Cute, Creative, & Fun! November 22, 2009

I have several Christmas gifts that are small this year so I decided to be a little creative!  The result is pictured above!  =)

 

Materials (all from Michael’s Craft Store):

Colorful Take-Out boxes – $6 for a pack of 7 (I bought 2)

Decorative letters – $4 for a pack with 4 complete alphabets

Bag of paper shreds – $3 for a large bag

Total:  $19 (plus tax) for 14 decorative gift boxes + extra letters

I found the letters in the scrapbooking aisle.  These were pieces of perferated paper that I had to glue on but cute stickers would work also.  I used the first letter of each person’s name.  Inside, I placed the gift on a bed of paper shreds.  And that’s it!  Super cute!  Now, if I can just wait for Christmas… =)

Publix Trip on 11/20 November 21, 2009

I didn’t have a chance to take a picture this week because I started cooking as soon as I got home from my shopping trip…using the items that I purchased!  Here’s what I bought:

4 boxes of Ritz crackers

3 tubs of Country Crock mashed potatoes

2 packets of Idahoan mashed potaotes

8 cans of Dole pineapple

2 boxes of Jello pudding

2 bars of Philadelphia cream cheese

2 jars of Prego pasta sauce

2 tubs of Cool Whip

Register Total:  $51.18

Total Savings:  $44.46

Final Price:  $6.72

Saved 87%!!

A Little About Our Financial Journey… November 20, 2009

Mark and I were married in October 2007.  We were both pretty responsible with money before marriage but we did bring some debt with us…most of it came from me but my wonderful husband always says that after the wedding it goes from “me” to “we”.  I love that man’s wisdom!  For the first month of our marriage, we tried to do things without a plan.  We let the money float in, paid the bills as they arrived, and prayed we had enough to make it.  It only took that one month for us to realize that a written budget and a plan for our finances were imperative!  So…in November of 2007, we started Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps!  Over the past two years, we have been working really hard at saving money and getting our debt paid off.

 

What does this have to do with coupons you might ask?  Well, our most recent short term goal was to have our last credit card PAID OFF by December 31, 2009.  A few months ago, we crunched the numbers and it did not look like we were going to be able to make it by our goal date.  We had cut everything we could think of…no cable, no text messages on our phones, etc, etc!  Then I got an idea!  I had been couponing for a while and our pantry and freezers were quite fat with food items so I decided to cut our grocery budget from $60 per week to $20 per week!  Yes, $20!  I started building our meals out of what we had in our stockpile and used my $20 for staples and a few other super cheap coupon items.  At first, I wasn’t sure that I could do it but we survived!  Thrived even!  Now granted, we did get tired of a few items after a while but it really wasn’t bad at all.  AND we were adding an extra $160 to our credit card payment each month!

 

Well, I have great news!  As we “speak”, the LAST credit card payment is on its way!  We did it!!  We paid off our last credit card AND we did it over a month before we had planned!  Yay!!  Saving our pennies and using coupons helped us get there!  We are so excited about moving on to our next goal!

 

-katrina

Publix Deals for the Week of 11/18 (or 11/19) November 19, 2009

I’m a little late this week because I have been so under the weather lately!  I am finally starting to feel like myself again!  Yay!!

Shedd’s Country Crock Mashed Potatoes Regular or Garlic, 24-oz tub, BOGO $3.59

$1.25 off in 11/15 RP insert

Final Price:  $.55 each!!  Just in time for Thanksgiving!

T. Marzetti’s Dressing, Assorted Varieties, 12 or 15-oz jar, BOGO $3.69

$1.00 off in 8/30 RP insert

Final Price:  $.85 per jar!

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Spread: 2 pk, 7.5-oz tub, or 15 or 16-oz pkg, or 10-oz bot, or Spray, 8-oz bot, BOGO $2.49

$.75 off 2 in 11/15 RP insert AND

$.75 off Target coupon HERE

Final Price:  $.24 for 2 tubs of butter!  (Here’s how:  Buy 2 tubs of butter, use 1 insert coupon, AND use 2 Target coupons…that’s $2.25 in savings!)

Cool Whip Whipped Topping, Assorted Varieties, 8-oz bowl, BOGO $1.49

$.55 off HERE

Final Price:  $.20 each!!  Great for holiday desserts!

Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, Assorted Varieties, 4 or 4.1-oz pouch, BOGO $1.29

$.40 off HERE (coupon doubles to $.80)

Final Price:  FREE!!!

Prego Italian Sauce, Assorted Varieties, 24-oz jar, BOGO $2.07

$.50 off 2 in 10/4 SS insert (doubles to $1.00) AND

$1.00 off 2 Food Lion coupon HERE (if your Publix considers Food Lion a competitor)

Final Price:  $.07 for 2 jars of sauce!!!

Dole Pineapple, Assorted Varieties, 20-oz can, BOGO $1.57

$.35 off 2 in 11/8 SS insert (doubles to $.70) OR

$.50 off HERE (doubles to $1.00)  (You have to play the game and there is link at the end to print your coupon.)

Final Price:  $.87 for 2 OR FREE…depending on which coupon you use!!

Crisco Pure Canola Oil or Pure Vegetable or Natural Blend, 48-oz bot., BOGO $3.59

$.55 off in 11/8 RP insert

Final Price:  $1.25 each!

Nabisco Ritz Crackers, Assorted Varieties, 7.5 to 16-oz box, BOGO $3.09

$1.00 off in 11/8 SS insert AND

$1.00 off Target coupon HERE

Final Price:  FREE!!

Glass Plus Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner, 32-oz bot, BOGO $2.49

$.35 off in 11/15 SS insert (doubles to $.70) OR

$1.00 off HERE

Final Price:  $.55 OR $.25…depending on which coupon you use!

Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 8-oz pkg, $1.29

$1.00 off HERE

Final Price:  $.29 each!!

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Entrees or Healthy Choice Meals, Assorted Varieties, 9.5 to 12.3-oz box, 4/$10

$2.00 off HERE

Final Price:  $.50!!
Happy Shopping!!

-katrina

 

Publix Trip 11/13!! November 14, 2009

I bought:

4 boxes of cereal (FREE)

1 box of Cheez-its

8 packs of Yo-Plus yogurt

4 bags of Green Giant Steamers

8 packs of McCormick gravy mix (FREE)

4 tubs of Betty Crocker icing (FREE)

4 bags of Chex Mix (I forgot to put these in the picture…oops!)

Register Total:  $74.72

Savings:  $69.42

My Price:  $5.30!!

Saved 93%!!

Target & Walmart Deals!! November 13, 2009

Want to see some awesome deals for Walmart and Target??  Go HERE to check out a list of 119 items for under $1.00 at Walmart!!  Go HERE for a list of 79 items for under $1.00 at Target!!  What a great coupon site!

Publix Deal for the Week of 11/11 (or 11/12) November 11, 2009

Looks like a great week at Publix!

Progresso Soup, Assorted Varieties, 18 to 19-oz can, BOGO $2.29

$.50 off 2 in 11/8 SS insert (doubles to $1.00) OR

$1.00 off HERE (if the High Fiber variety is included in the sale) OR

Check out www.couponmom.com for additional Progresso Soup coupons…There are tons!

Final Price:  $.15 each with $1.00 off coupon OR $1.29 for 2  ($.65 each)

Betty Crocker Frosting 12 to 16-oz tub, BOGO $1.83

$.50 off in 10/25 SS insert (doubles to $1.00) OR

$.50 off HERE and HERE (doubles to $1.00)

Final Price:  FREE!!!

Del Monte Fruit or Fruit & Gel, 4 pk, 3.75 to 4.5-oz cup, or Fruit Chillers, 8-ct, 2-oz tube, BOGO $2.75

$1.00 off Fruit Chillers HERE

Final Price:  $.38 each!!

Kellogg’s Cereal, Assorted Varieties, Crispix, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Corn Pops or Apple Jacks, 11.2 to 16.5-oz box, BOGO $3.99

$1.00 off Crispix or Rice Krispies in 11/8 RP insert AND

$1.00 off Target coupon HERE (if your Publix considers Target a competitor)

Final Price:  FREE cereal!!!  This would be a great time to stock up for homemade Rice Krispie Treats!!

McCormick Gravy Mix, Assorted Varieties, .75 to 1-oz pkg (Excluding Brown, Reduced Sodium and Country Gravy), BOGO .99¢

$.50 off 2 in 11/1 RP insert (doubles to $1.00)

Final Price:  2 packages for FREE!!!

Yoplait Yo-Plus or Yo-Plus Light Yogurt, Assorted Varieties, 4-pk, 4-oz cup, BOGO $2.50

$1.00 off in 10/4 GM insert AND 11/8 SS insert

Final Price:  $.25 each!!!

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, Assorted Varieties, 12-oz bag, BOGO $2.39

$.40 off in 10/4 GM insert (doubles to $.80) OR

$.50 off HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE

Final Price:  $.40 per bag with the $.40 coupon and $.20 per bag with the $.50 coupons!!!  Excellent for veggies!

Lysol Disinfectant Trigger Spray Cleaner, All Purpose 4 in 1: Lemon Breeze, Pacific Fresh Scent, or With Bleach, 32-oz bot, or Antibacterial Kitchen Citrus Scent, 22-oz bot, BOGO $2.69

$.40 off in 11/8 SS insert (doubles to $.80)  OR

$.50 off HERE (doubles to $1.00)

Final Price:  $.55 each OR $.35 each

Chinet Napkins, Extra Large Dinner or All Occasion, 40 or 90-ct pkg, BOGO $1.89

$1.00 off HERE

Final Price:  FREE!!

General Mills Chex Mix, Assorted Varieties, 8.75-oz bag, 3/$5

$.50 off in 10/25 SS insert (doubles to $1.00) AND

$.50 off Target coupon HERE

Final Price:  $.17 per bag!!

Got a sweet tooth?? November 7, 2009

Here are 2 excellent deals at Publix this week!  Just in time for holiday cooking!!

Nestle Toll House Morsels, Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Real, Mini-Real or Chunks; or Butterscotch Flavored, Milk Chocolate, or Premier White, 11 to 12-oz bag, BOGO $2.50

$.50 off in 11/01 RP insert (doubles to $1.00)

Final Price:  $.25 per bag!!!

Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough, Assorted Varieties, Ultimates or Mini Chocolate Chip or Cookie Mix, 15 or 16.5-oz pkg, BOGO $2.89

$1.00 off in 11/1 RP  insert OR

$.50 off in 10/11 SS insert (doubles to $1.00)

Final Price:  $.45 each!!!

 

Also, check out this amazing deal on creamer!  $.10 for a 32-oz bottle!!

Nestle Coffee-mate Non-Dairy Creamer, Chilled: Original, Low Fat or Fat Free, 32-oz bot (Excluding Flavors),BOGO $2.19

$1.00 off HERE

Final Price:  $.10!!

Baby Wipes Cover…I’m so proud of this project! October 31, 2009

Take a look at my new project!!  It is so super cute!  I bought a regular wipes holder and covered it with fabric and ribbon trim.  Two of my very best friends are having babies soon so I couldn’t resist trying my crafting skills out.  I think I’m going to do more with different fabrics just for fun.  What a great idea for a baby shower gift!

I want to carry it in my purse just because it’s cute!

Side note – Did my husband do a great job with my bling or what?!  =)

Voila!  Refillable case for wipes…but it’s stylish!  Too fun!

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe October 29, 2009

So…last week, I searching “How To” videos on youtube just for fun and I ran across “How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent”.  I was really curious so I watched a few videos.  Surprisingly, the recipes were very easy and cheap.  Also, the people in the videos swear by their homemade concoctions.  Being the out-of-box person that I am, I decided to give it a try!!  Here is the recipe that I used:

1 bar of Ivory soap

2 cups of Borax

2 cups of Washing Soda

What to do…

Grate the full bar of Ivory soap with a cheese grater.  Add the Borax and the Washing Soda.  Store in an air-tight container.  Use approx. 1/4 cup per load for an upright washing machine.  And you’re DONE!  (Please note: This detergent does not produce a lot of bubbles.  That does not affect the ability to get your clothes clean.)

I spent $7.25 total on the items and have enough for 3 batches with some Borax and Washing Soda left over.  I bought the Ivory soap and Borax from Wal-Mart.  The Washing Soda came from Kroger.  Make sure you buy WASHING Soda and NOT Baking Soda!  Both the Borax and the Washing Soda were found in the laundry detergent aisle at the respective stores.

Now…what about price and quality?  I roughly estimate that making detergent this way saves my small family of two $109 per year!  Not bad on just one household product!  As far as quality goes, I am very satisfied so far!  The detergent does not have a strong odor but it cleans very well!  My husband would not have known the difference had I not told him…and I washed our sheets first.  I have no complaints!

Go ahead…give it a try!  You know you want to!  =)