct or more they should work with this coupon)
Final cost 1.99!

Robitussin and Dimetapp $3.99
Use $2 coupons from here
Final cost $1.99!

Refill your ink Cartridges for ONLY $5(color and black)
Just print off this coupon

Softsoap Body Wash $3.49
Use $1 Walgreens EasySaver coupon
Plus use $1 coupon from here
Final cost $1.49!

Colgate Toothpaste 4.6 oz. Cavity Protection .99
Use .75 coupon from here
Final cost as low as .24 each!

Sally Hansen Lip or Nail care 40% off
Purchase Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine for Lips or Nail Lacquer $5.99
With 40% off dicount only $3.59 each
Use $2 EasySaver coupon
Plus use $1 coupon from here (click on the $1 coupon link in the lower right hand corner)
Final cost ONLY .59!

B1G1 Arm & Hammer Detergent buy one at $6.99 get one free
Use two $1 coupons from here
Final cost just $2.50 each!

Starbucks chocolates 2/$10
Purchase two and use the $6/2 EasySaver couponPlus use two $1/1 Blinkie coupons found beside the chocolates
Final cost just $1 each!

ready

My wonderful husband brought me these beautiful flowers when he got home from work yesterday...for no particular reason...just because he's amazing.

Aren't the colors beautiful? Makes me really, really ready for spring.

are you thinking arby's?

You should be! Go here to print a coupon for a free sandwich with drink purchase! Lunch is looking great this week :)

Free Quizno's Sub!

Quiznos is giving away 1 million free subs!! Go here to register and they will email your coupon. The coupon expires 5 days from when you print it.

love this boy

photo fix

I haven't posted any pictures of jackson in a while...maybe this will make up for it:

Walgreens Freebies

Every Month Walgreens has Easysaver deals where you buy the product in store, pay for it and then come home, enter the product into their website and get your money back. One added bonus is if you pick to have your money put on a Walgreens gift card they give you an extra 10% back. Say you start it this month and do all of the Easy Saver Rewards that are "free", you'd get back $36.76 (plus you get the products that you purchased)...pick the Walgreens gift card and get back 40.43! Use this card for March's deals, pay for them on your gift card and get back the money for March's deals at the end of March, etc for each consecutive month and NEVER pay for those items at Walgreens with your cash again!

Here are Februarys items:

Zucol Cold Care Lozenges 18pk, up to $7.99, limit 1
$2 Zucol Cold Care printable (buy it for 5.99 and get 7.99 back!)

Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer or Spa Foundation, up to $10, limit 1

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler, up to $4.29, limit 1

Revlon Creme Lip Gloss, up to $10, limit 1
**Revlon Lip Products are B1G1 this week, so you can get TWO for FREE after rebate**

ThermaCare Trial Size Neck, Shoulder & Wrist heat Wrap, up to $2.49, limit 1

Walgreens Multi-Purpose No Rub Contact Solution 4oz, up to $1.99, limit 1

So, go buy these products, spend your money this one time only (spend 34.76 and get back $40.43 - that's like Walgreens paying you almost 6 bucks just to shop there), go to the Walgreens website and enter your reciept number into their easy saver system, select Gift Card as your rebate option (unless you just really want the check back) and never spend your money in Walgreens again!

Always Free

The Cottonelle 4 pack is always .99c at Kroger. If you EVER see a .50 off coupon online or in a coupon booklet then snag it because it doubles to make it free. Here are some current internet offers:

-.50/1 Cottonelle SS 02/01 or printable or printable (play game) or printable (make pledge)-.25/1 Cottonelle Cellfire e coupon (use together makes it FREE plus overage)

Maybe the rolls are small and maybe it's not your favorite brand but free is free, ok? :)

Target Snags

First click this printable to get the coupons

My two favorite sales are these:

Goldfish Crackers 1.79 and use 1.00 off target coupon to make them 0.79.

Kashi Soft Baked Cereal Bars 3.29 (sounds high, right?) get a $2 off printable HERE (see get coupons in bottom right corner) and use it with the 1.00 off target coupon to get it for .29c!! Bear loves these and they're all natural, healthy - so total bonus deal :) You can print two of the $2 coupons from the Kashi site.

The Kashi granola bars are on sale for $2.50 so you can also use one of the 1.00 coupons to get them for 1.50. Not bad either, just not cheap as the others :)

What's great about the Target Web Coupons is that you can use them with a manufacturers coupon AND you can print as many as you want. So you can get as many of those goldfish as you want :)

Other good deals:

1.00 off tropicana makes it 1.99 each
Select Lean Cuisines are 1.80
If you have a super target, Broccoli is 1.50, use the 1.00 off fresh broccoli coupon
Dimetapp and Robitussin is on sale for 3.99 go to their websites, register and get a 2 off coupon for each to make them 1.99

Last Day for these Kroger deals

Here are my favorite deals around town this week:

Kroger (today is the last day of the Daytona get $3 off your order when you buy 10 deal)

Daytona Items you HAVE to buy 10 participating items but you can mix and match(if you get the coupon inserts there are coupons in there as well)

Chef Boyardee Orginally .88 after deal .58

Gatorade 1.00 after deal .70

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks 1.69, 1.39 after deal AND get 3.50 coupon off your next order when
you buy 5 (makes them .69 cents each after 3.50 coupon)

Ragu 1.67 after deal 1.37 each

Betty Crocker Brownie Mix 2.00 each. Use .75/2 coupon plus the .75 off two from www.cellfire.com and they are .95c each

Huggies Diapers 9.99 or 19.99 for big box use with 1.50 off cellfire or shortcuts coupon *and a manufacturer coupon if you have it* makes the 9.99 diapers 8.19 and the big box 18.19

(Other items included in the deal are country crock butter, several GM cereals (there are $3/3 peelies on chex mix boxes good for any GM cereal), totinos pizza and pizza rolls, betty crocker muffin mixes, ritz, wheat thin and triscuit crackers, poptarts and a few more)

Non 3.00 off deals

Lean pockets, hot pockets, etc 1.59 each

Strawberries 1.97

multi grain cheerios are 1.67 use .75 coupon http://coupons.smartsource.com//index.aspx?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO and it makes it .92c box! Also, upload coupons from http://www.cellfire.com/ and http://www.shortcuts.com/ to get it for free plus overage!

YoPlus! Yogurt 2.00, use link above, print $1 off coupon plus coupons from shortcuts to make it free!

Cheerios snack mix 1.99 use .60 coupon from www.coupons.com (it will double) plus the .60 from www.cellfire.com to make it .19!

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I was not typing a "Not Me!" post last monday only to find my child was happily standing on the kitchen table when I was finished. That was definitely Not Me!

I did not break a deep sweat this morning while mopping the kitchen floor because it was that messy. Not Me!

I did not let Bear roll and splash around in the muddy puddles in our back yard because he was perfectly content to do so. Not this girl!

I do not have the best husband in the world who had an amazing Valentine's set up on the front table waiting on me when I got home from work at 7:30 am on Valentine morning complete with a balloon, roses, chocolates, jewelry and a handmade card...I wouldn't be that lucky - not me!

Cupids Day Out at Kroger

Today from 9 am to 9 pm Kroger will have the following sale:

MOTT'S APPLE JUICE - $0.99 each *the best part is it includes ALL Motts Juice, even the natural!*

BEN & JERRY'S OR HÄAGEN-DAZS ICE CREAM, buy 1, get 1 free!

HERSHEY'S VALENTINE CANDY OR DOVE HEART CANDY, $1.98 each

KNUDSEN SPARKLING CIDER, 2/$4

KROGER ORANGE JUICE, $0.99 each

PRIVATE SELECTION GOURMET COOKIES, $2.99 each

RUSSELL STOVER OR WHITMAN'S HEART BOX CANDY, $6.99 each

SWEET, RED SEEDLESS GRAPES, $0.99 lb

VALENTINE GENERAL MERCHANDISE, 50% off

other freebies around the web

Thought ya'll might enjoy some links to free stuff. Many let you opt out of newsletters too - so don't freak out over that. Also, if you're in the business of trying to get free stuff, samples, subscriptions, etc it might be smart to have an email JUST for those things. That way, if they do spam you, it doesnt go to your normal email address. Here's hoping all of you are having a great day :)


ADT Child Safety Kit
Betty Crocker Coupons
Quicken Personal Finance Software
$27 Cleaning Products Savings Booklet
One Day Pass to Sam's Club
Free Reusable Grocery Bags
TGI Fridays BOGO Coupon

free greeting card

Get a free greeting card from Family Christian Stores here:

http://www.familychristian.com/email/09/020909_freecard.asp?AffID=8088

Offer good through 2.14.09 :)

Wild Men

Lately, the weather’s been nice and Jackson and I have been doing some exploring.

From Park Trip

Before Jackson was born, Bethany’s friend Katie bought us this really nice stroller that has rubber wheels and a rugged frame. It’s a lot like a jogging stroller but smaller and more maneuverable. Behind our house is a field where kids ride four wheelers and dirt bikes and there’s a nice pathway through it where we can drive the stroller. As you go further south across the field, there are some woods that separate Central Park from our neighborhood. In the last week or two, Jackson and I have become very familiar with these paths and trails. The first time I took Jackson out to the field, I thought he would get fussy and want to get out, but it never happened. We made it all the way to the playground without a peep. He played for awhile and then wanted back in the stroller. This is when I knew that we had discovered something special. That was last weekend.

Friday (2/6), as soon as I got home from work, I put Jackson back in the stroller and off we went to explore the far reaches of our beloved park. Going east, there are a couple of ponds, so we trucked around the pond levee and watched the ducks and geese doing whatever it is that they do.

From Park Trip

I found a trail going down the levee and across a small creek at the bottom where large oak and sweet gum trees abound. Jackson was wide-eyed, taking in the sights. At the corner of the pond, I picked our way down the levee and across a wooden walking bridge to a gravel road. We followed this road past an oak tree that must be over a hundred years old…wait. We needed to go check out this tree.

From Park Trip

So, I unloaded Jackson near the tree and we discovered the wonder of acorns. Acorns everywhere! Jackson didn’t know what to do with them. He wanted to pick up each one and examine it and then show it to me. I said, “Let’s take some to mommy.”

The next thing I know, he has two hands full of them showing them to me- a stash any squirrel would be jealous of.

From Park Trip

In case you’ve not been around Jackson for any length of time, I’ll just tell you- he’s magnetically attracted to water. I think he may have inherited that from me: I’m part fish. In the midst of his acorn hunt, he noticed that beneath the giant oak tree was a trickling creek with sloping banks. Throwing caution to the wind, his eyes locked in on the stream and took off down the hill. “Jackson SLOW DOWN!” I said as firmly as possible. He did, but slowing down seemed to interfere with his planned descent causing his feet get tangled (as they often do) leading to a head first slide. The older acorns all over the ground acted as rollers, speeding up his downhill trip.

He finally slid to stop in a small cloud of dust and acorns. “You okay buddy?” I asked.

He looked up at me and gets this big grin on his face as if to say, “I don’t know what just happened, but Wow that was fun!”

“Your mom would kill me if she saw that” I said to him, though more to myself than him.

Must be more careful.

So I helped him down to the water’s edge, positioned him several inches away from the water and showed him how to throw rocks and make splashes. Well, this was just too good to be true. It’s like a having a giant bucket of water and all the balls you can throw; best of all, daddy’s okay with it. Heck, he showed me how to do it.

The experience was fun for both of us. For him, the sheer fun of experiencing something new and exciting, for me, the joy of passing along another one of life’s simple pleasures: throwing rocks into a creek. With each throw he crept closer to the water until the toes of his shoes were getting wet. I would pull him back and it would start again. He wanted so bad to get in that water. I kept finding myself wondering how long until I can teach him to skip rocks…

From Park Trip

Soon the wind picked up and the sun got low – it was time to head back home. I had to pull Jackson away from the creek. I hated to, but it was time to go. There’s something in me that relishes watching him take pleasure in the things that I remember most fondly from my childhood. It creates a feeling of completeness in me knowing I’ve kept such a sacred right of boyhood alive for another generation and fostered a love for God’s creation.

At first glance, Jackson doesn't look or even act like me – he’s his mommy in a boy form. But out in the wild, out where a hundred year old Mississippi oak tree meets a meandering creek, I found a boy who is just like his dad. A boy who will play in the dirt and from daylight to dusk and never want to stop. A boy who is oblivious to danger, immune to heat and cold and looking for adventure at every turn in the trail. A wild man in the making following his wild little heart.

Thank you God for my son.

~ Ben

Note: Sunday afternoon all three of us went on another strollering excursion. You would think that Jackson would be getting tired of all that sitting in the stroller. After we got home, I was in the kitchen and he was outside playing on the porch when I noticed him being very quiet (always a sign that he needs to be checked on). When I peeked out the door at him, this is what I saw:

From Park Trip

C'mon Dad, let's go!

Not Me!

Over at MckMama blog she has a traditional monday post and since there are incentives - I'm jumping on the monday wagon... In an effort to continue with everything I learned in grad school about confessing counseling, of course...I did not clip coupons at work Saturday night so that I could be prepared and ready to go for my shopping trips this week. Not me!

I did not stay up after I got off work Sunday (at 7am) because I wanted to do said shopping and other things around the house instead of laying down and getting some rest like I should have.

I most definitely did not pinch off the snot from my sons nose with my fingers because I was tired of going and getting a tissue for it.

We always stick with the rules in our house. I mean, I did not let Jackson pull out every single dvd and vhs we own out from inside the tv armoire so that I could sit on the couch and finish a cup of coffee in one sitting - I would never do that!

I did not frantically sweep a neon yellow ooze out of my son's mouth only to realize it was a lucky charm that I had put on his tray as part of his snack.

Noticing Jackson's over supply of toys this week as I was cleaning his room has me yearning to get some more organization going on in there. I do not, by any means, ever spoil my child rotten and rationalize it with the fact that it's because I only have one child and whenever we have more it will be different... who would do such a thing?

I did not order a lens this week for a camera that I do not even own yet - what kind of crazy person would do that? Not me!

Your turn - what are you definitely NOT doing? ;)

jump start

(My Sunday stash including the 4 boxes of Crunch and Munch I got for .30 c at Schnucks the day before)

Most deals at major drug stores run Sunday to Saturday and Kroger and Schnucks run Wednesday to Tuesday...I usually wait until the last day of deals to venture out and there are usually very few things left. That being said - I was prepared today! I got off work at 7am and stopped at the Walgreens I pass on my way home. I bought a Fusion razor sale 8.99 with a 4 off coupon from todays paper and I got back $6 in register rewards (like money to use on any future purchase) So my total out of pocket was 4.99 plus tax and $6 for next time. My next transaction was 2 scrubbing bubbles wipes, 1 windex wipes, 1 pledge pet hair remover and 2 colgate toothbrushes and I paid 2.08 and got another $1 in register rewards! The best part is each of these items is eligible for a total of $4 in rebates on a Walgreen's gift card so I made $2! My total savings - 95%! $56 of products for $7.07 and $3.07 after my rebate (including razor)

Next I went to Kroger to take part of their $3 off 10 item deal. If you buy any 5 Betty Crocker fruit snacks in one transaction you get a coupon that prints out for $3.50 off your next order. So, I got 9 fruit snacks and one 8 count poptart for $9.30 (after $3 deal and 4 - .50/2 coupons, 1 - .50/1 and 1 - .55/1) and then I got the $3.50 off coupon for next time. So at Kroger I got $24.90 worth of stuff for 9.20 and the $3.50. total savings - 64%.

Later on I went to CVS and got some needed paper towels, fabric softener, free aspirin, free plus overage mylanta, free Gillette shampoo and cascade for $12...not my money though - extra care bucks I had from a previous trip. $43 worth of stuff for $12, paid with extra care bucks, total savings 67% and $0.00 out of pocket and got another 7.99 in ECB's.

I still have to go to Rite Aid where I'll be getting $26.57 for $4.99 out of pocket and THEN I'll get $16.49 back in a rebate check...so they'll be paying me $11.50 to shop there ;)

So, my trips today (not including Rite Aid or rebate from Walgreens)

Original Price of all items: $123.90

Total after coupons/sales: $ 28.27

Total out of pocket cash: $16.27

Total saved: 87%

Great day - I think I'll jump start from now on!

Wanna know how to do it? Ask me and I'll post the links - these deals are good through 2/14/09.

Congratulations!!!

Welcome Kaden James Moyer born tonight at 8:25 pm weighing 8 lbs 8 oz! Congrats to the new parents Katie and Russ. Katie is my best friend from high school and this is their first child. A little early booger he wasn't due until the 12th. Pictures to be posted after our visit to Texas in a few weeks. We can't wait to meet him!

love it

just wanted to share a picture ben made for me. I love it.

boy parts!!

My cousin Ashley and her husband Sam have been together for like 10 years, seriously...they've been married for 3 this September but they have some kind of history. Ashley is my cousin but we're friends above that (although you'd never have guessed it growing up). I wish we lived closer...we've always talked about living next door to one another for the rest of our lives...we just have one of those bff connections.

Anyway, that being said - she's PREGNANT and expecting sometime end of July/first of August. I'm too excited for words and today she went to the dr and they thought they saw BOY PARTS! Agggghhh!!!! I know, I know, she's only 16 weeks and we will love any Baby Ritter that comes along but this makes me so excited!

Maybe I'm partial - but I'm so excited for her to have a little boy! She has no idea what kind of wild ride she's in for :) I know how amazing it has been to be Jackson's mom and I can't wait to see what an amazing mom she is going to be and I want that Mother/Son connection for her. We're just so excited for them - babies are such a blessing and such a reason to rejoice!

Here's to Baby Ritter :)

dance partner? yes, please...

It's no secret that Jackson loves to dance. Earlier last week my mom called to tell Jackson goodnight while he was watching the wiggles. He loves grabbing and talking on the phone so when I said, "Jackson, it's Nonni" - he immediately grabbed the phone and took it back into the living room to dance with her. If you listen closely you can hear my mom talking, she has no clue what's going on. :)

Free stuff (or almost free) around town

As requested here are some great deals around town for those of you that have these stores. I have attatched the coupons (thanks to Jenny) associated with each deal, if you don't get the Sunday Paper coupons I suggest you start. Just get an expandable file and get them out when needed. At Walgreens, the free items will still be free after rebate even without the coupons, you just wont 'make' any money. Some have printable links, just click on the word printable for your coupon. Feel free to ask questions or google "couponing 101" and you'll find tons of resources. Happy Shopping :)

Walgreens
Month Long FREE after Rebate Items

Zucol Cold Care Lozenges 18pk, up to $7.99, Limit 1-
$2 Zucol Cold Care printable or SS 2/01

*Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer or Spa Foundation, up to $10, limit 1-
$1 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, any SS 10/12, 11/16-$2 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, any SS 1/11 (exp 2/15)

*Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler, up to $4.29, limit 1-
$1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment, RP 11/09, 1/04-$1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, RP 11/09, 1/04

*Revlon Creme Lip Gloss, up to $10, limit 1-
$1 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, any SS 10/12, 11/16-$2 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, any SS 1/11 (exp 2/15)

*ThermaCare Trial Size Neck, Shoulder & Wrist heat Wrap, up to $2.49, limit 1-
$2 off ThermaCare 2ct Feb. All You Mag.

*Walgreens Multi-Purpose No Rub Contact Solution 4oz, up to $1.99, limit 1

Other deals
$3 Register Reward (a coupon printout to use like cash in walgreens) wyb 3 Reach or Listerine dental care items for $9-
$2 off Listerine printable (FF) or printable (IE) (states redeemable at BJ’s but is a manuf coupon)
**Deal Idea**Buy 3 ListerineUse: (3) -$2 off PrintableTotal Due: $3Get Back $3 RR, makes all 3 FREE

Splenda 100 regular packets or 60 w/ fiber, $2.99 ea-
$3 off Splenda printable (IE) or printable (FF) (makes it FREE)

Comet Cleaner 2 for $1 w/in ad coupon-
$1/2 Comet Cleaners SS 1/18 (makes it FREE)

Kroger
(go to http://www.cellfire.com/ and http://www.shortcuts.com/ and upload coupons directly to your kroger card)

Cottonelle Toilet Paper .99
-.50/1 Cottonelle SS 02/01 or printable (will double and make it free)

Colgate Total or Max Fresh Toothpaste $2.50 ea-$1.50 off Colgate Total Cellfire e coupon-$1 off Colgate Total SS 02/01 (use with e coupon makes it FREE)

Pillsbury Grands! $1.49 ea-$1/2 Pillsbury Grands! printable (makes it .69¢)

CVS

New Month Long Free Items
$1.99 ECB wyb CVS Children’s Chewable Aspirin 36ct at $1.99 limit 1
$4.99 ECB wyb Extreme Energy 6 hour shot at $4.99 limit 1
$7.99 ECB wyb Earinse at $7.99 limit 2

Extra Care Buck Deals
Excedrin 10ct. Vial $2.49 get $2.49 ECB FREE after ECB Limit 1

Progresso Soups Buy one get one free at $2.99-
$1.10 off any Progresso printable (IE) or printable (FF) (Always use TWO coupons when you buy one get one because you are buying two items...it will make this .40 each after you use two coupons!)

savings galore

Today was a great day in our house for saving/making money.

Deal # 1: We ate dinner tonight at Longhorn Steakhouse as mystery shoppers. First of all, how fun is that? Second of all they paid us to eat there. They cut you a check for $40 after the visit...well our total bill was $33.42 so we made $6.58 to have a really nice dinner. Ben and I rarely go anywhere that doesn't have a deal or that costs more than $10 bucks for all 3 of us (Ben and I usually share an entree) so this was a fun treat for us.

Deal #2: I went to CVS to get 2 things of L'Oreal face wash that is normally $6.99. It was on sale for $5.99 and I had 2 $2.00 off coupons. So, my total was $7.98 before tax and I had $7.58 in Extra Care bucks from a previous visit. My total out of pocket with tax was $0.71. Even better, I got another $10 in Extra Care bucks from that transaction to use on a future purchase...so both were free plus I made $9.29

So the totals for today were $47.40 worth of 'goods' that I was paid $15.87 to take. Yes, please! :)

P.S.- my total savings for the month of January at CVS was $307.38 and I spent $26.78... this doesn't even include my savings at Kroger. Starting in February, I'm keeping a running total of spent versus saved for the year of 2009.