How Much Did You Save?

Last Post - Our Kroger to Stop Double / Triple Couponing on Sept 14th

2011-09-07T11:23:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, hope you enjoyed extreme couponing while it lasted.
If you've shopped the ads over the summer, you've obviously noticed a rise in grocery prices and less deals to coupon with.
I just looked at this week's Kroger ad, and our Kroger will end double / triple coupons on Sept 14th.
I'm not going to coupon anymore, except for a few things at Wal-Mart I need or want and I'll come by those coupons as I need them.

We had our fifth child on August 16th, 6 weeks early, and my life is completely full with family now.
I've simplified my weekly menu to incorporate take-out specials around town because meat has gotten so expensive, it's cheaper and easier to let someone else cook on most nights.
See if it's the same for you.
On Tuesdays here, our Chicken Express will give you two pieces of dark meat chicken and a biscuit for $.99.
We buy 5 of those specials and add our our vegetables and fruit.
Cici's pizza sells a large one topping for $5.99 everyday
Wendy's and Mcdonalds sell double cheeseburgers for $1, Buy only half the number you need, go home and split the doubles into singles for $.50 a burger with your own buns and tator tots, fries or chips

If we want Chinese, we get two take-out lunch buffets, bring them home, add our own vegetables and fruit, eggrolls and egg drop soup and feed our whole family for less than $3 a person

We still cook some at home, spaghetti, pancakes, chicken & dumplings
and I buy things for breakfast, lunches, snacks, but the majority of what we buy for dinners now is just things to add to meals we pick up.
You can definitely see a change in things now.
For us it's cheaper to do it this way than try to cook at home every night.
So this is where I stop writing.
Good luck with all you do to save money and live well.
Amy

Extreme Heat May Play Role in Preterm Labor | Suite101.com

2011-09-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

Extreme Heat May Play Role in Preterm Labor | Suite101.com

Many cities throughout the U.S. are showing increased rates of preterm labor and women having their water break early. Could this increase be related to the extreme weather and heat this summer?

Life With A Preemie Born At 34 Weeks | Suite101.com

2011-08-22T17:01:00.000-05:00

Life With A Preemie Born At 34 Weeks | Suite101.com

Needless to say, I won't be coupon shopping any time soon,

I've got something more important to tend to.

Kaitlyn Jade Wingfield was born on August 16, 2011

6:52 P, 5 pounds, 19.75"

Extreme Couponing - Stocking Up For Summer - Take Advantage of Memorial Day Sales

2011-05-28T12:35:00.003-05:00

Well, I posted Wednesday that the sales this week were absolutely fantastic. Many of us who coupon have been greatly disappointed and living off our stockpiles for a few weeks. However, in the summer, take advantage of the Memorial Day, 4th July and Labor Day grocery ads. These sales are a great time to stock up on drinks, chips, breads and meats.

Just a side note, here's what's going on with me. I'm nearing 6 months pregnant and beginning to have trouble moving around. I'm trying to get everything done while I can and then will spend the next 3-4 months enjoying my summer, the pool, good books and great movies. I definitely took advantage of this week's sale. In fact I am so stocked up, except for milk, fresh fruit and veggies and the occasional item or two, I don't plan to extreme coupon shop again till August ( if I'm physically able to.) I planned meals and picnics, lunches etc for the next 4 months and bought accordingly.

Here are the results of my biggest haul yet - The Summer stock up.
Two trips to Wal-Mart, two locations while working around kids schedules
Two trips to Kroger
1 trip to Wal-Greens
1 trip to Super 1 Foods
1 trip to CVS

Walmart Total $86.39 &; $123.34 Saved $70 in coupons
Kroger Total $66.44 &; $132.98 Saved $198.79 in coupons
Walgreens Total $12.08 Saved $27.60
Super 1 Foods Total 12.87 Saved $15.75
CVS Total $16 Saved $9 and received $6 in ECBs on my next purchase
Grand Total Spent $477.58
Total Savings : $308.39
Ok so that's $785.97 worth of food & household needs for $477.58
That's 40% this month.
It was a lot of work, but considering that's a summer's worth, it was definitely worth it.
I have been spending right at $100 a week on food & supplies.
This is at least 2-4 months worth for $477.58.
Remember my ultimate goal is to get my monthly Bill down to $500 a month for grocery gas expenses.
Now that I've stocked up for the summer, let's see if I can meet that goal starting in June. So you can see how, month after month, this family of 6, soon to be 7 is lowering their bills by planning meals, eating at home, cooking from scratch, couponing and stocking up. It's working!

Here's what my family will be enjoying this summer:
Mondays: Pancakes or Waffles
Tuesdays: Hot dogs or Hamburgers, chips or fries & onion Rings, canned drinks
Wednesday: Pizza & Salad
Thursdays : Chili, cheese, chips, soft tacos, enchiladas & guacamole
Fridays : Leftover night
Sat: Southern Cooking Day or Chinese
Sunday: Pasta, Salad, Texas Toast

Breakfast: cereal, toast, biscuits, pigs in a blanket, eggs, pancakes, waffles
Lunches : sandwiches, chips, drinks, sometimes pasta, pizza, hot dogs, nachos, soft tacos or left overs and salads and fruit
Snacks: cookies, crackers, popsicles, ice cream, fresh fruit

We stocked up on chips, canned drinks, pasta, chicken, hot dogs, sausage,sugar, tolit paper, shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, water, juice, bread, sandwich meat, pizza, ice cream, cookies, french fries, cake mixes, icing, salad dressing

A word to those who like hamburgers. Hamburger meat is near $2.00 a pound now. I have been buying the 32 pattie box for $17 at Wal-Mart. That's almost $.50 a pattie. This summer, we'll substitute hot dogs and cold sandwiches for hamburger night, or I will occasionally go to McDonalds or Wendys, buy 3 double cheeseburgers for $3 and come home and add 3 of my own buns and split 3 double cheeseburgers into 6 singles.

Pizza night- we buy the rectangle shaped 3.5 pound pizza at the Walmart Deli for $9.88 and we have pizza for dinner on Wednesday and Friday night Leftover dinner. That one pizza cut into squares feeds the 6 of us 2 MEALS!!

Split Chicken Breast were $.99 a pound and I got hot dogs for $.69 a package, so I definitely stocked up on those.

I'm done!
Enjoy your summer.
My feet are swelling and I'm propped up right now.
So feel free to comment or email. Ask Questions if you need to.
I'll probably post again in August.
Amy

Learning How To Coupon More Efficiently - Still Making Progress

2011-05-18T11:40:00.000-05:00

Over the past two weeks, I've done my weekly errand running on Saturdays so that my husband was home with the kids and I could shop on my own. This helps tremendously, especially on my stress levels.

However, shopping on Saturday has it's drawbacks. Everybody and their dog is at Wal-Mart. To some extent, I'm serious. It's crowded and people who watch the TLC show and are trying to learn to coupon see me getting 20 bottles of Taco Bell Hot Sauce and approach me as I search through my organized pile of envelopes and coupons. It can be a real bother, but it's humorous too. Guys, this is not that hard to learn. It just takes time and a lot of organization.

This past week, one of my Budget Homemaking groups got on the discussion of couponing and coupon binders.
I know there are women out there who cut all those coupons out and put them in little card holder plastic protectors and carry everything in large heavy binders. I'm too much of a minimalist to do all that work. So, I thought I'd share what I've learned and what I do with the group. Here's what I posted.

One thing I've learned to get the best deals is to Network with Facebook groups
and blogs online that do the coupon to store price matching for you.
Sites like Hot Coupon World and A Full Cup help some with this but I'm going to
list what I use.

When storing and organizing coupons, they match by insert dates,
RP- Red Plum, SS Smart Source, P & G Proctor & Gamble and, and All You is All
You Magazine.

So when you see $1 off Campbells Soup RP 5/1,
you know to go get the May 1 RedPlum Coupon insert from the Sunday paper.

So for me I don't cut coupons till I'm planning my grocery trip between Wed and
Sat of each week. I keep the inserts in tact and organized by Date.

I am currently buying 10 inserts a week at $1.35-$1.40 an insert and the coupons
are paying for themselves. This last week, I used Xtrra detergent coupons at CVS
with my ECB ( Extra Credit bucks) and got 16 bottles for $9,
I paid $6 for my total of about 17 packages of Carefree pantyliners, 4 Aquafresh Kids training
toothpaste and 2 bags of Chex Mix at Target.
I bought Newborn diapers at Toys R Us for $14 a box and,
I saved over $20 on my weekly groceries at Wal-Mart,
I paid $60total which includes: bottled water, milk, potato chips, pasta sauce, taco sauce,
pizza, deodorant, free hair styling products, Glade house spray, etc. etc.

Also at Wal-Green bought (3) 12 packs of Ginger Ale and Orange Soda I use on
picnic days during violin & piano lessons for $2 each after Register Rewards.

I buy my inserts either locally in a convenient store Sunday " Double Paper" 2
papers, 2 sets of coupons $2.75 or on the site
http://www.madcoupons.net/ 10 sets of coupons for $14 a week delivered in the
mail on Mondays, paid for on a monthly basis by Paypal account.

Here are the blogs I follow each week to get the sales and coupon matches.
http://www.simplycvsshopping.com/
http://www.southernsavers.com/
http://www.groceryshopforfree.com/ ( Click on Store Deals)
http://katycouponers.blogspot.com/
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

Overall, I'm learning. I'm now getting free things at Dollar General, CVS, Wal-Greens, Target & Wal-Mart.
my grocery bills are now $100 or less a week and I'm nearing my goal of eventually only paying $500 a month for groceries & gas, and this week..... THIS WEEK, I don't have to go grocery shopping at all!!!!! We have everything we need and then some!

I'm helping my daughters paint this weekend.
So, is it worth it. You bet.
Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Can You Get It All For Free? Cheapest Diapers on Amazon! LUVS $.10 per diaper

2011-05-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, well, I took the plunge today and started researching disposable diapers. Also, looked into cloth diapers, and I know they can be the cheapest choice, but I just don't want to do it.

The best deal I found on Disposable Diapers was on Amazon. The LUVS brand can be as low as $.10 a diaper if you join the Subscribe & Save program.
With 228 diapers in the box of Size 1 diapers, I figure I'll need about a box of diapers a month at $25 a box.
So, how do I get diapers for free??
I'll be working on Amazon Mturk and Swagbucks to earn Free Amazon Gift cards, and if anyone asks, I'd love to have diapers or an Amazon gift card as a gift.

Not only do I have a goal to eventually get all my groceries and gas for $500 a month, but I'm also working toward obtaining all my diapers and formula and baby needs for free too. It's definitely a challenge, but it's one I'm ready to take on!

Extreme Couponing Week 4 - Headway and Roadblocks _ Total Savings This month 33%.

2011-04-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my big monthly shopping day. I spent several hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday preparing my list, organizing my coupons and gearing up.

My kids and I went to Sam's, Wal-Mart and Kroger.
Last month, I spent over $500, this month, the grand total was $244! Yipee!
Sam's - I bought those things I knew I couldn't really get cheaper anywhere else without a coupon.
Wal-Mart - I had over $30 in coupons. The most fun was getting steaks for $.49 each with my coupons. I was able to buy 10 steaks!

At Kroger's the bill total was $106 and after Kroger discounts, coupons and WIC, it came down to $49.
This family now has 20 pounds of hamburger meat at $1.98 a pound, 15 boxes of Hamburger Helper, 10 cans of Pringles, 20 bottles of Fuse Banana Daquire water, Terra chips, rice chips, Spaghetti sauce,pizza, chili, chips, cheese, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, things for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts.

For those that are curious, my weekly menu options looks like this:
Breakfast: Cereal, Toast, or leftovers
Lunch: Leftovers, Sandwiches, Pizza, corn dogs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches or chicken nuggets or patties, fish sticks, pasta
Dinners:
Two days a week we eat leftovers
Monday night is Breakfast night : pancakes or waffles, bacon, eggs, toast, biscuits, (whatever we want to fix)
Tuesdays: Hamburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Tots & Onion Rings
Wednesdays: Pizza sometimes Pasta & salad too
Thursdays: Chicken cheese enchiladas, chili, cheese, chips, tortillas and guacamole
Friday night is leftover night, usually Sat too.
Some Saturdays, I'll go get one Chinese lunch buffet full of chicken and beef and bring it home and add my own rice, eggrolls, fruits, vegetables and noodles to the meal. ( We love that!)
Sunday lunch - I usually have something nice prepared ahead of time: chicken, roast, pork tenderloin, brisket or lasagna
Sunday evening is usually leftovers or quick pasta.

We are rather simple here and as prices increase, I will increase my efforts to continue saving money. I did not reach my goal this month of only spending $500 on groceries and gas. I will say though, that I just looked at our Discover bill and this month's efforts reduced our monthly bill by 33%. I don't think that's too bad for my first month.

There is a potential roadblock however. I'm not the only one out there learning to do this. That's obvious when I enter a store with a "HOT" coupon only to find the shelf cleaned. Somebody beat me to it!

Yesterday was also the first day I could order this next week's coupons coming out in Sunday's paper. The May 1st Coupon Inserts will be BIG! and full of Savings. Within one hour of releasing the sale on wholecouponinserts.com, they were completely SOLD OUT!!

So, I am emailing others and looking for alternative ways to get my hands on next week's coupons without spending $25 on Newspapers. I've been buying 10 newspapers worth for $16 from Whole Coupon Inserts, hopefully I will be able to get them for the same price or cheaper from someone else on Monday.
We shall see.
Enjoy your weekend.

Getting The Hang of This Extreme Couponing

2011-04-26T20:58:00.000-05:00

Week 3 of my adventure and I'm getting better at this, but sometimes it's not very easy.
This last week, my extreme coupon friend Parksy Hancock from Houston, Texas, taught me how to take coupon overages and apply to non-coupon sales.

For Example: I'm expecting baby #5.
I received a coupon for $5 off Similac Formula
Wal-Mart sold it for $3.84, that extra $1.16 came off my total bill. They call those money makers and they are fun!
This past week, I've gotten Easter supplies, baby formula, razors and nail polish for free, Splenda sugar, mashed potatoes and taco seasoning, personal products, body wash and hair color all for free!!!!

During my Wal-Mart trip for Easter this past week, I had many things to buy for the special weekend, but altogether, the Total bill was $127 and after coupons, I paid $89 at WAL-MART!
$38 in coupons. That was pretty cool!

At Krogers, I bought 20 cans of Dole Pineapple at $.50 a piece after coupons. However, be watchful at the register. I got a cashier who was about to get off work and she messed up on the coupons. I should have paid $10, I paid $11.

I've begun collecting quite a stash of CVS Extra bucks and Wal- Greens Register Rewards.
I walked out of CVS yesterday with (3) 12 packs of Dr. Pepper 3 for $10, paid with ECB's and got $3 back for next week
At Walgreens, I paid $4 for everything and have $7 RR for next week, which I hear there will be a huge sale on Cottonelle Tissue.

Also, learning that on Holidays, there are no coupon inserts, but the following week, the companies usually make up for it with lots of coupons. I buy coupon inserts from Whole Coupon Inserts. I place my order on Thursday or Friday before the Sunday paper comes out and the coupons are in my mailbox on Monday.

My biggest days to plan shopping trips are Sat for CVS. I go on Sunday evenings or Mondays, and Wednesdays are when the grocery ads start. I usually go grocery shopping on Thursdays.

This is quickly becoming a GAME to me. GAME ON!
I have a goal of reducing my cost of groceries/gas down to only $500 a month total for our family of 6 soon to be 7.
This is fun!
I'm learning that with a little work and a lot of networking with other couponers, I can " SAVE" or " Make" more money couponing than I'm making writing online.

This week, I quit one of my writing jobs. The site had many changes and it just wasn't working out anymore. I was earning less than $1 a day. I'm saving much more than that by couponing now, and it's so much more fun knowing I'm doing more and providing more for my family by couponing. There's a great sense of accomplishment in that.

So, that's all for now. Tomorrow is Wednesday. I'm ready! Bring on the grocery ads!

Learning to Extreme Coupon - Week 1&2 Summary of CVS, Kroger's, Wal-Mart, Dollar General & Albertson's

2011-04-19T11:26:00.000-05:00

Ok guys, I'm beginning to get the hang of this and I'm saving more and more and despite the gas price increase this week, I should see a major decrease in my overall monthly expenses this month. My goal is to eventually only spend $500 a month on groceries and gas for a family of 6, soon to be 7, that includes 2 cars and gas for the two cars.

This week I found a blog that shares weekly deals with coupon matches for Wal-Mart, CVS, Wal-Greens, Dollar General, Kroger's, Albertson's, Brookshires's, ( Every store I shop at,) Check out Grocery Shopping For Free . It saves me a lot of time looking for deals.

I am also beginning to understand how to collect, organize coupon inserts, Smart Source, Red Plum and Proctor and Gamble. I know many say don't buy coupons, get them for free or your defeating your purpose. I'm currently buying the equivalent of 10 newspapers of coupons each week for $16 ($1.60 a paper) from either Whole Coupon Inserts or an Ebay Store called Coupon Clipper Kelly. There's also one called Mad Coupons that does the same thing for only $14, but they require an order deadline on Wednesday before the inserts come out. I missed the deadline this week.
$14 - $16 may seem like a lot to spend each week on coupons, but take a look at what I'm doing with them. I'm obviously getting my money's worth out of these coupons and then some and the proof will be at the end of the month when the Discover card bill ( used for gas & groceries) comes in much much lower than it was before.
Here is what I've done in the last two weeks using coupons, ads and networking.

First week : My first trip to CVS, spent right at $51, but I got $28 back in Extra Credit Bucks to spend on next weeks trip and came home with:
14 boxes of Finish Dishwasher Detergent
6 boxes of Kellog Bars
2 Russell Stover Eggs
2 bottles of bubbles 
4 bags of M&M's
2 bags of Hershey kisses

Wednesday, April 13, after Dr visit, went to Subway with 3 kids, had a coupon, buy a drink, get a 6" sandwich free, bought 4 drinks at $1.61 each, sandwiches would have cost $2.50 each, got 4 dr. Peppers and 4 6" subs for $6.44, and brought them home. I only eat half a sandwich at a time, it made 8 meals, not bad. I love Subway sandwiches. The kids don't eat the sandwiches, they enjoyed the Dr. Pepper and each one got a donut, spent $2 on the donuts. Everyone's happy!

This past Friday
I went to Wal-Mart and got 9 packs of razors and 9 packs of mashed potatoes for free, in fact, Wal-mart owed me $1.88 after coupons, but I didn't wait for the manager to get it. I was just happy to shop Wal-Mart for free

I bought 10 bottles of mustard and 1 suave shampoo and 1 suave conditioner at Kroger's for $5

At Albertson's I spent $46, after coupons, I came home with
4 boxes of fish portions
4 boxes of fish sticks
24 packs of Ramen noodles
2 half gallons of Blue Bunny ice Cream
1 12 pack of Dr Pepper
8 loaves of sandwich bread, ( my son loves cheese sandwiches and cinnamon toast)

Saturday I had $5 off a $25 purchase at Dollar General
I used it along with some Pringle's coupons to get
4 bottles of my son's medicine
4 boxes of sanitary pads for my daughter's
3 tubes of Pringles

Sunday, April 17, CVS All free with ECB's and coupons
2 bags of Easter Grass
2 Egg coloring kits
2 boxes of Stove top
2 bottles of dish washing liquid
36 rolls of tolit paper
and I now have 20 ECBs for next week
2 Ocean Mist bottles of body Spray

Ok, that's all for now. I'll look at ad's on Wednesday and grab more deals on Thursday when I go to town.

Feel free to share and comment.

Recognized As A Featured User on Redgage For My Blogs and Articles

2011-04-12T11:45:00.001-05:00

For a professional online writer, I suppose $3 here and $5 there, doesn't really seem like much of a paycheck, especially if that person is depending solely on their writing efforts to pay all the bills. However, for this stay-at-home, home-school mom of 4 children ( soon to be 5), the thrill of a $5 bonus here and a $3 bonus there and a monthly check of $200 or so, well, it just makes me smile. Why? I smile because I'm accomplishing something. I'm helping others by submitting informational articles and I'm slowly building a readership on every site I write for: Redgage, Suite 101, my blog, (How Much Do You Save? ), and Christian Music Report. Somebody out there is reading and I must be doing something good.

As a stay-at-home and home-school mom, I know in my heart that I was "called to be Momma," I love what I do. On a typical day I organize and clean the house, do laundry, plan the menus, and cook most of the meals. I have two little children that I personally home-school here at my work station, and at the same time, I'm monitoring the older two as they complete their home-school studies on the computer using Switched on Schoolhouse.

While the 7 year old is reading to me, reciting spelling words, Bible verses etc. I'm on here writing for RG, Suite 101, and CMR. I answer emails and Facebook questions throughout the day and I'm constantly on the look out for sales, deals, coupons and gift cards. I earn free CVS gift cards using My Points and Amazon gift cards on Swagbucks that I use in conjunction with coupons and weekly sales to help buy our family's groceries and necessities. The money I earn on these writing projects help pay for the oldest child's piano and violin lessons.

I heard someone say this weekend that " Parenting," is not considered a full-time job. For many stay-at-home, home-school moms around the world, I'd like to speak up. Those that say things like that. Those that think we do very little, we watch soap operas and eat bon-bons. Those that do not recognize motherhood as a calling and a full-time career, you have no idea.

Actually, as a stay-at-home mom, I probably do much more in a day than the average 8 hr worker, Monday thru Friday. My average work day is 13 hours long, six days a week, Monday thru Saturday. I do manage to slow down on Sunday.

So, here I am, saluting those who hardly get the salute. Most of my writings are for you, the stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home, online worker. I write to help you save money by sharing what I'm learning as an Extreme Couponer. I share recipes to help you plan your dinner and holidays like Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Passover, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Occasionally, I'll share with you about Women's health issues: infertility, fertility treatments, diet and nutrition. The main point here is I share, and that's what Redgage is all about, sharing and networking together. You probably won't get rich on Redgage or anywhere else similar like Suite 101, Hub Pages, Helium, About.com etc. Somedays, you'll make pennies a day. Some days you'll manage a $1 or $2 a day and then sometimes, you'll submit a good link, picture or blog, like my blog on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and score a big bonus. The key is to never give up. Don't get discouraged. Share everything you can. You never know. What you post may help someone else in a unique way. You do matter. You do deserve recognition for all you do in a day, no matter what your job title may be or how others label you. Everyone who does their best to succeed in whatever they do deserves to be chosen as a Featured User on Redgage. Keep Sharing. You do matter. You're the reason Redgage is alive and well! Best Wishes!

Amy

Learning How To Be An Extreme Couponer at CVS

2011-04-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

This week, the new show, Extreme Couponing, premiered on TLC. It shows on Wednesday nights. Basically, it profiles four smart consumers who have learned to clip coupons. shop the ads and make the most of every dollar. The first episode was amazing to watch. Several of the consumers bought $500-$600 worth of groceries and products but walked out of the store paying only $5 - $6 for everything. So, the big question is, " How is it done and is it worth all the work?"
Extreme Couponing at CVS
Depending on location, many consumers will be limited to only a few stores where they can take full advantage of double or triple coupons, store incentive programs, etc. Those in bigger cities might find more opportunities. Those in smaller towns may only have one or two stores they can focus on. With the recent news that Kroger grocery stores are stopping their double and triple coupon program, those in smaller, rural towns are having to learn to do things a little differently to get the most for their money. Many are learning to extreme coupon at CVS Pharmacy and Wal-Greens. In this article, the primary focus is CVS.
Extra Credit Bucks
CVS offers what is known to most coupon users as ECB, ( Extra Credit Bucks). This are earned by first signing up for an " Extra Card" at the CVS store or online at the CVS website. Then each week, CVS will offer certain ECBs for buying certain items. For example: this next week, buy $20 worth of Lysol, Air Wick or Finish products and receive $10 in ECBs to use on the next purchase. Coupon consumers have learned to match up the sales and incentives with available online coupons and the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper.
Coupon Match Ups
How does a consumer find all of the coupon match-ups? Many extreme coupon users have set up blogs and websites to share what they have learned/ For CVS, one website that is very helpful is the Simply CVS website. The woman who writes for this website has saved thousands of dollars by shopping CVS and stretching her dollars using coupons, ECB incentives and CVS gift cards. Consumers check this website each week and look at the ad, print online coupons and check their stockpile of coupon inserts to grab the most bargains. Organized shoppers will make a detailed and precise list of products, prices and end result expenditures or profits before they ever enter the door to CVS. It's also helpful to have more than one CVS Extra Card because certain limits apply to each card. Since only one Extra Card can be applied to an mail, many saavy consumers have learned to have at least two emails and two Extra Cards. Having more than one email also helps when printing online coupons since many websites limit the amount of coupons printed per account.
How To Get Coupons
In the old days, the only way to get coupons was to buy a Sunday paper or get them at the grocery store or on the back of products. However, in this modern technology age, the internet has become a valuable source for those looking for coupon deals. Coupon websites like Coupons.Com are highly utilized as well as Smart Source, Redplum and Protor & Gamble. Many companies have coupons available on their website and on their Facebook sites. There's no need to buy a Sunday paper anymore. There's even a website to buy coupon inserts by the pack of 6 to 10 at a time. Check out Whole Coupon Inserts. Coupon consumers can buy a pack of 10 Smart Source inserts and 10 Redplum inserts for $16. That's the equivalent of buying 10 Sunday papers at $1.60 a paper. Bye bye paper boy!
Earning and Using CVS Gift Cards
Another way to make every dollar stretch at CVS is buy earning free CVS gift cards online or through CVS incentive programs. Almost weekly, CVS offers a $25 gift card if a consumer transfers a prescription to CVS. For those that don't have prescriptions, consider earning free CVS gift cards by completing free offers and surveys and polls on My Points. Also, if the consumer has a Discover Card, instead of getting cash back on the Discover Card, cash in the cashback rewards for a CVS gift card. It actually works to the consumers advantage. On a regular Discover Card a $45 cashback reward can be exchanged for a $50 CVS gift card. On the Discover Miles card, 7000 miles get a $50 CVS gift card and 4000 miles gets a $25 CVS gift card. These cards can be used in conjunction with the sales, the ECB incentives and coupons for outrageous and amazing profit.
Network, Strategize and Organize
Today's focus was on CVS. However, this can also be done at Wal-Greens and Wal-Mart as well as other grocery stores, pharmacies, mega marts and department stores throughout the U.S. It takes a little work and effort. It involves networking with others who have learned or are learning. Stay in touch with Extreme Coupon users and Coupon Divas using Facebook, Twitter, blogs, chat groups and websites. Start collecting weekly coupon inserts. Check the ads weekly and also match up any only coupon deals with the upcoming ads. With a little practice, anyone can learn to be an extreme couponer and save money on every purchase.

Learning to Extreme Coupon at CVS

2011-04-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

I'm learning to do the Extreme Coupon thing at CVS, using coupons, their extra card, and CVS gift cards that I earn off of Swagbucks, My Points and my Discover Card cash back program

My first trip tomorrow, I'll probably spend right at $46.50, but I'll get $28 back in Extra Credit Bucks to spend on next weeks trip and should come home with:

14 boxes of Finish Dishwasher Detergent

6 boxes of Kellog Bars

2 Russell Stover Eggs

2 bottles of bubbles

4 bags of M&M's

There's a website called Simply CVS Shopping to help with CVS

I'm also buying newspaper coupon inserts from Whole Coupon Inserts. If you buy the pack of 10, it's like getting 10 Sunday papers for $1.60 a paper

I'm beginning to learn the websites and organize my coupons and create a stock pile.

Right now, it's taking me about 3 hrs a day as I learn, but I'm writing about it for my online writing jobs too, so that 3 hrs is doing double duty.

As I learn more and get more efficient, it will take less time.

I'm focusing on CVS & Walgreens right now

Kroger's has stopped their double/triple coupons,

so I'm learning to do this to replace Kroger and fill in with Sam's & Wal-Mart & Dollar Tree where I need to. That's all we have here in East Texas.

Feel free to ask questions

Learning How To Extreme Coupon

2011-04-06T21:53:00.000-05:00

I'm spending some time learning how to Extreme Coupon and get the most for my money.
Here in East Texas, gas is now over $3.60 a gallon, my monthly expenditures for gas/groceries/necessities averages $1500, half our monthly budget, something has to give.
Kroger is threatening to stop doubling & tripling coupons,
Albertson's is about closed down
and my Wal-Mart has said no more internet printed coupons ( they can't do that by the way, I have printed the Corporate Wal-Mart Coupon policy), they can leave me alone now!
and I don't even go into Target at all anymore.
I think my best savings are going to be at CVS with Register Rewards, coupons and free CVS gift cards I earn online.
Learning from the other couponers.
Check out Amanda http://www.moneysavingamanda.com/overnight-celebrity-give-a-way/#comments at Money Saving Amanda.com
She has a Facebook page too
and watch the new TLC show Extreme Couponing every Wed night.
Good Luck! and Save! Save! Save!

Easy Recipe For No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

2011-02-14T10:59:00.000-06:00

Easy Recipe For No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Want a fun and easy treat to make with the kids today? Try No Bake, Chocolate Dipped chocolate chip cookie dough truffles or Southern Orange Cookie Dough Balls

Fun Ideas & Easy Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day All Year Long

2011-02-11T13:18:00.000-06:00

Fun Ideas & Easy Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day All Year Long

America has forgotten that it is the thought that counts. A dozen long stem red roses are nice, but one would have done the job. The "reservation required, " romantic dinner for two is a lovely thought and would be enjoyable, but so would a Netflix movie and the brown bag special from Sonic. There are thousands of trinkets and cute little gifts that can purchased from the local retail chains. However, gifts from the heart are more graciously received and remembered more fondly than any cute little teddy bear or dancing gorilla. The point here is keep it simple. Keep it practical and give a gift that comes straight from the heart.

Quick and Easy Big Game Recipes and Tailgate Party Ideas

2011-02-05T12:51:00.000-06:00

Quick and Easy Big Game Recipes and Tailgate Party Ideas

It's not like the Super Bowl happens every day. It's a once a year excuse to kick back and enjoy oneself without too much guilt. So take advantage of it and offer guest deep fried heavenly desserts that will melt in their mouth. Deep fry it all: Twinkies, Snicker bars, cupcakes. Whatever sounds good. Top with powdered sugar or home-made ice cream. This is what sweet dreams are made of. Use your imagination. Keep it simple. Keep it easy and keep it fun. It's just a game. Enjoy it.

CVS Sale Week of Feb 6 - 12th Good Deal on Cover Girl Make Up

2011-02-04T11:05:00.000-06:00

Looking at a preview of CVS ads next week Feb 6-12,
There is an instant print $3 off Make up coupon in store at the instore CVS card Coupon center. Print that coupon when you get there. If you buy Cover Girl Lashblast Length or Luxe Mascara, you'll get a free eye shadow. Use the $3 coupon on the mascara!

Huge Savings on Del Monte Canned Vegetables at Kroger $.26 a Can

2011-02-04T10:44:00.000-06:00

Preparing for another wave of snow here in East Texas, where it Hardly ever snows, we headed to Kroger for a few groceries yesterday. I didn't see much in the ads this week. However I missed this one.

Del Monte Canned Vegetables
Limit 20, For each 10 you buy, you save $5 on the Mega Sale Event.
At $.76 a can, $5 off is $.26 a can for buying 10.
This was great. I stocked up on Green Beans, Carrots & corn to serve with my weekly $5 Fried Chicken.
Sale ends Tuesday.

New Coupons at Coupons. Com

2011-02-02T13:20:00.000-06:00

The grocery sale ads are running about dull and boring this week, however, new coupons have posted to the Coupons.com site (Click Here) to view and print the one's you need.
Savings include:

$5.00 OFF $25 at Family Dollar Stores
$1.50 OFF 1 NESTLE BUTTERFINGER Funsize Bag
$1.50 OFF 1 Box Of Peace Cereal
$1.50 OFF 1 Nestle Fun Size Valentine Exchange Pack
$1.00 OFF 2 Pillsbury Refrigerated Holiday Cookies
$1.00 OFF 1 Athena Feta, Hummus, Baked Pita Chips, or Greek Yogurt
$1.00 OFF 1 Hidden Valley Salad Kit
$1.00 OFF 1 Bottle of Any A.1.Steak Sauce
$1.00 OFF 1 Package Oscar Mayer Carving Meat
$0.75 OFF 1 Cinnamon Burst Cheerios® cereal
$0.75 OFF 1 Chex Cereal
$0.75 OFF 2 Taco Bell Home Originals (excluding seasoning mix)
$0.75 OFF 1 Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles
$0.75 OFF 1 Shake 'N Bake Product
$0.75 OFF 1 Package of Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Rolls
$0.75 OFF 1 Any Bob Evans Frozen Sandwich
$0.55 OFF 1 Frigo Cheese Heads Cheese Product
$0.55 OFF 1 Cocoa Puffs cereal
$0.50 OFF 1 Gardetto's Snack Mix
$0.50 OFF 1 any variety Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough
$0.40 OFF 1 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
$7.00 OFF any 1 Florastor Probiotic
$3.00 OFF 1 Garnier HerbaShine Color Creme with Bamboo Extract Haircolor
$3.00 OFF 1 KY Brand Product
$2.50 OFF 2 U By Kotex Tampons
$2.50 OFF 2 U By Kotex Pads
$1.00 OFF 1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment
$2.00 OFF any 1 Nature's Bounty Your Life Vitamins
$1.00 OFF any one PediaCare Product
$10.00 OFF Purina BREEZE Litter System
$3.00 OFF 1 Hill’s Science Diet Light
$2.00 OFF 12 cans of Purina Mighty Dog
$1.00 OFF 1 Purina Beneful Brand Snackin Slices
$1.00 OFF 1 3lb Or Larger Bag Purina Cat Chow Cat Food
$1.00 OFF 1 5lb Or Larger Bag-Purina Fit & Trim Dog Food
$5.00 OFF An Affair to Remember on Blu-ray

Easy Taco Soup Recipe Served With Taquitos & Guacamole

2011-02-02T07:56:00.000-06:00

When the weather turns cold, warm the body with a steaming hot bowl of taco soup. Serve with crisp taquitos and lots of chips, salsa and guacamole. Ole!

It's winter time. The weatherman is predicting an inch or more of snow and the temperature is dropping rapidly. Heat things up with a Mexican Fiesta in the kitchen. It doesn't have to be expensive. Make a big pot of cheap and easy taco soup. Roll and bake several dozen beef and cheese taquitos and serve with lots of salsa, chips and guacamole. It's a fun and inexpensive way to forget the frigid cold outside.
Easy Taco Soup
Ingredients:

1 large family size can of ready to eat pinto beans
1 pound of ground turkey seasoned with taco or Mexican seasoning
1 can of chopped tomatoes & green chilis
2 cups of tomato juice
1 chopped onion
1 cup of taco seasoning
1 can of corn
2 cups of water

Directions:

Brown the ground turkey and onions together, drain any fat off
In a large 4 Qt soup pot, bring to a bowl the water and tomato juice
Reduce down to a simmer
Add the taco seasoning and blend well
Now add the beans, taco meat, onions, tomatoes, green chilies and corn. It's fine to dump everything into the pot.
Stir and keep warm until ready to serve.

* This soup can easily be dished up into individual serving or family size cartons and frozen until needed**
Easy Gucamole
This is not low fat, but it's worth it. It's packed with flavor. Combine the avacados, juice and salt first. Mash to desired consistency and then add each of the remaining ingredients. Mix well and chill before serving.

3 Avacados, peeled, pitted and sliced
2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 cup of finely chopped onion
1/4 cup of salsa

Easy Beef & Cheese Taquitos and Chicken Enchiladas

A large family or a few teenage boys can go through a box of frozen taquitos in one sitting. At the average price of $6 a box, that can get expensive, especially if it's the family's favorite snack. It's easy to makesimple authentic Mexican taquitos at home.
Another inexpensive way to save money on Mexican food is to make chicken enchiladas. These are usually made using inexpensive chicken leg quarters and corn tortillas. Serve with refried beans and Mexican rice.
Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas
This is a simple recipe. Extra can be made and frozen to be ready on those to busy to cook nights.
Ingredients:

3 chicken leg quarters, cooked, deboned and shredded
1 (10 ounce) cans of cream of mushroom soup,
1 pound of shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cup of milk,
1 cup of chopped onion
1 (10 ounce) can of chopped green chilies and diced tomatoes, drained
1 pound of processed cheese spread
Add pepper and garlic to taste.
1 (12 ounce) package of corn tortillas warmed in a hot skillet

Assembly Direction:

Combine chicken, soup, half of the cheddar cheese, the onion and 1 cup of milk in a medium sauce pan. Mix well.
Grease a large glass dish
Spoon a large spoonful of the chicken mixture on each tortilla. Roll each tortilla up and place seam side down in a row in the glass dish.
After all the tortillas are used, pour the remaining chicken soup mixture over all the enchilladas
Make a cheese sauce by combining the cheese spread,green chilies and tomatoes with 1/4 cup of milk. Heat for 3 minutes in the microwave or on the stovetop until melted and blended well.
pour this cheese mixture over the enchiladas and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
Heat the whole dish in a warm 350°F for about 15-20 minutes. It will be ready to serve.

More Creative Ways To Save On Family Meals
For more creative low cost, budget friendly Mexican food recipes, visit the Hillbilly Housewifewebsite.This is a great resource for families on a budget. Also Eating Well.com has an article on cheap Mexican recipes.
When cooking for a crowd, choose frugal recipes that are simple but include flavorful ingredients. During the cold weather months, options like soup and chili are inexpensive choices to make people feel warm from the inside out. Don't forget to add little touches like Mexican hot chocolate on a cold, blistery day. Be creative, relax and enjoy the holidays with friends.

Easy Recipes & Fun Ways To Celebrate Chinese New Year

2011-02-01T12:34:00.000-06:00

Easy Recipes & Fun Ways To Celebrate Chinese New Year

My family loves to cook Chinese Food at home once a week. Chinese New Year 2011 - Year of the Rabbit is Thursday, Feb 3rd. Enjoy Chicken Chow Mein Soup, Tempura Chicken, Spring Rolls, Egg rolls, fresh fruit and home made fortune cookies! Have fun!

Print A Coupon for $2.99 Quizmo's Prime Rib Sub and Get A Few Ideas To Make Subs At Home

2011-01-31T16:04:00.001-06:00

Here's a Sweet Deal - Print This coupon for a $2.99 Quizmo's Prime Rib Sandwich (Click Here), Expires 2-07-11
Homemade Subway Sandwiches
Start the new year out right by saving money on lunches. Combine a little of that leftover roast, turkey or ham with a few slices of cheese and almost every fresh vegetable on hand to make a fantastic brown bag special.
Ingredients:

4 ounces of thinly sliced cooked roast beef, ham or turkey
2 slices of cheese : American, swiss or pepperjack
1 (6 inch) french sub roll, sliced lengthwise
Dressing and condiments of choice : Italian dressing, ranch dressing, mustard or mayo
Fresh vegetables of choice (diced, sliced or shredded): lettuce, spinach, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, pickles, olives, cucumbers, carrots, jalepenos

Assembly Directions :

Place the subroll on a cutting board and open it until it lays flat. Place the favorite condiment of choice on the bread first :mustard, mayo, Italian or ranch dressing.
Cut the two slices of cheese in half. layer the four pieces on the bottom half of the sub roll.
Now, starting with the 4 ounces of thinly sliced roast beef, turkey or ham, begin a laying process.
Add favorite fresh vegetables next: lettuce, tomatoes, green bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, onions, olives, carrots, cucumbers, pickles, etc
Sprinkle the sub with additional condiment dressing if desired, either Italian dressing, ranch dressing, mustard or mayo.
Add salt and pepper to taste if desired. Cut the sandwich in half.
Serve on a plate with a pickle spear, olives, favorite chips and a drink.

Healthy Choice Wraps
Feeling guilty about those added holiday pounds? Start the new year off right by making healthy food choices for lunch. Skip the bread and hold the cheese. Choose instead to wrap thinly sliced turkey or roast beef in large lettuce leaves,whole wheat, spinach or low carb tortillas. Add a little Italian dressing,ranch dressing or fat free cream cheese if desired and fill with all the fresh vegetables desired. Choose apple slices, carrot sticks or celery sticks in stead of chips and drink ice water or unsweetened ice tea instead of soda.

More Ways To Use Leftovers
Depending on the food choices, many soups, salads, sandwiches,wrap and casseroles can be created from. Chop fresh veggies and add lettuce and fresh spinach for a fantastic dinner salad. Chopped fresh veggies can also be added to leftover side dishes and meats for great hot soups to be eaten on cold winter days. Let nothing go to waste. So much money was spent during the holidays. These frugal recipes will start the new year off right.

How I got Free Kraft Singles At Kroger's Today!

2011-01-27T18:30:00.000-06:00

This was fun!
I shopped the ads yesterday.
Kroger's has their Mega $5 sale going on.
Buy 10 of a certain item, get $5 off.
Kraft Singles were buy 10 at $.99 each
Then I had 10 coupons for $1 off Kraft Singles
I also bought 1 box of green tea for $2.29.
The bottom price at checkout was $2.19 total!
Kroger took the full $1 off of the $.99, so they ended up owing me $.10,
which was applied to the tea.
How fun is that!
Stay tuned for more coupon stories.
I'm just getting started!

Chinese Food Recipes - Chicken Chow Mein Soup & Tempura

2011-01-24T14:44:00.000-06:00

Chinese Food Recipes - Chicken Chow Mein Soup & Tempura

Ok, I told you I would post my Chicken Chow Mein Soup Recipe.

Here it is, a few more Chinese food recipes and ideas included. Enjoy!

Rotating Quarterly Family Menu Plan – 91 Meal Ideas & Recipes

2011-01-22T17:06:00.000-06:00

Rotating Quarterly Family Menu Plan – 91 Meal Ideas & Recipes

Someone gave me this idea last year and I ran with it, 91 Meal Ideas.

Serve the same dish only 3 Times a Year!