A few weeks ago, I received the following email from a regular KOAB reader:

I feel pretty good about my time management skills but the frustration I have is that as observant Jews- we have so much more to do!

I love my Jewish life but I have to be honest that (especially during Pesach recovery) I sometimes resent having to cook so much! I meal plan weekdays and shabbat but I am always thinking about shabbat and chag and it can be a burden.

I hate staying up till midnight cooking for shabbat on Thursday nights after I just cleaned up from regular Thurs night dinner (which is always simple stuff, like veggie burgers or omelets but still….) I work on Fridays and even in the past when I didn’t, I resented that the whole day became about cooking! I also find that I have lots of guests on Shabbat, which I love but is sometimes a lot of work.

For me, and I’m sure for other women like me, the question of finding time to exercise for example, is complicated by the responsibilities associated with living a shomer shabbat life.

What advice do you have?

There’s no doubt that the Jewish “rhythm” adds a complicating factor to anyone trying to streamline and simplify their schedules. As I recently said to a non-Jewish friend of mine, cooking for Shabbat is likely making Thanksgiving dinner x2, 52 times a year.

Only on Thanksgiving, you can use electricity.

One way we have simplified our lives is by keeping Friday nights almost exclusively for our family. We rarely have guests Friday night — especially since we tend to bring Shabbat in early so that our kids can get to bed at a relatively decent time.

I also make very simple meals for our family Fridays, like chicken fajitas, chicken or burgers on the grill, or spaghetti and meatballs. And I serve fresh fruit for dessert, rather than baking something elaborate.

I know this won’t work for every family, but if you can get your spouse and kids on board, it will significantly reduce your Shabbat burden.

My friend Jessica, who is a full-time physician, married to a full-time architect, with three boys five and under, has come up with an ingenuous system that works great for her family. Each evening, she makes one thing – main course, side dish, dessert, challah. She triples or quadruples the recipe, so her freezer is always stocked with the full components of a Shabbat meal.

If you have the evening hours with which to do this, I think it’s a great option.

But more than new systems, frankly, I think as women, as families and as communities we need to get better about giving ourselves a little bit of breathing room.

Lechem mishneh is a requirement. Four course meals, with six salads and two main course options is not.

No one can do it all, all the time.

Ask yourselves: What must I do, halachically? What do I want to do, personally? What’s important to my husband? My children? Me?

And – most importantly – What can I let go of?

I’d love to hear how you all balance the responsibilities of “life” with the requirements of “Jewish life”. Do you feel like you have a good balance – or are you careening toward burnout?

Ivory Bar Soap (16pk) is just $3.49 on Amazon right now when you clip the $.50 e-coupon.

This is an “Add-On” items, which means you’ll need to hit $25 in your cart and then these will ship for free.

By the way – if you are interested in making your own laundry detergent, when I made mine we used Ivory Soap and it turned out great.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Target has rolled out a new coupon savings program called Target Cartwheel. It’s designed primarily as a mobile savings program (i.e. on your Smartphone), but if you don’t have a smart phone, there is a work-around, which I explain below.

The beauty of Cartwheel is that you can stack these savings not only with manufacturer coupons, but also with other Target coupons – both paper and mobile coupons. And with Shopkick coupons.

In a perfect storm, you could be using four different coupons on ONE product!

Here’s how to use Cartwheel:

• To sign up for Cartwheel, you will need to login via Facebook (so unfortunately this only works for those of you with a Facebook profile).

• To find a savings offer, just check your Cartwheel activity feed – or use the search function to find one of the 650+ offers available.

• To get an offer, just click on it – a red checkmark will appear in the corner of your selected cards. You can have up to 10 cards in your account at once, but you can unlock more by checking out the Cartwheel Badges.

• To redeem your savings, you can display the barcode to the cashier by clicking the Redeem in Store button on the top right – he or she will enter your savings by scanning your phone. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can print out your Cartwheel barcodes at home and hand them over to the cashier. There isn’t an app yet for Cartwheel, so just bookmark the page on your phone to pull it up quickly.

In the coming weeks, I will begin to incorporate Cartwheel coupons into my weekly Target match-ups, so keep an eye out for that. Happy savings!

Are you planning a trip to the mall today or later this week? Here are some retail coupons to help you save on your shopping!

Note that many of these are only good thru today (5/19).

Top Retail Store Coupons

American Eagle Coupon – 20%, 30% or 40% Off Purchase Mystery Coupon (exp: 5/19/2013)
Big 5 Sporting Goods Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/20/2013)
Bonton/Carson’s Coupon – 25% Off Sale Price Apparel + More Coupons (exp: 5/19/2013)
Carter’s Coupon – 25% Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Chico’s Outlet Coupon – 10% Off Already Reduced Clearance Items (exp: 5/28/2013)
GAP Outlet Coupon – 10% Off $75 Purchase (exp: 5/21/2013)
iParty Coupon – 20% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/31/2013)
Kirkland’s Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Lane Bryant Coupon – $25 Off $75, $50 Off $150, or $75 Off $225 Purchase (exp: 5/22/2013)
Old Navy Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
OshKosh B’Gosh Coupon – 25% Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Payless Coupon – 20% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013)
Sherwin Williams Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 6/30/2013)
The Limited Coupon – $15 Off $30, $30 Off $100, or $50 Off $150 Purchase (exp: 5/22/2013)
Ulta Coupon – 20% Off 1 Single Item (exp: 6/1/2013)

Thanks, Surviving the Stores!

Discount Mags is having a one-day sale on their most popular sports & fitness titles. To get these discounted prices, click the links below – no coupon code required.

• ESPN (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98)
• Golf Digest (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
• Outside (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98)
• Running Times (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Tennis (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Weight Watchers (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
• Slam (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)

If your dad/husband is a sports fan, you may want to pick one of these up for Father’s Day.

Today only, you can subscribe to Harper’s Bazaar for only $4.50 per year (54% off). You can order up to 3 years at this price, just use the coupon code KOSHERBUDGET at checkout.

This offer expires at Sunday 05/19/13 11:59 PM EST.

Harper’s BAZAAR is the fashion magazine authority. Filled with the hottest designs, each issue covers the best in style, beauty secrets, fashion ideas, and shopping best buys. Get expert advice on style, runway reports, and more. Take control of your fashion and shop like an expert with this magazine subscription.

See something else on Discount Mags that you’d lik to purchase? You can use the coupon code KOSHERBUDGET to save 20% off any order!

Are you signed up yet with My Starbucks Rewards™?

Members will soon be able to earn “stars” for their grocery-store purchases as wel.

Starting this month, they will be adding a My Starbucks Rewards™ sticker on the front of the package, which contains a 9-digit code. Just enter the code to your My Starbucks Rewards account and your points will be added within 24 hours.

The specially-marked packaged are being rolled over over the month to grocery partners around the US, beginning with packaged coffee.

(And on a personal note – I just qualified for my GOLD membership! That’s a lot of chai lattes )

Thanks, Savin’ The Family Money.

Here are the best kosher deals that I see at CVS this week, with thanks to Barbara from Clipper Girl for putting these together. Be sure to visit her blog for the full match-up.

If you’re new to bargain shopping at CVS, read my How to Shop at CVS Tutorial.

Sally Hansen No Chip Nail Color – $4.99
Buy $10, Get $5 ECB (Monthly Deal)
Use (2) $4/1 Sally Hansen Nail Color from 5/5 RP Insert
= FREE + money maker after coupons and ECB when you buy 2

U by Kotex Liners (18 count) – $1.57
Use $2/1 U by Kotex Products Printable Coupon
= FREE after coupon

Revlon Luxurious ColorSilk Buttercream Hair Color – $4.49
Buy One, Get $2 ECB (Limit 1)
- $.75/1 Revlon ColorSilk Buttercream Hair Color Printable Coupon
- $1/1 Revlon Colorsilk or Luminista from 5/12 SS Insert
- $2/1 Revlon Colorsilk or Luminista form 5/12 SS Insert
= As low as $.49 after coupon and ECB

Skintimate or Schick Hydro Shave Gel – $3.99
Buy One, Get $2 ECB (Limit 1)
- $1/1 Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel from 4/21 SS Insert
- $.55/1 Skintimate Shave Gel from 5/19 SS Insert
- $1/1 Schick Shave Gel from 4/21 SS Insert
- $.75/1 Schick Hydro Shave Gel from 4/21 SS Insert
= As low as $.99 after coupon and ECB

Dove Shampoo, Conditioner, or Hair Spray – $3.00
Buy $15 worth, Get $5 ECB (Limit 1)
Use (5) $1/1 Dove Style+Care Product Printable Coupon
Or use (5) $1/1 Dove Hair Care Product from 5/19 RP Insert
= $1.00 each after coupons and ECB when you buy 5

Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner – $2.99
Use Buy One, Get One Free Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner from 5/5 RP Insert
= $1.50 each after coupon

Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream – $4.49
Buy Three, Get $5 ECB (Limit 1)
Use (3) $1/1 Aveeno Product Printable Coupon
Or use (3) $1/1 Aveeno Product from 4/7 RP Insert
= $1.82 each after coupons and ECB

Physicians Formula Fake Out Mascara – $10.49
Buy $10 worth of Physicians Formula, Get $7 ECB
Use $1/1 Physicians Formula Cosmetic Product from 4/21 SS Insert
= $2.49 after coupon and ECB

Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers, Pull Ups, or GoodNites – $10.00
Buy Three, Get $10 ECB (Limit 1)
- (3) $1.50/1 Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers Printable Coupon
- (3) $1.50/1 Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers Printable Coupon
- (3) $2/1 Pull-Ups Training Pants Printable Coupon
- (3) $2/1 Pull-Ups Training Pants from 5/19 SS Insert
- (3) $1.50/1 Huggies Diapers from 5/19 SS Insert
- (3) $2/1 Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers from 5/19 SS Insert
= As low as $4.67 each after coupons and ECB

Are you planning a CVS run this week? What’s on your list?

Here are the best kosher deals at Walgreens this week.

A big thank you to Alli from Couponing for 4 for putting them together. Be sure to go check out her blog for all the Walgreens deals.

New to deal shopping at Walgreens? Learn all the ins and outs in my tutorial on How to Shop & SAVE at Walgreens and the new Walgreens Balance Rewards Points program.

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener – $2.99 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Buy Two, Get $2 RR (starts 5/20)
Buy Three, Get $5 RR (starts 5/20)
- $2/1 Splenda Sweetener Product from 3/24 RP Insert
- $1/1 Splenda Product Printable Coupon
- $1/1 Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Printable Coupon
- $1/1 Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Product Printable Coupon
- $2/1 Splenda Sweetener Product from 5/12 RP Insert
- $1/1 Splenda Nectresse 100% No Calorie Sweetener Product from 3/24 RP Insert
= As low as FREE + money maker after coupons and RR when you buy 3

iChill Liquid Sleep Aid – $4.99
Buy One, Get $4.99 RR
= FREE after RR

Mars or Dove Candy – $.59 with in-ad coupon (Limit 6)
Use $.50/2 Dove Chocolate Bars Printable Coupon
Or use $.50/2 3 Musketeers Bars Printable Coupon
= $.34 each after stacked coupons when you buy 2

Cheez-Its – $1.67
Use $.70/1 Cheez-It Printable Coupon
= $.97 after coupon

Oral-B Pro-Health Toothbrush, Crest Toothpaste, Rinse or Glide Floss – $3.49
Buy Two, Get 3,000 Balance Reward Points
- (2) $1/1 Crest ProHealth Rinse Printable Coupon
- (2) $.75/1 Crest Pro-Health Rinse Printable Coupon
- (2) $.50/1 Crest Toothpaste Printable Coupon
- (2) $.50/1 Crest Toothpaste Printable Coupon
- (2) $1/1 Oral-B Toothbrushes from 4/28 PG Insert
- (2) $1/1 Crest Toothpaste from 4/28 PG Insert
= As low as $.99 each after coupons and points

Irish Spring Body Wash – $3.50
Buy Two, Get $3 RR
Use (2) $1/1 Irish Spring Body Wash from 5/19 SS Insert
= $1.00 each after coupons and RR

Colgate Total Advanced or Total Zx Pro Shield Toothpaste or Mouthwash – $3.00
Buy Two, Get $2 RR
- (2) $.75/1 Colgate Total Mouthwash Printable Coupon
- (2) $1/1 Colgate Mouthwash from 5/19 SS Insert
- (2) $.35/1 Colgate Toothpaste from 5/12 SS Insert
= As low as $1.00 each after coupons and RR

Huggies Little Swimmers – $6.99
Buy Two, Get 1,000 Balance Rewards Points
Use (2) $1/1 Huggies Little Swimmers Disposable Swimpants Printable Coupon
Or use (2) $1.50/1 Huggies Little Swimmers Disposable Swimpants from 5/19 SS Insert
= As low as $4.99 each after coupons and points

Are you planning a Walgreens run this week? What’s on your list?

Ever feel like the deals fly so fast and so furiously around here, that you miss out on half the good stuff?

Here is your weekly round-up of the best Amazon Deals from the past week, which are still available.

Kitchen & Houseware Deals:

Panasonic Flash Xpress Silver Toaster Oven – $88.99 Shipped (Reg. $140)

Kindle and iPhone Deals:

CaseCrown Kindle Fire Case - $9.99 (Reg. $40.21)

iPhone Body Armor Case - As low as $2.71 (Reg. $29.99)

Make It Fast, Cook It Slow eCookbook - $1.99 (Reg. $19.99)

The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book - FREE (Reg. $19.95)

Grocery Deals:

Bisquick Pancake and Baking Mix (Pack of 3) - $8.91 Shipped with $3 eCoupon and Subscribe & Save

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, 19-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) – $16.39 Shipped with $4 eCoupon and Subscribe & Save

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix, 15-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) - $16.19 Shipped with $6 eCoupon and Subscribe & Save

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) – $16.39 Shipped with $4 eCoupon and Subscribe & Save

Father’s Day Gift Ideas:

Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool - $21.95 (Reg. $34.50)

And don’t forget about this extensive list of Subscribe & Save Items for under $3. This should help you get to that 20% discount when you have 5 active subscriptions in a month.

Unless otherwise noted, shipping is free on all of these items with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

I just spotted one more great Lands’ End deal that I just had to tell you about! I know some of you have asked about a discount on these, so this is great time to buy one.

Lands’ End has the Kids’ Cotton Terry Cover-Up Towel on sale for $14.99 (regularly $34.50). Use promo code SPARK and pin #1315 to get an additional 30% off, making it only $10.49! You can add monogramming for an additional charge.

Shipping is FREE on orders over $50. If you’re looking for a couple more deals to get you over the $50 mark, be sure to check out all the other awesome discounts you can get with this coupon code. You can also get inexpensive women’s skirts, kids’ lunchboxes, kids’ swimsuits, and more.

Coupon code is valid through 5/21, but grab this deal quickly in case it sells out.

Land’s End is offering an additional 30% off everything with promo code SPARK and pin #1315. You can use it on sale and clearance items for some awesome savings! You’ll also get FREE shipping on orders over $50.

I see some cute women’s long skirts and dresses on clearance. I am loving the Women’s Linen Tie-Back Skirt pictured above for only $24.48 after coupon code (regularly $75)!

You can also get this Solid Chambray Dress for $17.48 (regularly $79.50) after coupon code.

You can also get kids’ lunchboxes for as low as $6.29 and kids’ school bags for as low as $7.69 after coupon code.

And don’t forget to check out the cheap kids’ swimsuits! For example, get this girls’ one-piece swimsuit or these boys’ swim trunks for $9.09 (regularly $29 and $24) after coupon code.

There are so many great deals with this coupon code, I can’t possibly list them all. I recommend browsing the Clearance Section for even more deep discounts just like this.

Promo code is valid through 5/21, but I recommend shopping as early as possible for the best selection.

Earn 150 Recyclebank points when you take a look at the many ways that paper touches our lives and share some information on how this important material can be sourced, consumed and disposed of more responsibly.

To get started, just click the banner above. (If you’re reading this in your email, you’ll need to click thru to the post to see the banner.)

If you’re not familiar with RecycleBank, it is an eco-friendly rewards program, with tons of high value coupons, including on organic and natural products. In order to print one of these coupons (or claim another reward), you must earn points, which you use to buy rewards. Recycle Bank allows you to earn points for a number of things – from participating in a city-wide recycling program (not available in all cities yet) to taking online quizzes. You can even get 10 points for referring friends to Recycle Bank.

We go thru  a ridiculous number of glasses at my house. I tend to have to replace an entire set of eight at least once a year – so I aim to pay no more than $1 per glass.

Which means I was very excited to see this sale at Bon-Ton.

They have several 10-piece glassware sets marked down to just $8.97. I love these the sets are either all tall or all short, which is perfect, since we only ever need the water glasses.

Plus, you can get FREE shipping when you use the code FREESHIP at checkout. Score!

Typically a set of 8 glasses sells for $20 and up, so to find them for $10 is a steal. A 10-pack for $9 is crazy good!

It’s Free App Friday over on SmartAppsforKids.com, where today only (5/3) you can download 26 different free iPhone & iPad apps for kids today, including Prisoner of Carrot Castle, Grover, Elmo, Franklin, Max & Ruby — and lots, lots more.

These apps would normally be $91 altogether, but today only, they are FREE!

Here’s another summer reading program to help reward your children (from kindergarten thru 6th grade) for reading this summer.

If your child reads eight books between May 21st and September 3rd and tracks them on this Barnes & Noble reading log, they can turn in their log to get a free book at any Barnes & Noble bookstore.

I know most of us think of the winter as slow-cooker season, but with our busy sports schedule this summer, I’m planning to fire up the slow cooker once or twice a week.

Inspiration for my cooking is coming from this fantastic cookbook, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking (Kindle), which I downloaded last week for just $1.99.

And good news – it’s still available at that super cheap price!

The author, Stephanie O’Dea, was the original slow cooker blogger. She spent a whole year cooking dinner every single night in the slow cooker – and blogging about it.

Her family is gluten-free, so all of the recipes in this book are either gluten-free or have gluten-free tweaks.

I have also found that her blog (and this cookbook) are very friendly to the kosher-keepers among us. There is the occasional recipe that calls for pork, but none of the cook-chicken-breasts-in-cream-of-whatever soups that are common in slow cooker recipes.

Stephanie writes about good, whole, healthy food — that you can make quick (& cook slow).

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still read this book by downloading FREE applications to read Kindle books on your Mac, PC, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, or Android Phone.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

It’s back!

Because sometimes you just need it to be easy… even (especially?!) when you’re gluten-free..

Amazon has several deals on Betty Crocker gluten-free mixes when you clip the e-coupon below the product description and check out thru Subscribe & Save.

Listed below are the prices with the regular 5% discount thru Subscribe & Save, and then the 20% discount if you have Amazon Prime/Mom.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, 19-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) – $16.39 with $4 e-coupon, shipped ($13.17 with extra 20%)

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix, 15-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) - $16.19 with $6 e-coupon, shipped ($12.69 with extra 20%)

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) – $16.39 with $4 e-coupon (can only use once – so choose brownies or chocolate chip cookies), shipped ($13.17 with extra 20%)

Remember that when you have five active subscriptions in a month, your savings will be bumped up to as much as 20% from 5%. (20% for those of us with Amazon Prime/Mom membership, 15% for everyone else.)

If you’re looking for another order or two to bump you up to five total, check out this list of Subscribe & Save deals for under $3.

Read my Subscribe & Save tutorial if you need more information.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Calling all my gluten-free readers, Amazon has a nice deal tonight on Bisquick Pancake and Baking Mix, Gluten-Free, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 3).

It’s $8.91 when you check out thru Subscribe & Save and clip the $3 off e-coupon.

And don’t forget that when you have five active subscriptions in a month, your savings will be bumped up to as much as 20% from 5%. (20% for those of us with Amazon Prime/Mom membership, 15% for everyone else.)

So when you hit that magic FIVE number, you’ll only pay only $7 – or $2.33 per box.

If you’re looking for another order or two to bump you up to five total, check out this list of Subscribe & Save deals for under $3.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

As you know, over the past several weeks, I’ve been focusing on time management, with a goal of using my time more intentionally.

I’d say efficiently – but really, what I think it’s all about is not just doing more in less time, but doing the things that really matter to us and feeling good about how we do them.

Leading up to my time management focus, I’d been frankly feeling like I was drowning under my (mental) to do list. {Granted, this feeling peaked during the lead up to (and letdown from) Pesach – which is likely the busiest season for Jewish families anyway.}

But with some tweaking of our schedule, along with a new-found commitment to being more intentional about how I spend my time, I’ve come a long way. I can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Like getting out of debt, the biggest challenge with our time management is to “stay” out of debt. Meaning, to keep our attention focused so that we don’t fall back in to bad habits.  One of those new habits, for me, is to embrace taking care of myself as a priority.

With all these thoughts percolating in my head, I went to a women’s shiur two Shabbatot ago – something I hadn’t made the time to do in a long time, but clearly this was a shiur I needed to hear. (Props to Tamar Halpern!)

Not surprisingly, we were talking about the Omer. Specifically, how we count the Omer (days vs. weeks?, one mitzvah or 49?, with a bracha and without?) – and what it all means.

One of the sources that we looked at was Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (on Pesach, Sefirat ha­Omer, and Shavuot, by David Shapiro, pg. 147).

He writes:

When the Jews were delivered from the Egyptian oppression, and Moses rose to undertake the almost impossible task of metamorphosing a tribe of slaves into a nation of priests, he was told by God that the path leading from the holiday of Passover to Shavuot, from initial liberation to consummate freedom,…leads through the medium of time.

The commandment of sefirah was entrusted to the Jew; the wondrous test of counting forty­nine successive days was put to him. These forty­nine days must be whole. If one day [is] missed, the act of numeration is invalidated.

A slave who is capable of appreciating each day, of grasping its meaning and its worth, of weaving every thread of time into a glorious fabric…is eligible for Torah. He has achieved freedom.

We may say then that qualitative­time­consciousness is comprised of two elements: First: the appreciation of the enormous implications inherent in the fleeting moments of the present. No fraction of time — however infinite — should slip through the fingers, left unexploited; for eternity may depend upon the brief moment.

Secondly: the vicarious experience, while in the present, of the past and the future. No distance, however removed, should separate one’s time­consciousness from the dawn of one’s group or from the eschatological destiny and infinite realization of one’s cherished ideals.

Wow.

My focusing on time management, dafka during the Omer, was apparently no coincidence. These weren’t just the sleep-deprived ramblings of a multi-tasking mom!

Our time has value – perhaps supreme value – and, as a result, our choices about how we spend that time have weighty consequences.

As free people — as people who must forever be working on themselves to be worthy of the gift of Torah — we must constantly be mindful and intentional about how we allocate, manage and engage in our TIME.

Wishing you all a beautiful Shavuot, filled with ice cream and cheesecake and lasagna.  And with the intention to “weave every thread of time into a glorious fabric”.

Did you print your $2 off 2 boxes of Kashi coupon?

Kashi is on price-cut right now at Target for $2.28 — so just $1.28 per box after coupon.

(And with that Shopkick $2 gift card, you’ll pay just $.56 for two boxes!)

Since most of this week is taken up with Shavuot, I probably won’t get to posting the full weekly round-up of Target deals, but this price cut is good thru 5/25, so you’ve got some time.

Print the $2/2 Kashi Cereal Coupon now, before it’s gone.

Half Price Books is offering kids 14 and under a $5 gift card when read (or be read to) for at least 15 minutes a day during June and July.

Get started by printing out your reading log. Then, once your children have read for 300 minutes, they can turn in their log and earn $5 in Half Price Books Bookworm bucks.

They will also award one reader in each age group a $20 Half Price Books giftcard.

Just printed out the log for my kiddos – they’d be reading anyway, thankfully, but they’ll certainly enjoy $5 to splurge on their own books!

Thanks, Penny Pinchin’ Mom.

Perfect timing!

Grab a FREE ice cream cone from Haagen Dazs today, May 14th, at their nationwide FREE Cone Day Event.

Re. the kashrut issue, I’ve been told that some stores may be certified kosher, but regardless, all their ice cream is. And here is more information from their FAQs:

our U.S. retail grocery, club, and convenience store products are OU-D kosher, certified by the Kashrut division of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. products at our Häagen-Dazs^® Shops and restaurants are not necessarily certified kosher because of the utensils and other ingredients used to serve frozen desserts or drinks.

6pm is having a big Crocs Shoes Sale right now, and you can get up to 57% off Crocs Shoes for the whole family.

This would be a great time to grab some discounted spring and summer shoes for the kids. Prices on kids’ shoes start as low as $13 for the Toddler Flip-Flop Crocs pictured above.

If you have a little girl who loves Disney, check out these adorable Minnie Mouse Crocs Shoes for just $18 (regularly $30). They have Mickey Mouse, too.

Or if you’re looking for the more traditional Crocs look, these Kids’ Baya Crocs are only $18.20. They have many colors to choose from in this style, all priced under $20.

If you’re looking for shoes for yourself, you’re also in luck. There are tons of great deals on adult shoes, as well. For example, these Women’s Wedge Crocs are marked down from $70 to only $29.99!

As always, shipping from 6pm.com is FREE – no minimum order required.

Shop early for the best selection from 6pm’s Crocs shoe sale.

Here’s a great deal on a high-end toaster: Amazon has the highly rated Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress Toaster Oven, Silver for $89.99 right now, regularly $139.99, with free shipping.

• “FlashXpress” double Infrared Light cooks up to 40-percent faster than conventional toaster ovens
• Automatically calculates the cooking time for Bread, Frozen Foods and Reheating, so guessing is eliminated, Digital Timer
• 6-menu illustrated preset buttons for easy of use
• Instant heat eliminates preheating for quick cooking (Temperature Settings 250 – 500 Degree F)
• Meaures 10 1/4″ (H) x 13″ (D) x 12″ (D), 7.5 lbs, Silver and Inner dimensions are 10.2 x 9.8 x 4.1 inches

This is the lowest price EVER on Amazon, per the Amazon Price Tracker.

Remember, prices change fast on Amazon, so if you’ve been looking for a good toaster, grab this one fast!

The best deal of all is on the Vita Coco 100% Pure Coconut Water, 11.1 oz (Pack of 12) for $10.69 when you checkout thru Subscribe & Save.

That’s a great deal at almost $2 cheaper than at Costco. But it gets even better if you’re a Subscribe & Save junkie like I am, because when you have five active subscriptions in a month, your savings will be bumped up to as much as 20% from 5%. (20% for those of us with Amazon Prime/Mom membership, 15% for everyone else.)

So when you hit that magic FIVE number, you’ll only pay only $9 – which is a smokin’ hot deal!

If you’re looking for another order or two to bump you up to five total, check out this list of Subscribe & Save deals for under $3.

All subscription orders ship for free and you can cancel your subscription anytime after your order ships. Read my Subscribe & Save tutorial if you need more information.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

P.S. Be sure to scroll down to nab a FREE sample of a Kind Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Bar (discount at check-out). Click on Add To Cart to receive your free sample.

Wowzers!

REI has this The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket in grey & tin white on closeout for just $28.73 originally $179.

It’s only available in size Small and Large – and I expect it to sell out FAST.

You can get free shipping when you spend $50 (two jackets, one for you, one for a friend?) or pick up the jacket at your local REI to bypass shipping charges.

Just a quick reminder that next Monday, May 20th @ 8 p.m. CST. I’ll be hosting a webinar about How to Make and Stick to a Budget.

Are you harnessing the power of your income to maximize your savings and investments? Or does money seem to slip through your checkbook each month, leaving you wondering, “Where did it all go?”

This 60-minute webinar will teach you the fundamentals of budgeting so that you know exactly where your money goes – and how best to spend it.

No theoretical numbers here! This is all about working with your actual income and your actual expenses – so that you can make a budget that really works for your family.

Participants will also receive my budget worksheet as well as recommendations on software and services to help you track your spending.

In addition to the live class, all registered participants will receive a note-taking packet and budgeting printables, available for download the evening of the class.

To register for the webinar, simply complete the below form with your name and email address.

If you are having trouble with the embedded form, you can also find it at THIS LINK.

Cost:  The cost of participating in the Budgeting Webinar is $10. Once you complete the sign-up form, I will send you an invoice via Paypal (you don’t need Paypal to pay – you can use a credit card) along with a link to sign in to the webinar.

Tech Specs: All you need is a home computer with built-in (or external) speakers and a high speed Internet connection.

Questions? Comments? Please send me an email!

Have you entered yet to win a $100 Microsoft Retail Store gift card? That giveaway will be going thru the end of the week, since Shavuot starts tonight and I want everyone to have a chance to enter.

But today, you’ll have an additional chance to win some more fantastic Microsoft prizes at a Twitter party I’m hosting today, Tuesday, May 14 at 1 p.m. EST.

I’m joining up with some friends from Microsoft and host of talented bloggers to discuss all the fun new innovations at the Microsoft Retail Stores.

Plus, we’ll be giving away prizes!

Five people who answer trivia questions during the party will each win a $25 Microsoft retail store gift cards, and one lucky Twitter party participant will randomly be selected to win a $500 Microsoft retail store gift card (Hello, Microsoft Surface, you’d so be mine with that gift card).

Here are all the details:

What: #GoMicrosoft Twitter party

When: Today, Tuesday, May 14th at 1 p.m. EST

Where: On Twitter, using the #GoMicrosoft hashtag. You can set up a column in your TweetDeck to follow along, or use this TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/11SJxNf.

Your Hosts:@MicrosoftStore, @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Your Co-Hosts:
Heather, Sprittibee – @sprittibee
Candy, Mommypalooza – @mommypalooz
Kelly, Kansas City Mamas – @KCMamaKelly
Kristen, Dine and Dish – @DineandDish
Mara, Kosher on a Budget – @kosheronabudget
Claudya, Unknown Mami – @UnknownMami
Heather, Rookie Moms – @rookiemoms
Jessica, It’s My Life – @kikarose
Jen, The Mom Reviews – @themomjen
TerriAnn, Cookies and Clogs – @cookiesANDclogs
Divina, Dancing Hot Dogs – @DancingHotdogs
JessieLeigh, Parenting Miracles – @micropreemies
Marianna, Green Mama’s Pad – @GreenMamasPad
Rachel, Rachel Ferrucci – @RachelFerrucci
Sarah, Sarah’s Cucina Bella – @SarahWCaron
Lisa, Crazy Adventures in Parenting – @crazyadventures
Clay, Dad Labs – @daddyclay
Kim, Prairie Mama – @prairiemama
Stephanie, The Candid Pastor’s Wife – @stephaniepete
Christine, Boston Mamas – @bostonmamas
Christy, Quirky Fusion – @QuirkyFusion
Mackenzie, The Centsible Family – @TheCentsibleFamily
Erika, Musings of a SAHM – @MusingsSAHM

I know it’s a busy day, but I hope you’ll be able to join me – even if just for a few moments today!

Request your FREE sample of Carbonell Olive Oil. It will arrive in 6-8 weeks.

I am not sure if this is hechshered, but since it’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, you should be fine.

Wondering why I love free samples? Check out this post on small ways to save big.

Or maybe it’s because I love dairy and don’t have to think too hard about what I want to eat for two days of dairy meals.

But until this moment, I haven’t sat down to make a menu plan for Shavuot. I usually like to plan out at least a week in advance, so I can do my shopping and get a few things prepped in advance. This year, though, I’m flying by the seat of my pants.

If your whole chag is already cooked and in the freezer, more power to you! But for the rest of us last minute birds, here’s a look at what I’ll be serving over Shavuot.

Erev Shavuot

(My immediate family only –  my husband will have just gotten home and I plan to make it very easy on myself)

• Steamed artichokes with garlic butter dipping sauce
• One Pot Salmon with Snap Peas & Rice 
• Garlic Knots

• No Bake, Frozen Cheesecake (already in the freezer)

First Day Lunch

(Two families + our own = 10 kids, 5 adults)

• Blended red pepper soup with homemade croutons (in my freezer) and shaved parmesan cheese
• Spinach salad with strawberries, pecans & poppy-seed dressing
• Three cheese lasagna
• Spanikopita “Eggrolls” (I’ll share my recipe after Shavuot, but basically you use a regular spanikopita recipe, and then make them into individual portions by rolling up each sheet of filo dough like a little eggroll)

• Roasted baby potatoes with fresh herbs
• Lemon Meringue Pie
• Maybe an extra pan of chocolate cheesecake brownies (if anyone doesn’t like the meringue)
• Fruit salad

Second Day Dinner

(Again, immediate family only… kids will be zonked, I may serve this to them and put them to bed before we light candles)

• Greek salad

• Confetti Rice
• Broccoli & cauliflower quiche

• Left-over dessert

Second Day Lunch

OUT!

Breakfasts will be cereal or yogurt – and dinner the last day will be at our shul.

The big challenge will be what to make for Shabbat just a few hours after Shavuot ends. I wonder if I’ll have enough left-overs left to go that route?

What’s on your Shavuot menu plan? Please share in the comments!

Thru the end of the day today (May 13), you can buy A Taste of Challah for just $29.74 (regularly $34.99) from Feldheim.com — a savings of 15% + FREE media-rate shipping.

I reviewed the cookbook HERE if you want to read more about it.

I think A Taste of Challah would make a wonderful gift for a Bat Mitzvah, an engagement party, a belated Mother’s Day celebration, birthday, anniversary… anyone who makes challah — or wants to learn to make challah – will enjoy Tamar Ansh’s cookbook.

Goodness, it’s just a Kindle ebooks/apps/accessories kinda day.

Download The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book: Great Dairy, Egg, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family for free right now from Amazon.com.

This ebook usually retails for $19.99, so this is an amazingly nice deal!

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download FREE applications to read Kindle books on your Mac, PC, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, or Android Phone.

The price of this e-book is $0 right now, but Amazon can change the price at any time – so always confirm before ordering.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom.

Amazon Local has a great offer for Kindle eBooks – select any one of 37 different e-books for only $1.

You’ll need a voucher, which can get by signing into your Amazon Local account (or signing up for one HERE).

Once you’re logged in, you may need to scroll down and click on “See All Deals” to open up the Kindle Fire Ebooks deal.

Once you find it, just click to order the free voucher, which will be automatically applied to your account.

Then head over to Amazon’s Kindle $1 Store to choose your book.

In addition to some summer-type reading books for adults, I noticed that they have four books in the Simply Sarah series for elementary children.

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download FREE applications to read Kindle books on your Mac, PC, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, or Android Phone.

There’s a new coupon for Joy Ice Cream Cones – Save $.55 off one package.

These are regularly priced at $1.19 at Walmart, which puts them at just $.64 each after the coupon.

If your family has an ice cream party tradition for Shavuot, you’ll want to grab this deal today!

Joy Ice Cream Cones, $1.19
Use $0.55 off Joy Ice Cream Cones coupon
= $.64 each after coupon

Speaking of Kindle Fires…

Check your Amazon account, because all Kindle Fire owners have been given $5 worth of credits to spend on games and apps for your Kindle Fire.

Just log into your account and you will see “500 Amazon Coins” – which are worth $5 and you can spend toward your purchases. You can also buy additional coins at a discount.

If you own a Kindle Fire, you’ll find a little unexpected something in your account right now — 500 Amazon Coins, worth $5. You can use the coins to buy apps and games, as well as items inside apps and games. And if you want to purchase additional coins for yourself or your family, you get to do so at a discount.

From Cut the Rope: Time Travel to Scribblenauts Remix, you’ll find plenty of fun to choose from, and the selection is growing every day. Selection has tripled over the last year, with 25% more in the last three months alone.

We hope you enjoy your coins, and the fun, on us.

What game or app will you buy?

Did you take advantage of Amazon’s Mother’s Day sale on the Kindle Fire? Or maybe you just need a new case for yours?

Right now you can get the CaseCrown Amazon Kindle Fire Case for only $5.99. Choose from red, purple, green, blue, orange or black.

Shipping is free with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Thanks, Kansas City Mamas.

Complete a brief survey to get a Free Sample of a John Frieda Luxurious Volume Hair Care Products from Target.com.

Hint: If you answer that your thick, wavy hair needs to be tamed, you won’t qualify.

Wondering why I love free samples? Check out this post on small ways to save big.

**Price drop alert!**

This 60 x 126 in. Rectangular White Tablecloth from Amazon is now only $8.44, the lowest it has EVER been on Amazon!

I grabbed one two weeks ago at $8.92, and at this price, I’m going to get another one. I can never have enough white tablecloths, I find (especially during Sukkot and Pesach, where we go thru them at the rate of two a day!)

Note that this cloth is 100% poly – so it doesn’t rank up there with your finest linens, but the reviews are very good. And I’m pleased! Plus, since it’s stain resistent, you won’t feel compelled to cover it with plastic!

Remember, Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so always confirm prices before you check-out.

Amazon has the Body Armor for iPhone 4 marked down from $29.99 to $2.72 – $2.92 (price varies by color) with free shipping.

There are several colors to choose from — all under $3.

I did this deal when I originally posed about it a few weeks ago — and got my rebate back already!

I wanted to remind you about this awesome deal on an electric toothbrush,since you can still nab it thru the end of June.

Walmart.com has the Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean Precision 1000 Power Toothbrush with Bonus Travel Case priced right now at $35.97, regularly $64.97. Even better, you can submit for a $20 mail in rebate, bringing your total down to just $15.97!

This ships for free to your home with a $45 order — or you can pick it up for FREE at your local Walmart or FedEx store.

Even better, since per the terms of the rebate, you can actually get TWO $20 rebates, you can order two toothbrushes — and then qualify for FREE shipping to your home. And you’ll have two incredibly low-priced electric toothbrushes.

I am betting this won’t last long at this price — so don’t wait on this one.

There is a new 5-point code available for Pampers Gifts to Grow Reward Program. Just log into your account and enter the code FBMD76C7HMEXT13 to get 10 FREE points.

Code expires 5/17/13.

Here are some more codes you may not have entered yet (let me know if any of these don’t work for you):

10-Point Codes

WELCOMEGTGPTS10
WELCOME2VILLAGE
CONGRATS2NEWMOM
GTGWELCOME10PTS
CAREFORNEWBORNS

50 Point Codes

GIFTSTOGROW4MOM
JOINNOW4REWARDS
2BEGINEARNING50

Get started with Pampers Gifts to Grow here.

You don’t have to be a mom or a dad to benefit from Pampers Gifts to Grow – nor do you have to have kiddos in diapers. There are plenty of universal codes like this one, and they really do add up quickly. Prizes range from coupons for free diapers to magazine subscriptions to store gift cards and high-end toys.

This post contains affiliate links, which help to support Kosher on a Budget. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Here’s one of those “for the guy who has it all” kind of gifts…

Amazon has the Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool for only $20 right now (reg. $34.50).

• 420HC Combo Knife, Spring-action Regular Pliers, Spring-action Needlenose Pliers, Spring-action Wire Cutters
• Wire Stripper, Small Screwdriver, Medium Screwdriver, Phillips Screwdriver,
• Spring-action scissors
• Wood/Metal File, Bottle Opener, Can Opener
• Removable Pocket Clip

Buy your Father’s Day present on Mother’s Day?

Shipping is free with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Today is the last day to enter to win the wonderful cookbook, A Taste of Challah (there will be two winners).

The giveaway will close tonight at 11:59 p.m. CST and the winner will be notified tomorrow morning.

If you wish to enter, you must comment HERE.

Good luck!

Discount Mags is having a giant Mother’s Day Sale, today (5/12) thru midnight. Choose from more than two dozen magazine subscriptions, all starting from $4.50 per year.

There are tons of great deals – I’m including them all below.

Just click the link of the mags you are interested in – no coupon code required.

• Cooking Category
  • Every Day with Rachael Ray (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)
  • La Cucina Italiana (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98)
  • Bon Appetit (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
  • Saveur (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
  • Vegetarian Times (1yrs: $5.49, 2yrs: $10.98, 3yrs: $16.47)
  • Diabetic Cooking (1yrs: $4.50)
• Fashion Category
  • Marie Claire (1yrs: $4.50, 2yrs: $9.00, 3yrs: $13.50)
  • Glamour (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
  • Elle (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • Lucky (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • Vogue (1yrs: $8.99, 2yrs: $17.98, 3yrs: $26.97)
  • Allure (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • W (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • O, The Oprah Magazine (1yrs: $11.99, 2yrs: $23.98, 3yrs: $35.97)
  • Cosmopolitan (1yrs: $9.99, 2yrs: $19.98)
• Health Category
  • Self (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • Natural Health (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
  • Weight Watchers (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47, 4yrs: $17.96)
• Home Category
  • House Beautiful (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97)
  • Elle Decor (1yrs: $4.49, 2yrs: $8.98, 3yrs: $13.47)
  • Architectural Digest (1yrs: $6.99, 2yrs: $13.98, 3yrs: $20.97)
  • Better Homes & Gardens (1yrs: $4.99, 2yrs: $9.98, 3yrs: $14.97, 4yrs: $19.96)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Just a reminder that today is your last day to save $20 on a Kindle Fire HD when you use the promotional code FIRE4MOM at checkout.

This discount will make the 16GB with Special Offers just $179 – regularly $199.

As always, your new Kindle Fire will ship for FREE. (Two-day shipping with Prime – and most people say they get it the next day.)

Shop for your Kindle Fire HD HERE.

6pm is having a huge Mother’s Day Sale today, with hundreds of items priced at $40 or less! Choose from shoes, clothing, bags and more – for mom, dad and the whole family.

These cute Oh! Shoes, for example are $35, regularly $175. (I like to sort by % Off to find the biggest savings.)

As always, shipping from 6pm.com is FREE – no minimum order required.

6pm’s Mother’s Day Sale is valid today only (5/12), and the most common sizes are go fast, so I’d shop ASAP!

Do you make your own pizza?

We do most Thursdays – and I’ve found that a good pizza pan makes the difference between burnt-on-the-bottom crust and perfect-crust.

For just $6 (reg. $19.99), you can grab this Oneida Commerical 16 Inch Pizza Pan. (Lowest price on Amazon, per the Amazon Price Tracker.)

The Oneida pan has great reviews – almost perfect five stars – and for just six bucks, I don’t think you can go wrong!

Shipping is free with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Here are the best kosher deals at Walgreens this week.

A big thank you to Alli from Couponing for 4 for putting them together. Be sure to go check out her blog for all the Walgreens deals.

New to deal shopping at Walgreens? Learn all the ins and outs in my tutorial on How to Shop & SAVE at Walgreens and the new Walgreens Balance Rewards Points program.

Sure Deodorant – $2.50
Brut Deodorant – $2.99
50% Off Sale
Buy One, Get 500 Balance Reward Points
Use $1/1 Sure Item from 5/12 SS Insert
Or use $1/1 Brut Fragrance or Antiperspirant from 5/12 SS Insert
= As low as FREE + money maker after coupon, sale, and points

Edge, Skintimate or Schick Hydro Shave Gel – $1.99
Use $1/1 or $.55/1 Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel from 4/21 SS Insert
Or use $1/1 or $.75/1 Schick Shave Gel from 4/21 SS Insert
Then submit for $1/1 Skintimate Shave Gel Ibotta Credit
= As low as FREE after coupon and Ibotta credit

Oral-B 3D White Vivid or Pro-Health Clinical Toothbrush, Crest 3D White or Pro-health Clinical Toothpaste, or Mouthwash – $3.50
Buy Two, Get $5 RR
- (2) $1/1 Oral-B from 4/28 P&G
- (2) $.50/1 Crest Toothpaste Printable Coupon
- (2) $.50/1 Crest Toothpaste Printable Coupon 
- (2) $1/1 Crest Toothpaste from 4/28 PG Insert
= As low as FREE after coupons and RR

Chobani Greek Yogurt – $1.00
Use $.30/1 Chobani Greek Yogurt Printable Coupon
= $.70 after coupon

Clear Eyes – $3.99
Use $1/1 Clear Eyes Product from 4/21 SS Insert
Then use $2/1 Clear Eyes Eye Drops from Walgreens May coupon booklet (found at the front of the store)
= $.99 after stacked coupons

Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes – 2/$4
Use (2) $.75/1 Wet Ones Wipes Product from 4/21 SS Insert
Then submit for $.50/1 Wet Ones Product Ibotta Credit
= $1.00 each after coupons and Ibotta credit when you buy 2

Hefty One Zip Bags – $2.29
Buy One, Get One Free
Use $1/2 Hefty Slider Bags from 5/5 RP Insert
= $1.15 each after coupon and sale when you buy 2

Are you planning a Walgreens run this week? What’s on your list?

Here are the best kosher deals that I see at CVS this week, with thanks to Barbara from Clipper Girl for putting these together. Be sure to visit her blog for the full match-up.

If you’re new to bargain shopping at CVS, read my How to Shop at CVS Tutorial.

Gillette Venus Razor (Blue Pack) – $5.99
Buy One, Get $3 ECB (Limit 1)
Use $3/1 Venus Refillable Razor from 4/7 RP Insert
= FREE after coupon and ECB

Sally Hansen Cosmetics
Buy $10, Get $5 ECB
$5/1 Sally Hansen Salon Insta-Gel Strips or Strips Starter Kit from 5/5 RP Insert
$4/1 Sally Hansen Nail Color from 5/5 RP Insert

*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Sally Hansen No Chip Nail Color – $4.99
Use (2) $4/1 Sally Hansen Nail Color from 5/5 RP Insert
= FREE after coupons and ECB

U by Kotex Liners (18 count) – $1.57
Use $2/1 U by Kotex Products Printable Coupon
= FREE after coupon

Gain Dish Liquid – $.99 (Limit 4)
Use $.25/1 Gain Dishwashing Liquid from 5/12 PG Insert
= $.74 after coupon

Children’s Advil (Travel Size) – $2.49
Use $1.50/1 Children’s Advil Printable Coupon
= $.99 after coupon

Revlon Nail Color – $5.79
Buy One, Get $3 ECB (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 Revlon Nail Product Printable Coupon
Or use $1/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic from 4/28 SS Insert
= $1.79 after coupon and ECB

Starbucks K-Cups Coffee (10 count) – $9.99
Buy One, Get One Free
Use (2) $1.50/1 Starbucks K-Cups Printable Coupon
= $3.49 each after coupons and sale when you buy 2

Are you planning a CVS run this week? What’s on your list?

Ever feel like the deals fly so fast and so furiously around here, that you miss out on half the good stuff?

Here is your weekly round-up of the best Amazon Deals from the past week, which are still available.

Kitchen & Houseware Deals:

Lodge Color Dutch Oven (Blue) – $45 Shipped (Reg. $118)

Kindle Deals:

Kindle Fire 16 GB 7-Inch HD – Only $179 after FIRE4MOM coupon code (Reg. $199)

Kindle Fire HD 7 Shock Proof Handle Case for Kids – $13.99 (Reg. $23.99)

 

Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking (Kindle) — $1.99

Grocery Deals:

Barilla Whole Grain Rotini (4pk) – $.88 each when you checkout thru Subscribe & Save (or $.75 if you have five active subscriptions/month).

Baby and Kid Deals:

Sammy Spider’s First Haggadah Paperback Book – $3.48 (Reg. $6.95)

Britax Boulevard Convertible Car Seat Seat – $183.99 shipped after coupon code BABY0513 (Reg. $319.99)

And don’t forget about this extensive list of Subscribe & Save Items for under $3. This should help you get to that 20% discount when you have 5 active subscriptions in a month.

Unless otherwise noted, shipping is free on all of these items with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Through May 12th, Crocs.com is having a Mother’s Day Sale – and you can save $5 off all footwear plus get free economy shipping.

The sale applies to all sale shoes, except for Final Sale items – so be sure to check the Clearance section first for the best deals.

Here’s a first – I don’t ever remember seeing a discount offer on Martha Stewart Living.

Today only, subscribe to Martha Stewart Living Magazine for only $14.99 per year (54% off) when you enter coupon code KOSHERBUDGET.

Martha Stewart Living Magazine was created by the famous television hostess who has become the popular advisor on all things for the home and garden. Each issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine allows you to celebrate the simple things of everyday life, such as gardening, entertaining, renovating, cooking, and decorating.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to winners Danit B. and Chaya L.

I used to be a challah buyer.

In my first six years of my marriage, I don’t think I baked a single challah – a fact of which I’m neither proud nor ashamed. I lived in Israel those first six years, and sticky-sweet challot were plentiful and cheap.

But then we moved to Kansas, where challah costs at least $5 per loaf. I nearly choked on the $15+ we’d spent on challah each week. And so we became challah bakers.

At first, my husband made the challot, but over the last two years, I have taken on this job more and more — until I’ve finally embraced it as “my thing”.

I will admit that sometimes it stresses me out (“Gotta make the doughnuts challah!”), but I’ve found that mostly I love the process.

Especially the braiding.

I braid five strands, which I know is usual, but I do one strand for each of my three children, plus two more for me and my husband.

It’s such a subtle, yet physical, way to demonstrate love for my family.

When I take that sticky dough in my hands, and shape it into imperfect braids, I become part of a community of challah bakers.

All over the world, there are a multitude of us kneading and rolling and braiding and egg washing, dividing and making brachot.

Whether your flour is white or wheat or spelt; whether you braid with three, or four, or six – or an odd five, like me, challah baking is a fairly universal — and one might argue quintessential — Jewish experience.

Which is why my first reaction to a book called “A Taste of Challah” was … Really? A whole book just about challah?!

But an old friend promised me that this is really a lovely cookbook – plus, he told me (knowing this would sweeten the pot for me), it’s on sale thru May 13th (15% off with free shipping from Feldheim).

He even sent me out a copy of A Taste of Challah by Tamar Ansh last week for my review. My dubiousness gave way to delight – I was was very pleasantly surprised by  just how much I liked this book.

There is an extensive section dedicated to the myriad ways to braid challot. I loved the napkin rings and wine holders. And the basket weave was incredible — for the patient baker, I think it could be gorgeous for your Shavuot table. (A simpler choice would be flower-shaped challot, which she also features in her book.)

You will also find a dozen or so new challah recipes, from traditional to honey wheat to gluten-free. The last section of the book has a number of dips which look very yummy, plus non-challah breads, both yeast and non-yeast.

Interspersed throughout the recipes and braiding tips are personal stories from different women about their experiences with baking challah.

First published in 2007, this most recent printing of A Taste of Challah is truly a lovely book – and I think it would make a great gift for any woman, whether she’s just starting to bake her own challah, or she’s a pro with decades of experience.

Thru May 13, you can buy A Taste of Challah for $29.74, with free media shipping from Feldheim.com.

And thru May 12th, you can enter to win one of two copies that I am giving away!

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me whether you are a baker or a buyer. And if you bake, I’d love to know how many strands you typically braid.

This giveaway is open only to residents of the United States who are 18 or older. Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 12th at 11:59 p.m. CST. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email immediately. He or she will have 48 hours to respond. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “A Taste of Challah” to facilitate my review; Feldheim Books will also provide the winner of this contest with his or her cookbook. I m an affiliate of Feldheim.com, however I was not compensated for hosting this giveaway nor for sharing my (positive) opinions. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. And also because I want you to know.

Did you know that one in six Americans is facing hunger, including 14 million children?

While most of you are in the middle of Shabbat prep, I wanted to let you know that tomorrow (May 12) is Stamp Out Hunger Day, which is a great opportunity to do something about this problem.

Here’s how it works: Just gather up some non-perishable food or personal care items, leave them in a bag by your mail box, and your letter carrier will collect them and help distribute them to food pantries and other organizations around your city.

They make it so easy to give!

And if you are anything like me, you have a few (or more than a few) items sitting on your shelves that you can contribute.

Most of these items we are able to get for free – or very inexpensively – and can easily replace thanks to couponing. Yet for the recipient, these items will be an immeasurable blessing.

Amazon has the fantastic cookbook, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking (Kindle) for just $1.99.

The author, Stephanie O’Dea, was the original slow cooker blogger. She spent a whole year cooking dinner every single night in the slow cooker – and blogging about it.

Her family is gluten-free, so all of the recipes in this book are either gluten-free or have gluten-free tweaks.

I have also found that her blog (and this cookbook) are very friendly to the kosher-keepers among us. There is the occasional recipe that calls for pork, but none of the cook-chicken-breasts-in-cream-of-whatever soups that are common in slow cooker recipes.

Stephanie writes about good, whole, healthy food — that you can make quick (& cook slow).

For just $1.99, it’s a steal. The print price on this book is $19.99!

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still read this book by downloading FREE applications to read Kindle books on your Mac, PC, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, or Android Phone.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Thanks, Kansas City Mamas.

I know it’s not in everyone’s budget, but if you’ve been wanting to get a Dyson, you may as well get a deal on one!

(And for the record, we love ours. Best vacuum I’ve ever owned. Makes kid mess, pet mess, life mess look like small potatoes.)

Kohl’s has Select Dyson Vacuums on sale right now – plus you can save an additional 20% with the promo code FFMAY.

And it’s Kohl’s Cash time, which means you earn $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. (Kohl’s cash can only be spent on future purchases – it can not be applied to today’s purchase).

AND shipping is free. It’s the trifecta of sales!

• Get the Dyson DC33 Multi Floor Bagless Vacuum for $205.99 after $50 in Kohl’s Cash (originally $449.00) – picture above

• Get the Dyson DC44 Animal Digital Slim Vacuum also for $205.99 after $50 in Kohl’s Cash (originally $449.99)

• Or get the Dyson DC41 Animal Bagless Vacuum for $313.99 after $70 in Kohl’s Cash (this is the one we have – paid $80 more even with a sale four years ago, worth every penny)

I know. The timing is a bit odd – a Pesach book a few days before Shavuot. But sometimes you just gotta get when the getting is good.

Amazon has a Sammy Spider’s First Haggadah marked down 50% to $3.49, originally $6.95. I just got a ding from the Amazon Price Tracker - this is the lowest ever price.

I can’t help but notice that this has 10 reviews – and 5 stars! We don’t have this one (YET – just ordered it), but we’ve definitely enjoyed all the Sammy Spider books we do have.

Shipping is free with your Amazon Prime account – or when you spend $25+ with Super Saver Shipping.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

Do you need a new convertible car seat?

Here’s an awesome deal on the Britax Boulevard 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat Seat, Onyx.

It’s on sale for $229.99 (reg. $319.99) – which beats Albee Baby by $10.

But wait… it gets even better…

Use the coupon code BABY0513 (remember? the mom appreciation event?) to save an additional 20%, making your total $183.99 with free shipping.

That is an unbeatable price on this seat – which gets super reviews and very high safety ratings.

The code can only be used once during the “event” – and you must be a member of Amazon Mom to use it. (Sign up for a trial three-month membership of Amazon Mom for FREE if you aren’t already a member.)

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so please confirm prices before you check-out.

You know those “I’m a PC” commercials?

I always thought they were cute. And clever.

But not for me.

Meaning, I’m a Mac girl — all the way.

But then I ventured into the new Microsoft Retail Store in Overland Park — and I’ll be honest, I can see them winning me over. Especially  their new Surface tablet, but more on that below.

(By the way, I went to the store in Overland Park, KS, because that’s where I live – but there are more than 50 stores all over the United States. You can find one near you HERE).

Microsoft Retail Stores

The space itself is fantastic. It’s open, bright, friendly — a technological wonderland.

There are demo stations with the latest and greatest in Microsoft gadgetry — the Surface, desktop & laptop computers, the Xbox 360 (with a huge library of games to play) and their full line of smartphones, including the fantastic Windows phone.

The store is completely child-friendly; I took my boys and they spent 3o minutes playing MLB 2K13 on the biggest screens they’d ever seen. (I continue to be awed by the graphics of the XBox.)

The staff was incredibly hands-on and helpful — including teaching my nine year-old a hack he never knew for setting up his team. (Which apparently was “the coolest thing” ever for said 9 year-old.)

Classes & Camps

In the back of each store there is an open class room/ event space, where Microsoft Retail Store employees host weekly classes about everything tech under the sun. There are educational workshops, business events, developer workshops, interactive gaming sessions, and toddler tech time.  And all of them are FREE.

There are even FREE summer camps for tots and big kids. And yes, I did sign up my 9 year old for a week-long camp on programming your own video game (G-d help me!).

I also learned that Microsoft Retail Stores will design & host your event – whether it’s for a homeschool group, a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troupe, a youth group, a lunch-and-learn… Whatever you can dream up, I think you’ll hear a “Yes!”

You can even host a birthday party at the Microsoft Store (and yes, that’s FREE, too).

Find out more about classes, camps & events at your local Microsoft Retail store HERE.

Support & Training

If you already own a Microsoft device, you may want to take advantage of their free one-on-one product training & support sessions.

Whether your issue is hardware or software, or you  just want to learn how to take full advantage of all the capacity your gadget comes with, they can walk you through it. Even if you didn’t buy your laptop/X-box/phone/tablet at their store — they will help you! (And yes, it’s FREE, too.)

The Surface

So of all the gadgets in the store, the one that really had me singing a new tune was the Surface. Have you seen this tablet yet? For a Mac girl, I was totally WOW’ed.

It answers all the hesitations I’ve had about getting a tablet — you see, I have feared that a tablet won’t give me enough capabilities. And that I’ll just end up using my laptop anyway, while the kids played games on the tablet (which seems like way too much money to spend on a “toy” for them.)

But the Surface Pro is essentially a tablet-sized laptop. (Or should that be a laptop-capable tablet?)

And I’m not gonna lie, the keyboard that clicks onto the Surface? So cool. (The pretty keyboard colors are nice eye candy, too.)

The apps are also amazing. No, you don’t have the whole ipad app store at your disposal (which is the only downside I see), but you get incredible things like Fresh Paint. Even my seven year-old “art project-averse” kid got into it!

As I said, I was definitely impressed. And because I think you’ll be impressed too, I am thrilled to be able to give away a $100 Microsoft Retail Store Gift Card to one lucky Kosher on a Budget reader.

Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite tech gadget – Microsoft or otherwise. This comment is required to be entered to win this giveaway.

For up to four additional entries, you may do one, some, all or none of the following:

Like Kosher on a Budget on Facebook, then come back and leave a separate comment telling me that you have done so. If you already like KOAB, thank you — just leave a comment to that effect.

Subscribe to the Kosher on a Budget Newsletter for a once daily dose of the best deals, money-saving tips and more. Please leave a separate comment that you have subscribed (or were already a subscriber).

Like Microsoft Retail Stores on Facebook, then leave a separate comment to let me know you have done so.

Follow Microsoft Retail on Twitter, then leave a separate comment to let me know you have done so.

This giveaway is open only to residents of the United States who are 18 or older. Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 19th at 11:59 p.m. CST (I’m giving you plenty of time to enter, since Shavuot is in the middle of next week). The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email immediately. He or she will have 48 hours to respond. Good luck!

Disclosure: This post is a sponsored conversation by The Motherhood and Microsoft Retail Stores. You can find Microsoft Retail stores on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. 

My glowingly positive opinions of the store and the Surface are all my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. And also because I want you to know. For more information about sponsored content, please see my Disclosure Statement.

1. Shavuot Coloring Pages from Aish.com

2. Shavuot Coloring Pages from Torah Tots

3. Shavuot Print & Color Pages from Chabad

4. Shavuot Coloring Pages & Crafts from Challah Crumbs, including Build Your Own Har Sinai out of Clay

5. Children’s Ten Commandments from Joyful Jewish

6. Ruth & Boaz Paper Dolls in the recent issue of JCreate

7. Ten Commandments Posterboard Craft from Akhlah

8. Shavuos Activity Pack for Preschoolers from Our Jewish Homeschool Blog

9. Shavuot Coloring Page from children’s book illustrator, Ann D. Koffsky

10. Tissue Paper Flowers for Shavuot from Upper West Side Mom

Will you be doing any special crafts or projects with your children from Shavuot? Please share in the comments!

Chag Sameach!!

What a treat I have for you today! If you’re wondering what to make for Shavuot — and want something visually and culinarily impressive, then you must try this Roasted Red Pepper Flan from May I Have That Recipe.

A huge thank you to you, Mara for inviting us to be a guest on your blog. It is truly an honor!

Anyone who knows us, knows that we absolutely love cheese.  There is something very comforting about it. As far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing better than a plain piece of crunchy bread with a good piece of sharp cheese, some fresh tomato slices and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil.

And with Shavuot right around the corner, we have already been thinking about all the great cheese creations that we will be serving for dinner!

Every year, our kids request Safta’s (our grandmother) cheese borekas, home made, buttery dough filled with cheese and egg. They are so amazingly delicious, we can never make enough of them!

Since they probably won’t make it the dinner table, we decided to come up with another appetizer. Something light and creamy, that would pair well with a fresh salad…. Like this roasted pepper and basil cream flan.

It’s light, it’s airy, it’s creamy and looks decadent and elegant, almost as if it was created at a fancy restaurant…

And the best part is, it can be made 1 -2 days ahead of time and served cold or warm. If you’ve never had a savory flan, go ahead, give it a try! You won’t be disappointed.

In case you missed this the other day: Through Mother’s Day, May 12th, you can save $20 on a Kindle Fire HD when you use the promotional code FIRE4MOM at checkout. Offer good while supplies last.

This will make the 16GB with Special Offers just $179 – regularly $199.

As always, your new Kindle Fire will ship for FREE. (Two-day shipping with Prime – and most people say they get it the next day.)

Of course, even if this is a gift for mom, she may want to share with her children – in which case, you’ll want to check out my review of Kindle Free Time. My kids really like it and I love all the kid-approved content with limits that I set for them.

By the way, if you’re worried about the Special Offers – I will tell you that they don’t feel intrusive at all to me. They only show up on the screen when your Kindle has “gone to sleep”.  As soon as you swipe to “wake up” your Kindle, the ads are gone. I’d definitely start with the ads to see how you feel about them before paying to have them removed.

Shop for your Kindle Fire HD HERE.

If you don’t see the price right away, look over on the right under “More Buying Choices”. It’s the first option. HURRY!

Amazon has just dropped the price on the Black & Decker CHV1510 Dustbuster 15.6-Volt Cordless Cyclonic Hand Vacuum to $34.19, which is the lowest price this dustbuster has ever been on Amazon. It’s even 10% less than it was during Black Friday!

We paid $40 for it a few months ago — and let me tell you, I am thrilled with this little guy.

It works super well (i.e. it can really suck up the crumbs in the corners of my pantry and under the seats of my van), the battery seems to hold a very long charge, and it’s a cinch to clean out.

Even better, my kids fight over who gets to use it — so I don’t even have to do any work!

Shipping is free with your Amazon Prime account – or via Super Saver shipping.

Remember, Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so always confirm prices before you check-out.

Wow! Best Buy has a $100 iTunes Gift Card for only $85.

That’s a nice 15% savings – on what would be a great graduation gift, Bar Mitzvah gift, or Mother’s Day gift (for a mom who loves her tunes & shows), etc.

Shipping is FREE to your home, but if you need it immediately, you can also select in-store pick-up.

My Frugal Simcha features reader’s stories about their beautiful simchas – on a budget. If you have hosted a budget-friendly wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Brit Milah or other simcha, we’d love to read about it! Please fill out this form to submit your story.

By Selena Treister

Three years ago, I had a baby boy the week after Passover. After the whirlwind of a shalom zachor and a bris, the next thing I started planning was his upsherin. I know you think I am crazy, but I hadn’t thrown an upsherin in years, and to me it is a super fun simcha! Also, since my baby was born between Pesach and Shavuos, I knew I was going to be able to have a Lag B’Omer uspherin. Extra fun, but also a little scary. On Lag B’omer, everyone expects a BBQ. How was I going to have a BBQ for more than 100 people without breaking the bank?

Since I started planning early, it turned out to be really fun, really frugal, and not too difficult. The first thing I decided on was to have the party at home. I don’t have a big house or a beautiful backyard, but I figured that the ease of set up and food preparation was well worth doing it in a less than ideal space. Also, I had a baby a few months ago and decided to do the bris at home, and it was the best decision I have ever made. Doing a simcha at home allows you to do your own cooking (on your own schedule), do the set up when you want, and take it down when it is convenient.

Next, I decided on the menu. I love Israeli food, and for a Lag B’Omer BBQ, it felt appropriate. We decided the main course would be ground beef kabob, chicken schwarma, hot dogs, and falafel. All of this was homemade, so the only cost (besides my time) was the ingredients.

We were expecting about 150 people, including kids, so I estimated that we should make about 12 lbs of ground beef, 7 lbs of chicken, 180 falafel balls and 4 dozen hot dogs with buns. I also made 150 laffas (like big pitas without the pocket). That took about 15 lbs of flour and some yeast, but the price of that is almost negligible (less than $5).

Because we planned the menu in advance, we waited until there were sales on the meat. We bought the hamburger after Pesach when it went on sale for $4.29/lb. Same with the chicken – we bought it at $3.99/lb. Falafel is simply chickpeas and herbs, so that cost less than $5 total. We decided the hot dogs were for the kids and they could live with chicken dogs. Overall, I would estimate that the main course cost us about $110.

We also served 2 huge cans of Israeli pickles and olives. I had a friend bring over a large serving of Persian rice. Honestly, the most expensive thing I served was probably the Israeli salad. My husband bought the red and yellow peppers from Walmart. Walmart will match prices to any local store, so he brought in the Sprouts ad and bought 9 beautiful peppers for $3. The cucumbers were from Costco (I am a cucumber snob and I really wanted English cucumbers, even though they are at least $1 each). The tomatoes were also a little pricey, because I didn’t want to buy them ahead of time.

For drinks – I bought a few bottles of soda at $1 each, and I also made huge amounts of lemonade and limonana (mint lemonade) that I served in big pitchers. The week before the event, I boiled a gallon of lemon juice ($7) with sugar and added mint ($3) to part of that. Then I stored the lemonade/limonana concentrate in the lemon juice jug. The day of the party, I just added ice and water. The gallon of concentrate made about 10 gallons of juice.

We bought the plain paper plates and plastic wear (even though it would have been nice to have something prettier). We borrowed some extra folding tables and chairs. I made a cake (2 boxes of Duncan Hines, 2 boxes of pudding, and 5 containers of Pillsbury frosting). Was it as nice as a bakery cake? No, but it tasted great and cost a quarter of the price. If anyone asked if they could help, I either asked them to bring a dessert or come early (I have awesome friends who were such a giant help).

The key to all of this, however, was advance planning. I made the falafel, laffa, and cookies a couple weeks in advance and froze them all. The only menu items we made the day of were the salad and barbequing the kabob.

The only problem we encountered is that we had many people come who did not RSVP, and we ran out of food by the end of the day. Next time I will reserve something for me to eat. Overall, the event was fun, my son is adorable, and I can’t wait to do it again in a few years! Best of all, it cost less than $250 total to feed 150 people.

Selena Treister is a big believer that it is possible to be frum and frugal. She and her family moved to Denver 8 years ago to escape the costs of living in LA and they are very happy they did.

For today only (5/9), Amazon has select Anne Klein watches priced at just $29.99 (originally $79.99 – $149.99) with FREE one-day shipping (on orders placed before 6 pm EST).

What a great idea for a last minute Mother’s Day gift – or as a treat for yourself!

Thru Saturday, May 11th, you can get a free 8×10 collage print from Walgreens when you use the coupon code COLLAGE4YOU at checkout.

Be sure to select pick up at your local store to save on shipping, too — and get it in time for Mother’s Day!

Right now you can get a FREE $2 Target eGift Card from Shopkick.

• Sign up for Shopkick, if you’re not already
• Then go to this Shopkick Target link 
• Select “I have the shopkick app” and enter your mobile number.
• Go to Target within 24 hours and the gift card will be in your Shopkick profile.

Shopkick is one of my favorite smart phone apps – and free gift cards like this are why!

For those that are new around here, Shopkick a FREE Android and iPhone app that gives you access to exclusive coupons and deals at stores like Best Buy, Target, Macy’s, Old Navy & Toys ‘R Us. Shopkick also rewards you with points (known as “kicks”) just for walking into participating stores. Then – here’s the fun part! – you get to turn these points into free gift cards. A $10 gift card at Target, for example, “costs” 2,500 points. I know that sounds like a lot, but the kicks add up quickly for essentially doing nothing.

If you do a fair amount of shopping online (guilty as charged), this new FedEx Delivery Manager seems like a no-brainer.

To get started, just click the banner above then click on Create a New FedEx ID. (If you’re reading this in your email, you’ll need to click thru to the post to see the banner.)

Then fill in your name, address and other details. Next you get to choose your notifications, including:

• Request a new delivery location or time
• Hold your package at a FedEx location (ideal if you’ll be out of town during a delivery)
• Sign for your package in advance
• Provide specific delivery instructions (like leave in your garage or back porch)
• Request a vacation hold

Finally you can choose whether to get your updates by email, text or phone.

I heard this program being discussed on the news the other night, as part of a whole “how to get the most out of your online shopping” segments. Some of these services are paid, but many are FREE. And of course it’s free to sign up for FedEx Delivery Manager.

I’m reprising an old post today since this is a question I hear frequently from my readers: How do you afford to stockpile all those good deals? Especially if your grocery budget is already stretched to the max with your weekly list?

Here’s one particular question I got from C in California:

I know you talk about stockpiling and I love those pictures of all your cereal, but I’m wondering how you have money to do that, plus all your regular shopping, too. I’d love to start stockpiling, so that I don’t have to pay full-price on my groceries, like you recommend, but then I don’t have enough left over to pay for the stuff I need that week. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

When I first started couponing, I often wondered the same thing. It was enough of a struggle to cut our budget by $50 a week. How was I was supposed to buy more groceries on LESS money?! It seemed impossible.

I still don’t have the world’s most amazing stockpile, but my weekly shopping has gotten to the point where I can mostly focus on buying fresh – fresh dairy, produce, poultry, fish and meat. Boxed or canned goods almost never make it onto my list, because I just go shopping in my basement.

Here are some steps I took that got us here:

#1. Start with toiletries and household items

I started by focusing exclusively on the CVS deals (and occasionally the ones at Walgreens). By rolling ECBs (or Register Rewards), I was able to spend less than $5-10/month and stock up a year’s worth of toiletries, over-the-counter medications and first-aid supplies, cleaning supplies, lightbulbs and more.

This took me about four or five months, and then I was able to take a step back from CVSing and turn my attention to the grocery store. The baby step approach worked for me – and if you’re feeling overwhelmed by trying to fit this all in, I think it might work for you, too.

#2. Put aside a small sum of money for stockpiling

I suggest setting aside a small amount of money each week to cover stockpiling – no more than $15 or $20/week, although less is certainly fine!

You can even put it in a separate envelope marked Stockpiling. That way, when you find a good deal, you know you have the money to cover it without negatively affecting the rest of your shopping budget.

At the beginning, your budget is going to be especially tight, so you may only have $5 to set aside. Even $5 can make a dent when you’re couponing. In fact, if you can combine a BOGO sale with a BOGO coupon, you will be able to stock up for nothing out of pocket!

#3. Focus on the Freebies

If your weekly budget is especially tight, now is not the time to stock up on brisket. Yes, even if it’s marked down. Remember: There will always be another mark-down, another sale, another clearance. If you can’t afford it right now, it’s not a bargain!

Instead, look at the stuff that is free (or almost free).

If it’s something you use – even occasionally – go ahead and stock up. If BBQ sauce is free after coupon, pick up a few bottles. It may not seem like a huge savings, but the next time you plan a cook-out, that’s $1.50 less that you’ll have to spend!

#4. Update Your Pricebook

Before you go all out and buy 20 bottles of salad dressing, you’d better be good and sure that the salad dressing is actually a good deal! Free is obviously a good deal , but any other price might require the use of a price book. (If you’re new to keeping a price book, you can read my tutorial.)

But why? Isn’t the sale price the best price? In a word: No.

The same store can put bananas on sale three weeks in a row – one week for $.45/lb, the next week for $.39/lb and the third week for $.29/lb. If you aren’t keeping a price book, you might just assume that the first week’s sale of $.45/lb is a rock bottom price.*

#5. Don’t trust the store’s sales. Trust your price book!

(*If you need bananas, $.45/lb isn’t a bad price — but it’s hardly worth stocking up and baking a dozen banana breads for!)

#6. Follow the Momentum

As you slowly build your stockpile, an amazing thing will happen: You will have more money every month because there will be fewer things you need to buy.

Instead of buying one box of pasta each week for $2, you can buy 3 or 4 for the same price — and be set for a month (or two weeks, if your family eats like mine!). Instead of buying one box of cereal for $4 each week, you can buy 4 or 6 or more boxes for the same price.

Even starting small, stockpiling will create margin in your budget – and that margin has momentum. Once it starts building, all you have to do is follow it!

I’m sure I’ve only skimmed the surface, so let me turn it over to you: What other stockpiling tips (or questions) do you have?

Do you have a question about keeping kosher on a budget? From menu planning to couponing to stockpiling, I’ll do my best to share my strategies. Feel free to leave me a comment or contact me. And stay tuned for a Reader Q&A about how to get the best prices on meat, coming soon!

Are you looking to ditch the costly cable bill?

Here’s another option for you.

Right now you can get a one-month Free Trial to Redbox Instant™ by Verizon when you sign up for the service.

You’ll receive access to the Streaming Library plus 4 DVD rental credits each month for rentals at your local kiosk. Once your free trial expires, membership costs $8 per month plus taxes (should you choose to continue).

That matches the price of Netflix’s Unlimited Streaming package.

RedBox Instant by Verizon

1- Sign up for the 1 month free trial
2- Instant, unlimited access to streaming movies
3- Enjoy 4 fabulous DVD credits at the Kiosk
4- Stream movies wherever you are

Redbox Instant by Verizon can be streamed via the web, as well as through your home entertainment, tablet and mobile devices, including iOS®, Android™, Samsung® Blu-ray Players and TVs with SmartHub™, LG Smart TV and Blu-ray Players, and Google TV.

If after your free trial, you can choose to continue for $8/month – or cancel if you don’t think the service works for your family.

Here’s a fun freebie: Print out FREE coloring sheets and connect-the-dots from Disney’s newest summer animated film, Planes – coming to theatres August 9th.

(With all the free coloring sheet printables out there, I wonder why anyone still buys coloring books?!)

Today is the last day to enter to win Hasbro’s new Star Wars Angry Birds AT-AT Game.

The giveaway will close tonight at 11:59 p.m. CST and the winner will be notified tomorrow morning.

Comment to enter HERE.

Good luck!