You can use the coupon code MEMDAY at Macy’s for 15% off Everything thru Tuesday, May 29, 2012.  Remember you can earn double cash back when you shop thru Ebates for 6% cash back.  New members also get their choice of a free $10 gift card bonus.  Please note: The link in this post is my referral link. For more info please read my disclosure policy.

I just ordered my ‘Summer Fun’ grocery bag and I’m excited to share this deal with you!  You can get a free Custom Grocery Bag ($8.99 value) using coupon code FREEBAG and then you’ll only pay the $4.99 shipping fee.  There are several fun designs to choose from and they are fully customizable.  These make great gifts for teachers, birthdays, and grandparents.  This coupon code will expire on Thursday, May 31, 2012.   I’d love to hear about the bag you designed!

Right now on Groupon you can get a Disney Crystal Birthstone Necklace or Earrings {a $49.95 value} for only $19.  This deal will last through the end of the day Saturday, May 26 (or while supplies last). You can only buy three per person plus two as gifts. This Disney jewelry is sold by Groupon Goods which means that you can order it immediately upon purchasing your Groupon and orders ship within 7 to 10 days. All twelve birthstone colors are still available!

If you have been thinking about starting you & your family on a shopping budget, then couponing is definitely something you should look into doing. Couponing is a great way to save a few bucks at the grocery store. Just remember, you don’t need to start out buying 30 bottles of mustard, start small, and evaluate your family’s needs. If you’re a beginner couponer, here are some tips you might find helpful:

Search – Where to get my coupons?

Well, this would be the best (and obvious) place to start because without coupons you simply cannot save money on groceries. You should definitely also take advantage of printing coupons off the internet. You are allowed 2 prints per coupon per computer. There are also a few other ways you can get your coupons besides just buying newspapers. Check out Embracing Beauty’s post Where to Find Coupons for more creative ideas.

Sample – Try new things

The one thing I have learned from years of couponing is that you have to be open to trying new brands and products. First off, you will save more money and second, you will open your mind (and tummy) to products you never knew existed. For example, my household were Scott’s snobs (yes I’m talking about TP), until one week my store ran a sale on Marcal (it was during dollar days) so essentially, the Marcal TP was FREE, so I decided to try some, we used it and liked it, we saved a ton of money and tried something new! Now if someone asks if I’m brand loyal, I always say “Yes, to whichever brand is on sale that week!”

Schedule Meals – Plan ahead

Planning your weekly menu, based on the coupons you have, is another great way to maximize your savings. For Example: I purchased Chicken Thighs for $0.69 lb for a 4 lb package (when it was on sale) at that price, I bought 4 packages. Then I cut up some Onions ($1.49 Bag) Carrots ($0.75 Bag) I added some spices and put it in the crock pot. I made enough that I froze the remaining leftover for another day in the week. Total spent making that meal, $5.00!!!

Stockpiling

When we are able to purchase products for free or at a very low price we purchase multiple items of it. Sales of products go in cycles. If you’ve got a coupon for basic non-perishable items such as toothpaste, Toilet paper and paper towels, take advantage of them even if you aren’t running low on supplies yet. There’s nothing wrong with stocking up on some items if you know you’ll eventually use them.

Savings

Remember that the ultimate goal behind couponing is to save money! Just because there is a coupon, don’t feel obligated to use it. You maximize your savings by pairing up your coupons with your store’s sale cycle. Always remember, if you do overbuy (which I think all of us do when we first start out) it’s OK, you can donate what you will not use before expiration to a charity.

This is a guest post from B and V Savings.  They strive to bring you the very best (and most reliable) coupons, samples and freebies around. Together they have saved their families over $6500.00+ in groceries. Their goal is to spread their knowledge and provide tools to help you save!

I get asked a lot of questions about being Gluten Free and why I eat that way. Being Gluten Free means you are not eating/drinking anything that contains wheat, malt, barley, rye or oats. You are not cutting carbs, you are just replacing the things like breads and cereals and noodles with things that are made with other grains and starches like potatoes, rice, quinoa ect. Now lets pause because this is my biggest question and pet peeve- it is not meant to be used as the latest weight loss diet! As I just mentioned you are still taking in carbs you are just substituting for different ones. In fact a serving of GF bread actually has more carbs then a serving of regular bread (see more GF bread info here).

Now why eat Gluten Free if it isn’t for weight loss? For some it is literally a fact of life or death. There is a serious disease called Celiac- which attacks the villa in your lower intestines and makes it so your body can not absorb the nutrients you need. You are literally starving yourself and 99% of those who have this disease do not even know it. There are over 300 symptoms which range from mal nutrition, to depression, to anemia, fatigue, and severe stomach pains. But you can also have something call Gluten Intolerance. This is just as bad as Celiac and should never be down played. Gluten Intolerance and Celiac have a lot of the same symptoms and if not taken care of can lead to other issues like Diabetes and thyroid issues among other things. You can find out more by going to this post. If you find this is something you may be dealing with please please please- go talk to your doctor and get tested for Celiac. Celiac is a genetic so if you have it, chances are others in your family have it and don’t know it!

Since going gluten free I have had fun trying to convert some of our favorite recipes into Gluten Free ones. But I have also experimented some. Today I wanted to share with you our new favorite bread. This is an Apple Cinnamon Bread that I tried out a few weeks ago and is a big hit! You can use regular flour but I listed what kind of flour I used.

• 1 1/2 cups of an all purpose flour (I used Gluten Free Pantry from Glutino)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup applesauce

A friend of mine told me last night that her 14 year old relative had committed suicide.  Oh, how my heart breaks for that family!  Today another friend shared an article about a 7 year old who {appears to have} committed suicide.  7 years old!  That was the farthest thing from my mind at that age.  I may have been worried about missing my friends over the summer or not getting to sleep over at a friend’s house one night but never did I think of suicide.  Kids today seem to struggle with something that I didn’t, bullying.

I remember one girl made fun of me the first day I got glasses.  She called me the dreaded “four eyes.”  My friend stuck up for me and life moved on.  Today, there seems to be bullying in school and cyberbullying everywhere else.  I’m not going to pretend to have the solution to this problem but I’m finally realizing that this IS a problem.  It’s not a story the media has blown out of proportion but it’s real and affecting our children.  Talking with our kids about not bullying others and how to react when you’re bullied is a good start.  If you have any insight or ideas on how to stop this spreading epidemic I would love for you to share them in the comments.

A big, beautiful smile makes every first impression memorable, and now everyone can achieve that perfect smile! Plenty of options are available to give individuals many choices for their correct smile enhancing method. The best smile can be found with the help of a little whitening, veneers, a dental implant, or dental bonding. Certain options are for certain dental situations, and each individual should choose the perfect match for their perfect smile!

Whitening

Whitening is perfect for a low budget, quick smile remedy. Teeth whitening can be done in one hour sessions at a dentist office or with a kit for self whitening. Many teeth whitening solutions are available in “do-it-yourself” kits, and a little research on the best brand names will benefit users before they purchase any products. Teeth whitening kits often come with whitening strips, toothpaste, or gel to be used twice a day. Great dentist offices who provide teeth whitening sessions can be found in Carmel Valley and Chula Vista, and Irresistible Smiles reviews for teeth whitening are extremely high.

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells made to fit an individual’s teeth. They cover the front of teeth to hide teeth discoloration, dental gaps, tooth chips, and crooked teeth. Dental technicians make the veneers based on a model of an individual’s teeth so the veneers fit perfectly over one’s mouth. The shell is placed directly on the teeth, and the process is permanent.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth used to replace a missing tooth due to an injury. They are more tooth-supportive than bridgework and do not rely on teeth around the missing tooth to keep them in place. Veneers can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth. They look and feel very realistic while preventing bone loss and gum recession. Veneers also have a very high success rate, and with the comfort of having all teeth, individuals can smile with confidence and comfort.

Dental bonding is used to repair decayed, chipped, or cracked teeth. It can also improve the color of stained teeth and change the overall shape of teeth. Dental bonding is an inexpensive dental procedure that can usually be done in a dentist office. No tooth coverings have to be manufactured with an imprint of an individual’s mouth, so the time taken in dental bonding is much faster. Dental bonding is not very resistant to stains though, so some foods and drinks may need to be avoided after dental bonding is set in place.

This is a guest post written by Amanda Green.

Beginning tomorrow, May 25, through May 28, 2012, you can stop by any Safeway store that has a Starbucks in it to get a 16-oz. Starbucks Frappuccino for only $2.

This offer is available from 2 p.m. until closing time and runs May 25-28, 2012. It is also available at all Safeway affiliates (Tom Thumb, Randall’s, Vons, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pavilions, and Carrs).

Thanks, My Frugal Adventures & Money Saving Mom!

Click on the image above to print a coupon for 20% off at Famous Footwear!  This printable coupon is only good for May 24-28, 2012.

{Please note: The link in this post is my referral link. For more info please read my disclosure policy.}

Here’s another free code to add to your Pampers Gifts to Grow account! Use the code MARSPRNL12SPLDX for 10 free points. This code expires June 3, 2012.

Thanks, For the Mommas!

{Please note: The link in this post is my referral link. For more info please read my disclosure policy.}