12-31-10

WALGREENS
1/2 - 1/8

Buy 1 Coffee Mate liquid creamer
for $2.49 get 1 free.
Use 2 $1.00 off coupons HERE.
Makes it .49 cents for both!

Air Wick I Motion or Freshmatic air freshener
50% off
$4.00 & $2.00 coupon found HERE.

Cottonelle 84 count Fresh Wipes
$2.99
Use coupon for .50 cents HERE
makes it $2.49

Jet Dry
$3.49 - $1.50 register rewards
- .75 cent coupon found HERE
makes it $1.24 after rewards.

Papermate mechanical pencils 5 pack
.19 cents with Walgreens coupon.
Limit 3

Hyponex 8 pound bag potting soil
.99 cents with Walgreens coupon
Limit 3

American Seed packets
5 for $1.00 with Walgreens coupon
Limit 1o

Fruit of the Loom Sweat pants or shirts
3 for $10 or $3.33 each

Be sure to get those coupons printed since
it is the last day of the month.
Coupons will reset tomorrow.

--------------------------------------

Being the last day of 2010
it's time to think about New Year's resolutions.
I've been thinking it over and mine would
be to declutter the house some more
and work on getting the basement
cleaned and weeded out.

------------------------------------

12:15pm

With temps in the low to mid 50's
today and yesterday I turned our
heat back 8 degrees to about 65 degrees
to help cut back on gas costs.
The heat hasn't been coming on as much
and has been holding a steady temperature
of 71.
I also opened up the curtains and drew
the blinds up to allow the sun to shine in
to help heat the house and not to have
to turn on so many lights.

My electric bill went stupid this past month.
I'm sure it had something to do with people
home on vacations, holidays and Christmas lights.
I also saw the electric bill wasn't a normal
month of 30 days and went over by
5 extra days so that might also contribute to it.
so are hoping it goes back to normal in the
near future!!
The electric went up $34.47 so that's
a huge increase to me.
It says last December we used 697 KWH
and this year 921 KWH
That's a difference of 224 KWH.

Plus I have that stupid cable bill to pay
where they charged me almost $40
to come out and fix their problem!

And on top of that I got those extra bills
you don't get all the time like
the newspaper and water/sewer.

So looks like I'm gonna have a fun time
this month paying bills, grrrr.

12:25pm

Currently giving my legs a work out.
So many trips to the basement hauling
Christmas stuff down to storage.
I figured since I was down in the basement
making trips with stuff I would start
the laundry to save on my legs!

----------------------------------------

from GimmieFreebies

Pizza Hut to Give Away 1,111 Stuffed Crust Pizzas on 1/1/11

To take advantage of the offer, "Like" Pizza Hut on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pizzahut) and keep an eye out for Pizza Hut's status update that announces the offer (and terms) on Jan. 1, 2011. Then, act fast -- the first 1,111 to click on the link on Pizza Hut's Facebook wall and provide contact information, will receive a $10 Pizza Hut gift card good towards the purchase of a Stuffed Crust Pizza.

Here's a link to the press release announcing it: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pizza-hut-to-give-away-1111-stuffed-crust-pizzas-on-1111-112615099.html



----------------------------------------

1:40pm

Yesterday when cleaning and rearranging
Jonathan's room I ended up moving
his bed over the register.
You shouldn't really put furniture
over registers because the air has a hard time
circulating around the room and gets
trapped underneath.
For years I've been doing this because space
is limited and sometimes I have to put
beds over the vents.
I took the skateboard ramp box and cut
it in half, then in half again.
Each half will be used in each boys room.
With the half that was cut in half,
I then slid the two halves into one another
and taped around the box.
This is now the new vent that will direct the air
out from underneath the bed and into the room.
------------------------------------------

4:20pm

Mom just called from Meijers.
She was standing in line at the checkout browsing
magazines while waiting her turn.
She picked up a full sized (not one of those mini)
magazines from Taste Of Home called
Easy Breakfasts and Brunch.
She said in this magazine is my recipe
for Peanut Butter Banana Bread!

-------------------------------------

11:45pm

Happy New Year everyone!!

Sitting here waiting for the ball to drop
and trying to fight off droopy and burning eyes
just so I can get my kiss at the stroke of midnight ;0)

12-30-10

11:40am

Good news, Christopher doesn't need glasses!
Yeah!
He had an eye doctor appointment
this morning at 10:00am.

From there we went to pick up our
rotors from NAPA.
One of them were slightly warped and
by having it turned it fixed the problem.
And will also save the excessive wear
and tear on the brake pads.
And it should take away the vibration
the car was having when applying brakes.
For 2 rotors to be turned cost $28.
To buy 2 new ones would have cost $90.
So we saved money there!
---------------------------------------

1:15pm

Currently working on Jonathan's bedroom
and I don't mean a quick pick up either.
I'm rearranging furniture, weeding clothes
out of the closet and giving it an overhaul.

I've been looking at hundreds of pictures
of cupcakes til my eyes could cross to
get inspired for original cupcakes
decorated with jelly beans.
I d0 have an idea I might want to try and make.
Can't tell you what or how til it is made
and entered :0)
Can't even find anyone that has come
up with this idea yet so that's good!
Now what store still has candy canes left???
Because I'm gonna need some!
Here is a clue:


-----------------------------------------------

2:50pm

Still working on Jonathan's bedroom.
An hour and 35 minutes later I feel
like I am finally making some headway, seeing
a floor and some potential, lol.
Hauled out a bunch of trash and
a huge trash bag (maintenance bag)
full of stuff to drop off in a donate box.
Might take a break here in a few and
head down to Walgreens to look
for some candy canes and jelly beans.
My stress reliever is baking/cooking
or crafts to take my mind off everything else.
So might work on cupcakes today or tomorrow.

-------------------------------------------

3:50pm

I'm tired and I only cleaned one room today!
Thank goodness my honey cleaned up the
kitchen for me because some days I don't
feel as though I can get ahead!
Two steps forward and about 5 back.

-----------------------------------------

VISION USA

provides free eye exams to eligible, low-income working families. Services are donated by volunteer optometrists who are members of the American Optometric Association and may be limited in some areas.

NOT FOR

application in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

See site for all details.....

------------------------------------------------------

6:45pm

We ventured out to Walgreens.
Their Christmas items are 50% off
and they still had a few left.
I found some candy canes.
Not exactly the best deal at $1.50 a box
but hey, I'm stocked with about 84 mini canes, lol.
Then I needed a box of bigger canes
that ran about the same price.
I was hoping to find the larger canes that
were the typical red and white striped
but they didn't have any. All they had
were the multi-flavored ones in different colors.
Not marked down, but I also found small bags
of the Jelly Belly Beans.
So maybe tomorrow I'll try my hand
at making cupcakes with all the goodies I got tonight.
Tonight I'll try to draw up some plans.


7:35pm

Got my designs all drawn out for the cupcakes.
Showed Tony and he says that looks hard to do!
Well, I said, do you think they are giving
$10,000 to someone with a simple idea??
So when people look at me with doubt in
their eyes that makes me want to really
try to make them!!

8:55pm

Jonathan's clean room.
Him on the phone.
He's worse than any teenager
when it comes to friends calling!

12-29-10

For anyone who has signed up
for Speedy Rewards monthly update:
This month's newsletter has a printable coupon
for $1.00 off of gas!

-------------------------------------

1:00pm

Just returned from Kroger.
I keep thinking it's Saturday with Tony
home from work, lol. Was wondering
why Kroger wasn't so busy.
I stocked up on some meat because I
heard that the deer my brother got
not long ago didn't produce as much meat as
we expected, only 15 pounds burger
and a couple steaks. But I hear he is still hunting
so hoping for a bigger deer!
I found a couple mark down carts
and got these items:

4 meals in photo.
2 turkey pizzas
& 2 breakfasts.

2 boxes Stove Top- $1.00 each
not the best deal when you usually can find
them for a $1.00 on sale but I needed some
for my Turkey Pizza.

2 cans jellied cranberry sauce- .50 cents each
Will use this on the Turkey Pizza

2 pkgs Hormel pre-cooked bacon.
$1.49
Not sure of regular price but the Kroger
brand was on sale for $3.00

And I had a coupon for a free bottle of Excederin.
When I got home I also found another coupon
in my mailbox for $3.50 off Excederin PM!
Hoping to combine that with a Walgreens sale
or Walgreens coupon to get it free!

There's a good 12 meals in this photo!
Hams- 3 meals each
(ham slices/cubes for 2 meals & soup with remaining ham & bone.)
pork chops- 2 meals each
(1 pork chop per adult & half for child.)

Then we strolled past the meat mark down section
and found these mark downs:
$5.63 & $5.86 pkgs of pork chops
marked down to $2.79 & $2.68 each.

Then I noticed the butcher marking down hams!
Got 2 hams for $3.89 & $3.29 each.
There was actually another much larger ham for $4.79
marked down that we gave to mom for New Years.
Aren't I sneaky!!
Mom gave me $5.00 the other day to cover
the cost of 2 pizzas we all ate from Little Caesers.
I turned around and used that $5.00
to buy her a ham and two packages of rolls
that could easily supply them with 4 meals,
if not more considering there is only 2 of them!

Went by the bread area and found stacks of crates with
packages of rolls marked down to .25 cents each.
Got 4 packages and gave two to mom.

I think we are set on pork for bringing
luck into our new year! LOL!
Plus, remember I made 2 casserole dishes
of potatoes with ham and sauerkraut roll ups!

I spent around $47 today.
While I only showed you my mark down deals
I got other stuff as well like frozen pizzas,
pop, shredded cheese, mixed veggie,
a couple packs of chicken rice plus
mom's ham (about 4 meals) & rolls.
I figured up 20 meals were gotten
with this $47 so not too shabby!!

2:00pm

Well I need to sort through some totes.
You tell kids to clean their rooms
and they threw everything into totes
and drug the totes to the hallway or kitchen
and left them there. So time to weed
the stuff out!

Also brought up the Christmas tree box
out of the basement so might get that
put away today as well.

Tony's currently working on removing
tires and putting on brakes & inspecting
to see if rotors need turned on the Lexus.
This should have been done already
but we ran behind getting everything else done.
With gas going up and up we need
to get this car road worthy for the snow
and have Tony start driving it to work
to save on gas instead of the suburban.
On really bad snow days he can drive
that though since it is a 4x4!
We still need to get the other set
of tires on it and take off the 20" ones
that are useless to us in the snow!
Jan & Feb aren't here yet and we know
what kind of snow that can have.
Heck even into March as that's when
we had the last blizzard!

Everyone's making fun of me today while at home.
You ever get a pimple that really hurts?
Well I got one of those yesterday in the crease
of where the bridge of my nose and nostril meets!
Ouch! So I've been dabbing plain ole white
toothpaste on it and letting it sit while I do
housework or when going to bed.
This is supposed to help dry it out
and absorb the oils out of it.
It seems to be working. I don't feel like
going around looking like Rudolph
with half my nose red and inflamed.

-------------------------------

Orange Juice might be going up in price due
to damaged crops in Florida from freeze.
Read story HERE.

-----------------------------------

$10,000 Jelly Belly Cupcake Contest!
Runs from November 15, 2010 to
July 31, 2011
So you still have awhile to get any
cupcakes submitted!

-----------------------------------------

4:05pm

Is there such a thing as Winter cleaning?
Ya know like Spring cleaning.
There should be such a thing for
after Christmas clean up.
That is what I am currently in the
process of doing. Ahhhh!
Well at least the kids bedrooms
and the living area trying to get
the Christmas stuff indoors put away.
And then vacuum all the tinsel, glitter
and crumbs from the carpet.

----------------------------------------

There is a new show airing tonight at 8pm EST on TLC called Extreme Couponing. The show profiles four coupon-obsessed savers (as TLC calls them) trying to get as much as they can for as little as they can.
from Hip2Save

I'm not sure if this is the same show I posted and had
a link to a video clip the other day but it sounds like it.
And while I am thinking of it will go set the DVR to record it.


----------------------------------------------------

Supper tonight-
Chicken Al La King over Rice
with leftover cornbread.

Doesn't look like anything special
but all the boys raved over it
saying how good it was.
And this had a can of mixed veggies in it.
My kids think they are allergic to veggies
and if had a choice wouldn't touch them
with a ten foot pole!
That says allot in my house to hear those words,
especially from kids!


I was so proud of my honey this evening
when out shopping!

We stopped in NAPA to drop off a couple
rotors to be turned and get a
set of front brake pads. Of course our NAPA
said the machine was broke so had to go to the one
between Worthington & Dublin at the main store.
I waited in the truck.
The employee told Tony it would
cost $46 for brake pads and Tony
actually twerpt up and said well
Advance Auto has them for $32 so
I will get them there and save $10.
The NAPA guy, not wanting to lose his business
took those $46 brakes down to $28
a savings of $18!!

It never hurts to tell stores what
other store's prices are to see if
they are willing to negotiate!
Or heck ask them if they will
match prices.

In this case with the brakes he actually
got the better end of the deal since
NAPA had better brakes than Advance's :0)

Next stop was GameStop in Upper Arlington.
Hubby actually thought to bring an item
back to return that we didn't need.
We was hoping to use that return towards
another wired controller for the XBox360.
We knew a used wire controller would be $40
(yes my eyes were a twitching at that price! But
hey the game system was free!)
Unfortunately they were out of them.
Instead of us walking away and buying nothing,
because we were disappointed and
ready to walk out the door,
the employee found an open box controller
that was $24.99 and gave us a 10%
discount on top of that!
So ended up saving a total of $17.50
off of what we had planned to spend
for a controller.
Actually we paid $8 and some change
after we returned another item
and they gave us that credit.

So the moral of this story is you don't
always have to use coupons or sales
to get the best deals. Know how to talk
(or act around) to the people running the store!
Sometimes they'll do whatever it takes
to get your business
and get you to come back!

------------------------------------

Tomorrow morning we have
an eye doctor appointment for Christopher.
The school gave us a certificate to
get a free eye exam and glasses for
him if he needs them!!
That'll be about $200-$300 guessing
that we saved by having them do that
for us!!
I say those guesstimates because
the last time Tony got an eye exam
and glasses that's about what it cost.
And that was through Walmart!

When I was at Kroger earlier today.
I had forgot to hand the cashier my free coupon
for Excederin and realized it at the checkout.
Now usually they send me to the service
desk to deal with stuff like that.
This cashier actually gave me my refund
at the checkout and said the customer
is always right. I about fainted, because
I thought that idea went out the door
a long time ago with the way many people
are getting treated now a days in stores.

-----------------------------------------

Church Bulletins.

I know some may have seen
these funnies before so here
are some more to enjoy!

.Love those Church Ladies..

They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for
church ladies with typewriters... These sentences (with all the
BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in
church services: (I think)
--------------------------
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
--------------------------
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon
tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
--------------------------
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of
those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your
husbands.
--------------------------
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile
at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't
care much about you.
--------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
--------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving
obvious pleasure to the congregation.
--------------------------
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a
nursery downstairs.
--------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all
the help they can get.
--------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the
church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
--------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is
Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice
--------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of
several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
--------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be
recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
--------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased
person you want remembered.
--------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super
entertainment and gracious hostility.
--------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
--------------------------
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.
They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
--------------------------
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park
across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
--------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All
ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is
done.
--------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation
would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next
Sunday.
--------------------------
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please
use the back door.
- -------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the
Church basement Friday at 7 PM.. The congregation is invited to
attend this tragedy.
--------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian
Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
--------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan
last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'
-----------------------------------------

9-10:00pm

Sitting here watching the show
Extreme Couponing I recorded earlier.
Just finished watching the first lady.
When it got to the part where she was
putting tons of Butterfingers in her cart
we all laughed. Why? Because I had those
same coupons and shopped the same sales!
I think I ended up with at least
40 Butterfinger candy bars I got free.
Of course I did these in smaller trips to the
store. I don't know how these people are able
to get that much of one item and use
that many coupons. These stores
around here would give me fits if I did that!
So if it's a really good deal or free stuff
I'll go to the store several times.
Actually today while at Kroger I was
holding a couple Butterfingers coupons
in my hand checking the prices of them.
Unfortunately they are no longer 2 for $1.00
at Kroger so will have to look elsewhere :0)

----------------------------------------------------

10:15pm

Going through and studying and getting
ideas for the jelly bean cupcake contest.
I have plenty of time to think this out
and get ideas.
I get inspired by looking at thousands of
pictures.
I wanted to show you this jelly bean cupcake
that I thought was sooo cute and will
have to remember this idea to make sometime!
.

I was reading the official rules to the cupcake contest.
Before entering ANY contest be sure to do this first!!
I was browsing through some of the entries
submitted so far and see sooo many mistakes
that make these people ineligible because they
didn't read the rules.
First of the cupcake has to be original.
I see people who have used other people's creations.
Second, the one requirement for the contest
is to use Jelly Belly beans to decorate the cupcake.
I see many cupcakes entered that don't
have a jelly bean one in it!!
What does suck is that judges will pick
5 finalists then have an online voting
with those 5. I hate online voting!!

12-28-10

I keep reading that cotton will skyrocket
in 2011. Prices could go up anywhere from
40-70% due to China not producing enough??
I'm not sure of exact details.
Think about how much cotton we use day to day
from clothes, bedding, towels and so on.
So that is a scary thought.
So time to hold onto your items a little longer
and shop more yard sales and thrift stores
providing they don't have a price jump as well.

------------------------------------------

Here's a couple web sites I found for
those who might be facing hardship in 2011.

Free Medical & Dental clinics in Columbus

---------------------------

Facing power outages or electric shut off in the Winter,
try a propane powered radiant vent free heater,
no electric required. A little pricey at $100-$200
but better than freezing to death!

------------------------------

Drug Discount Card

NeedyMeds now offers you another way to save on prescription costs. With the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card you can save up to 80% off the price of your prescription medications not covered by insurance.

The free NeedyMeds drug discount card is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies, including major chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid and at most regional chains and local stores.

There are no fees, no registration, no paperwork, and no restrictions. You can share it with friends and family members or they can print their own. Everyone can have one.

Your card is active immediately. Every time you use the card, NeedyMeds receives a small amount to keep our web site up-to-date and growing.

-----------------------

GSK Access

Providing Patients Access to the Medicines They Need

GSK Access offers GSK prescription medicines—at no cost—to qualified patients who are enrolled in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

----------------------------------

Applying for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

Schools send school meal applications home at the beginning of each school year. However, you may apply for school meals at any time throughout the school year by submitting a household application directly to your school. Your school will provide you with an application upon request.

Or you can go HERE and apply online!

-------------------------------------

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income households, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.

-----------------------------------------

Columbus
Mid-Ohio FoodBank
1625 W. Mound Street
Columbus OH 43223-1809
Phone: 614-274-7770
Fax: 614-274-8063
Executive Director: Matthew Habash
Web Site: http://www.midohiofoodbank.org/

------------------------------------

HUD (Housing & Urban Development)

---------------------------------------------

American Red Cross

--------------------------------------

The Salvation Army

-----------------------------------------

Snow Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 1 gallon snow
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups milk

Directions

1. When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

Makes 8 servings

-----------------------------------

Walgreens

Here are some possible clearance items

with coupon match ups.

Now remember each store is different

so who knows what you will be able to find!

CoverGirl Trucheeks Blush on clearance for $1.89
Ringing up buy 1 get 1 50% off
Buy 2 for a total of $2.84
Use the $2.50/2 Coupon found in the 12/26 PG
Final cost only $0.17 each!

CoverGirl Trublend Micromineral Foundation on clearance for $3.19
Ringing up buy 1 get 1 50% off
Buy 2 for a total of $4.79
Use the $2.50/2 Coupon found in the 12/26 PG
Final cost only $1.15 each!

Willy Wonka Scrumdiddlyumptious Bars 3.5 oz on clearance for $0.99
Use the $1/1 Walgreens coupon found in the December coupon booklet
Final cost FREE!
*After paying, you will supposedly get back a coupon valid for $1.25/2 Wonka bars!

NOTE: Clearance deals do vary from store to store.

Like Genesis Juice on Facebook

and get a printable coupon for

buy 1 get 1 free.

Available at Walgreens!

-----------------------------------------------

Grocery prices are going up!

I've already told you I've seen the increase

in milk, butter and eggs.

Gas is now up to $3.19 a gallon.

Why are food prices going up?

Demand for meat in China, India and other markets is driving up prices for grain. That in turn leads to higher prices for chicken, steak, bread and pasta.

A drought in Russia, problems with planting and speculative trading have further driven up grain prices, the Wall Street Journal says.

--------------------------------------

Don't forget to load your Kroger

Plus card with electronic coupons!

Currently there are $150 in coupons!

---------------------------------------

from hip2save

Currently, Kohl’s has the Dockers Solid Argyle V-Neck Sweaters priced at just $2.52 (regularly $42)! Plus, you can use coupon code TWENTY4U to get an additional 20% off your order and shipping is just $0.99 per item. That means you can snag the sweaters pictured above for just $3.01 (+ tax) shipped right to your door…that’s a whopping 93% off the retail price! Keep in mind that sizes and colors are limited.

Sweater vests are also available for $3.04!

Reg. $38.00!

Check out more from their clearance section.

----------------------------------------

Here are some recipes for food purchased

at discount stores!

DOLLAR GENERAL RECIPES

SAVE-A-LOT RECIPES

ALDI RECIPES

FAMILY DOLLAR RECIPES

The .99 CENTS CHEF

(we could use this store around here!)

MARC'S WEEKLY PRODUCE RECIPES

DEALS- no recipes but wanted to

share this newer store I found with you.

It's about like a family dollar/dollar general

but a little larger.

Closest stores:

Taylor Square
7691 Farmsbury Drive

Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

.Westerville Shopping Center
581 S. State St.

Westerville, OH 43081
Store #3367.
Store #3393

Other sites for cheap meals and meal planning!

$5 DOLLAR DINNERS for a family of 4

CHEAP COOKING

100 Delicious, Dirt-Cheap Recipes for the Starving Student

CHEAP MEAL RECIPES

$3 OR LESS CHEAP EATS

DEPRESSION RECIPES

GREAT DEPRESSION COOKING WITH CLARA

------------------------------------

Video on Good Morning America

Extreme Couponing- When need to save goes too far.

My advice, don't overbuy.

Only buy what you can use in a matter of time

because things will go bad!

I take breaks, sometimes months without couponing.

Then during those months I make meals

from my stockpile so it doesn't go bad.

Yeah there will be sales and freebies you

will miss but do you really need 100 tubes

of toothpaste?! This is when you have to

stop the obsessiveness of wanting to go shopping!

12-27-10

10:30am

Got all dishes in dishwasher and
done by hand. Was slacking in the
dish washing department the last couple of days.
Trying to bounce back from Christmas
and get the place back to normal as possible
and start stocking the freezer with some
freezer meals.

I am currently working on a big pot
of white gravy. This will be used for 2
different type freezer meals so I am
seeing how far I can stretch it.
1. Chicken Al La King
2. Potato Soup

This is my base gravy for those meals above.
Using what I have on hand!
Some or most of these prices
reflect mark down items I have found.

3 country gravy packets $1.50
1 country sausage gravy packet .33 cents
1 can cream of mushroom soup .49 cents
5 cup chicken stock .99 cents
1 can chicken broth .29 cents
5 cups milk .70 cents

Total: $4.30

Chicken Al La King

Dip out 5 cups of gravy and add to
a large saucepan. $2.15

Add 5 pounds chicken leg quarters,
skin & bones removed $1.44

Stir in package of frozen mixed vegetables .35 cents

Season with salt, pepper &/or season salt

Pour over rice, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes,
pasta or biscuits.

Total cost
$3.59 + cost of what you are putting it on
so let's add another $2 for that = $5.59
Makes 2 meals (10 servings)
@ .55 cents a serving

***************

Potato Soup

6-7 cups gravy mix above $2.15
3 pounds potatoes, boiled & cubed $1.00
1 pkg Italian sausage, sliced $1.80
1/2 pkg dry onion soup mix .25 cents
salt & pepper
shredded cheese or parmesan topping (optional)

Total cost: $5.20
Makes 3 meals (15 servings)
@ .34 cents a serving

****************************

12:00pm

Working on getting 10 pounds of
cubed potatoes boiled up.
About 1/3rd of these will go
into the potato soup and the rest
will go to make
Ham, Sauerkraut & Potatoes.
I'm omitting the apples in this recipe.
If I have time I am hoping to get
2 casserole dishes of this recipe
done up today also.
One for New Years and one for
another day.

Main ingredients:
Ham slices $2.00
potatoes $2.00
sauerkraut $1.29
2 cup grated cheddar cheese $1.67
(plus whatever extra cheese we have
from Christmas leftover)
1 1/2 cups milk .21 cents

Total cost to make 2 meals:
$7.17
Serves 10 @ .71 cents a serving.

**********************

So in the last 2 days I was able to make
5 meals- Ham & Bean soup
2 meals- Chicken Al La King
3 meals- sausage potato soup
2- Ham, sauerkraut & potatoes
1-scalloped potatoes

Total of 13 meals for the freezer!

My 10 pounds of potatoes boiling,
chicken al la king ready for freezer
& white sauce gravy
mix ready for potato soup.
While putting things in the freezer I noticed
I had a large bag of turkey leftover from
Thanksgiving. So I've been sitting here thinking
about what to use if for. And about that
time I got a recipe in my email from Pillsbury
for Turkey Dinner Pizza, LOL!
I can make my own pizza crust in the bread
machine rather than buying their ready made crust.
Then will keep an eye out for those
holiday mark downs at the store
for cranberry sauce, stuffing & gravy to
be able to make this!
Need more ideas of how to use up leftover turkey?

Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey recipes
from Betty Crocker
------------------------------------

Check out this printable coupon
with all the talk about making up
some cheap meals :0)
from hip2save!
.

Wow! Little Caesars released a pretty rare coupon! Just go here and enter your email address to print a rare Buy any HOT-N-READY Pizza and receive a pizza of equal or lesser value FREE, valid through 12/28! Aren’t their medium pizzas priced at $5?! If that’s the case, you should be able to snag 2 pizzas for $5 total.

Good today and tomorrow only!
Think I'll stock the freezer with a couple
pizzas also!! I know large pepperoni
pizzas are $5.00 so with this coupon
2 for $5.00!!
HERE is another Little Caesers coupon
for bread sticks & sauce for $1.99!
So 2 large peperoni pizzas with bread sticks & sauce
for only $6.99!!

----------------------------------

Also from hip2save
WALMART

It has been reported by many that the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Gift Sets are on clearance for just $4.44 at Walmart! If you can find these priced this low at your local Walmart (you may want to do a price check), then you can use the $4/1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide coupon found in the 12/26 PG to score a gift set for ONLY $0.44! These gift sets include a razor, deodorant, body wash + More, so $0.44 definitely gets you quite a few items!

WALGREENS

There is a new Walgreens Chex Mix monthly Register Reward deal starting today, 12/27 and running through 1/23…

Buy 3 bags of Chex Mix = $1.50 RR
Buy 4 = $2.50 RR
Buy 5 = $3.50 RR

Deal Scenario:
Buy 5 bags of Chex Mix 8.75oz on sale for $0.99
Total = $4.95
Use 2 $1/2 coupons found in the 12/5 General Mills insert o
Plus, use the $0.50/1 coupon found here
Pay $2.45
Get back a $3.50 RR
Final cost 5 bags for FREE + a $1.05 moneymaker!

-------------------------------------------

2:50pm

Finally done with my freezer cooking for today,
woo hoo!
I omitted the apples in the saurkraut
and instead I cooked the kraut with some
frozen pineapple juice (leftover from draining a
can of pineapple. Put in ice cube trays then popped
out and put into zip bags.)
a couple tablespoons brown sugar and
some nutmeg.

I ended up with some leftover potatoes
so I threw them in another dish
and covered with sauce to make
scalloped potatoes.

From start to finish it took
me 4.5 hours to make what you see below.
Not even that if you consider break times
and time to make hot dogs for lunch
and eat lunch! And also
took time out to refill my printer ink
cartridges and bring laundry up from the basement.Ok gonna chill now for the next couple
of hours til hubby comes home.
Then ask him if we can go to
Little Caesers to pick up a couple
pizzas with the coupon I printed.
-----------------------------------------

4:20pm

Just checked mail and I'm not a happy camper.
I got a cable bill from Wow that made me go WOW!
They charged me almost $40 to come out
and fix the internet & phone the one day.
They told me there was water in the box on
the power line! GRRR!
They never said anything that day about
charging me to come out and fix the problem!
And the phone still keeps cutting out
and gurgling and the internet still goes out
at times. So what the hell!
Seems like someone is always
standing with their hand out
wanting money!

4:45pm

Mom & Don's coming over tonight
to open presents. Can't wait to see mom's face
when she opens the mop I got her!
Will get pics if my camera doesn't die
before then, lol.
I've been using it quite a bit here lately.
I was able to print off
2 buy 1 get 1 free pizza coupons so
will go get those when Tony gets home.
So instead of a late Christmas dinner
we're having Christmas pizza.


-----------------------------------

6:00pm

Picked up 4 large pepperoni pizzas,
16 bread sticks and 2 dipping sauces
for $14.00 for all!
Buy 1 Get 1 Free $5.00 pizzas,
got 2 but had to do two different orders.
Plus used 2 coupons for 8 bread sticks
and dipping sauce for $1.99.

Christmas with mom and Don.
Salt out taking a stroll in her ball.

8:30pm

Got all the left over pizza divided up
and put away.
Not too bad for a $14 investment.
6 of us ate pizza supper tonight,
got 3 lunches made with pizzas for tomorrow,
and 2 whole pizzas and about 4 bread sticks
with dip packed up to put in freezer.
So 4 meals for $3.50 a meal.

-------------------------------

Before I head to bed and bore you
with any more of my freezer meals
(hey it's our way of life though
and about being frugal)
I wanted you to read a story
of what these church ladies did
for a member of their church.
Sounds like something I would do.
I cooked up a meal for the guy across the
street & his three kids, gave out Christmas
gift bags to single, elderly people that live by us
and try to give people things that I know could
use items I find that don't have much money.
Which by the way, I still have this Barbie bike
which is looking for an owner. I would of hated
to see this go to the trash or scrappers when some little
girl would love it that doesn't have one!

But anyway here is the story,
A Winter Miracle

My Frugal Life: A Winter Miracle

I wanted to share with you all what our "stay at home married ladies" group at church did several years ago at Christmas. We were a Wednesday night group of about 15 women who met weekly for Bible Study and grew rather close. Our ages ranged from 20 to 92. It was a nice group and before and after our Bible study we would discuss child raising tips, sewing tips, recipes and such.

During one meeting, in late August an 80 year old widow in our group confided that she needed prayers for finances. She was running even with her finances, but with winter coming on she was worried about not having money for heat, and was going to be short about $40 a month, unless she gave up some of her medications or food.

Most of us had been in her home, she had taken care of several of our children while we had a night out with our spouses, made sure she sent us all birthday cards, had made us cookies and such, and we felt we needed to help her. But, money was tight for us too, as our common thread was that we were stay at home moms - on a single income.

So, we made a list of what we knew she used and needed and divided it up. Each of us also got her a $5 Walgreen card (as we knew that was where she got her prescriptions and she had a $5 copay on each one). We also each got her canned goods, baking supplies, and such. Basically each woman only had to spend around $15, and we had several months to do it, so it was not a strain on any of our budgets. We planned to give our gifts to her after the first cold snap.

When the temp dropped we were ready. While one lady in our group took her to a doctors appointment then as a treat took her out to eat, the rest of us attacked her apartment. First, we deep cleaned the places she couldn't due to her age - such as high in the corners, behind furniture, and such.

Then, we filled up her kitchen cabinets with canned goods, her bathroom cabinet with shampoo, soap, deoderant, TP, and toothpaste. We put laundry soap and dryer sheets in her laundry room, and a package of new vacuum cleaner bags with her sweeper. We also left a package of trash bags, a few cleaning products, a box of greeting cards, and a book of stamps. Since she always made new church members knitted potholders, we also left some new skeins of yarn in her knitting basket.

We left her the $5 Walgreen cards with her medications. Then we disappeared and never said another word about it.

At our next meeting she was praising God, and very confused as to where it all came from. She was so excited that since her cabinets were full she could spend her money on her winter utilities. She was in tears. She talked about that "winter miracle" until she died almost a year later. She had no children of her own, and had outlived her own family. Possibly she knew we were at the bottom of it, but she never let on that she knew. It still warms my heart every time I think of her or that quick 90 minutes that 14 of us spent on Thursday morning in her apartment that day. A little from each of us, meant the world to her. Isn't that what Christmas (and everyday) should really be about?

.

12-26-10

11:45am

I had woke up around 9:30am
this morning to the phone ringing.
It was mom wanting to know if I wanted
to go to Meijer and check out any mark downs
they had. I had to pass since I had just woke
up and she was already ready to go.
So instead our family will head to Kroger
today and check out their mark downs,
get a jar of beans and some cornbread.
Then stop by Tony's work before coming home
to drop off our Christmas trash.
Then spend the day making ham & bean soup,
cleaning up the kitchen and putting my
living room back together.
Really needs a vacuum run considering there
is hamster bedding all over the floor.
Looking like a kennel in here, lol.
Oh yeah and possibly stop in somewhere to buy
a bike chain & lock. The one Santa got for
Christopher is a combination lock
and uh, well it's kinda missing the numbers
on it. So it will go back to Walmart. Just
not today as I'm not fighting those crowds.
.-----------------------------------

2:30pm

Back home.
Kroger had their Christmas stuff 60% off.
I got a dozen frosted sugar cookies.
Reg. $3.00 marked down to $1.00.
And I bought one of those large bags
of cinnamon pine cones reg. $5.00
marked down to $2.00.
I kept them in the bag
and put the bag on top of one of our vents in
the house.

I just got a large pot on the stove:
Remaining ham & bone,
1 chopped onion,
about 3 stalks celery, chopped,
chicken bullion,
garlic salt,
parsley flakes,
dried basil,
Mrs. Dash original blend.
48 oz. jar of 7 different beans in liquid,
covered in water.

I save time using these jarred
beans in liquid so I don't have to let the beans soak.
Then I save these jars and reuse them
for putting pickled eggs in.

.

Then another day this week I will make this
up as a freezer meal also:
1 freezer container of already
made chicken leg quarters, remove meat from bones.

In a pot make up 4 packets of
country gravy, add chicken broth and
flour if necessary to fill pot half way full.
Stir in a can or two of mixed vegetables.
Then stir in chopped up chicken.

Will freeze this Chicken A La King
in smaller containers.
Serve over some biscuits, pasta or rice.

Chicken $1.00
4 packets of gravy $2.00
2 cans mixed veggies $1.00

Pasta and biscuits go on sale allot
and when using coupons on them
makes them really cheap or free!


I'm keeping my eyes peeled for
after Christmas/ Thanksgiving meal items
to be marked down.
You can usually find potatoes, gravy, stuffing,
cranberries in the can, pie fillings,
baking stuff and so on.
I guess it would all depend upon the store
and how much stuff they had leftover.

Here is something I will remember for
next year!
Christmas eve Damien had to work at Meijer.
They closed at 7pm that day.
He said that around 6:30pm they made
an announcement that all fresh meat
was 50% off because of not being open
for Christmas!
Damn, I wish I had known .
But I am remembering this for next year for sure!!

----------------------------------



For those that need totes to stash your
Christmas items in (or for whatever)

18 gallon slate blue totes from Lowes
was $4.99 now $2.50 til Jan. 3rd.
Free shipping for store pickup.

------------------------------------

8:10pm

Got some screen and put it around
the bottom sides of the gerbil cage
to prevent them from flipping bedding out.
This way they can see out and we can
see in as opposed to the cardboard
I had around it.
Now you can see the second
wheel I put it on the second floor.
At times they'll both be going
on each wheel.
Tonight they thought of a new trick.
To run really fast on the wheel
then stop suddenly and the wheel
would flip them round and round
about 5 times. Of course when I grabbed
the camera they quit doing it.Well back to watching the
Blue Collar Comedy Tour on the
Comedy channel.
They are hilarious!

----------------------------------------

8:45pm

Got all the ham and bean soup put in the freezer
after everyone ate what they wanted out of it.
I let it simmer on the stove for about
5 hours today. The ham just fell off
the bone and is soo tender!
I got a good 4-5 meals for 4 people
out of that one pot of soup!

12-25-10

.MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Christmas dinner and gifts with mom
and Don has been put off for a couple
days due to them not feeling well.

I took well over 100 pictures and videos.
So here are just a few from our Christmas!

7:30-9:30am

The kids each got a fart box
that had different buttons with
an assortment of fart sounds.
Too funny!

Damien opening his $50 gas card.
This also has the fart box in it, lol.

Mom did end up sending down some
food for our Christmas dinner.
I wanted to show you a casserole warmer
I made for her awhile back.
I also made a rice pack in matching fabric
that goes under the casserole dish
that can be warmed up in the microwave
that keeps your dish hot while traveling.

That's got me thinking for next year's
Christmas gifts. I have some extra
quilted fabric with batting in it.
It's never too early to start thinking
about Christmas 2011!



Need an idea and patterns for sewing?
HERE are a TON of patterns to get you started!
----------------------------------

From deal seeking mom:

Pair the Meijer Mealbox coupon with the Armour manufacturer coupon to get Armour Pepperoni free if your Meijer doubles manufacturer coupons. Here's how:

Armour Pepperoni (3 oz.), $1.39 (regular price)
$0.55/1 Armour Pepperoni printable
$1/2 Armour Pepperoni (Meijer)
From FREE to $0.34 ea. wyb 2 after stacked and doubled coupon!

--------------------------------

Mom called to thank me for the bag of cookies
and mugs with hot chocolate. She said
she couldn't believe all the cookies I had made.
I asked her how many types there were
because I really never kept track.
She said 18 different kinds!!!

--------------------------------

For all you big spenders out there!
Not me though, I have doctor bills to pay so had
to watch what was gotten for Christmas.
No bills or anything hanging over our
head from Christmas!
No credit card bills racked up, bought all
with cash. You don't really need
it if you have to put it on credit and pay
for it for the next 12 months!
Plan carefully and shop those after Christmas
sales, shop yard sales and stores sales
paired with coupons throughout the year
to make it less of a burden on your budget!
.

Twas the Day AFTER Christmas 'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house, Every creature was hurtin', even the mouse. The toys were all broken, their batteries dead; Santa passed out, with some ice on his head. Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, While upstairs the family continued to snore. And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans, Went into the kitchen and started to clean. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror. The driver was smiling, so lively and grand; The patch on his jacket said, "U.S. POSTMAN." With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox, Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox. Bill after bill, after bill, they still came, Whistling and shouting he called them by name: "Now Target, now Best Buy, now Penny's and Sears. There's eBay and Amazon - you're up to your ears! To the tip of your limit, every store, every mall, Now charge away - charge away - charge away all!" He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work. He filled up the box, then turned with a jerk. He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road, Driving much faster with just half a load. Then, I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer, "Enjoy what you got . . . you'll be paying all year!"

.
-------------------------------------------------

6:30pm
Showing ya how fast these gerbils can run!
The black one is faster than the white.
Since this video I have added a second wheel
on the second floor
and cardboard around the bottoms sides of
cage because they are making a mess with
their bedding flipping it outside the cage.
Gave them a mini carrot sliced up as a treat and
also sprayed a little vegetable cooking spray
on that squeaky wheel and now have no more
squeak, YEAH!

----------------------------------------

I haven't received my door sales ads yet :0(
But I did get a Saturday Dispatch paper that
I did not subscribe to so don't know
what that is all about. That's 2 I've gotten this month.

On Christmas eve Kroger had started to mark
down their Christmas items to 40% off.
I'm sure come tomorrow those will go
to 50% off in most stores!
Might stop in there tomorrow
and get a big jar of mixed beans
and get out of the house for a few and drop
off Christmas trash at his work.
Our trash was supposed to of been picked up
Thursday and they never came.
So we're a little over loaded with trash at the
moment.
I want to make a big pot of ham and bean
soup with the ham bone and any remaining
ham on it! Yummy!

----------------------------------

8:40pm

I've been relaxing most of the day
and pretty much doing nothing, lol.
Hey we deserve it!
Surprisingly the kids are still going strong
after getting up about 5am!
We now have skateboard ramps set up in
our living room and the kids are riding their
skateboards on them on their bellies.
They tried to stand but I could envision
heads meeting up with a corner of a table
and an emergency room visit so put a stop
to that real quick!

9:30pm

Think I'm gonna retire to the bedroom
and watch some tv or take a hot bath.
Decisions, decisions!
Eenie meanie minie moe.
XBox 360 has been the hot toy
at our house today and at this point
I am tired of looking at it or hearing
it all...day...long!!
Oh yeah the three boys, Tony included,
are all interested in it.
As for me, I need some regular adult
television shows. Having withdrawal of
HGTV, Food TV and channels of the sort.
There's got to be something good on
tv being Christmas!
Kids are still up so maybe they will
sleep in tomorrow.
I know, wishful thinking.
Bellie's been gurgling and churning.
Don't think it knows what to do with
all this food from Christmas, lol.
Wait til I get the ham and beans
made tomorrow. Bet that will help it allot! LOL!
Well I am off here for today.
I am bored of the computer and
everything else, lol.

Ok before I head to bed I want you to see
how bored I am.
The last funny for today, lol.
Kids are playing Need For Speed on XBox360
so I decided to record the white
gerbil running on the wheel
with the sound affects from the XBox racing
game hearing cars shift gears then come to
a screeching halt along side
the gerbil going full speed.
Couldn't have been timed more perfect!
HILARIOUS!