Mrs. Nespy's Frugal World

Tuesday Free For All

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

And we're back for more freebies, sweepstakes, & giveaways! Enjoy!

FREEBIES:

FREE FOR VETERANS (thanks to all!):

Free meal for Military members: All military members get a free meal at Uno Chicago grill on veterans day.
Wednesday, November 11th,
Outback will give veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage of their choice, non-alcoholic or one draft Anheuser-Busch beer.
Krispy Kreme is giving veterans a free donut of their choice on Veteran’s Day.
Amazon is offering a free Veterans Day Honor MP3 Album Download . The album includes 12 songs including the Star Spangled Banner. International.
Veterans and Active Duty Military Eat Free Veterans Day Wednesday, November 11th at Applebee's (select entrees).
On Nov. 16 Golden Corral will offer free "Thank You" dinner meals to active-duty military and veterans between 5 and 9 p.m.
Sam’s Club will give away over 25,000 Hugo canes free of charge to United States military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Sam’s Club membership is not required, but supplies are limited so you may want to call your local store before heading there.
U.S. Department of Interior – All of the areas managed by the DOI is offering free admission to any and everyone on Veterans Day. This includes all national parks, forests, and monuments.
Check out Military Avenue for a good list of local freebies for veterans and active duty military.
Free Knott's Berry Farm admission for veterans, active duty military 11/01-11/26/09
Free Colonial Williamsburg admission for veterans, active military 11/06-11/11/09
Strategic Air & Space Museum free admission for veterans on 11/14/2009

OTHER FREEBIES:

"On Tuesday, November 10th from 5-8 pm, we invite you to get decked out in orange from head to toe for an Orange Night Out. So dress up, dine in, show us how much orange spirit you have and get a FREE Whataburger®."
Free face cream: Get a free sample of Garnier Nutritioniste face cream.
Free sample of Clorox wipes: Costco is giving out free samples of Clorox disinfecting wipes.
Free shampoo: Get a free sample of Dove shampoo.
Get 500 free Delta Sky Miles to the first 500 respondents who quality. Must have a valid Delta Sky Miles account. Offer available to the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Free diapers: Get a free sample of Kirkland Signature diapers from Costco.
Get A Free Tink Tote when you enter Magic Code ‘TinkFan‘ on Disney Movie Rewards. However, there is a small $3.25 S&H fee. This offer is valid through 12/31/09 or while supplies last.
Sign up Here for the Big Idea e-newsletter where you will be able to choose from 3 different Veggie Tales DVD movies. The DVD is free and you only have to pay $2.95 S&H making it a very inexpensive stocking stuffer or gift idea!
Sign up for a FREE Narpro VIP card and you'll get special perks from participating automotive mechanics and affiliates. Some of the benefits include 10% off, FREE vehicle inspection and a FREE oil change. Go HERE to sign up and find a participating Narpro mechanic near you!
FREE Sample of Flix Stix
Free animal stickers: Get free animal accents from Tatouage.
FREE Sample Dispoz-A-Scoop Biodegradable Pooper Scooper
Hurry and score a 2010 Calendar from Tylenol with over $50 in coupons HERE!
Stop by Victoria’s for a Free Bra Fitting and get a Free Beauty Rush Lip Gloss with printable coupon! Coupon valid until 11/15/09.
Free skin care sample: Get free samples of Pristine skin care products.
Share your best tip for getting rid of stains here and you'll get a free sample of Surf with Essential Oils.
Go here to see if a free sample of Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash Sample is being offered in your state
Take this coupon into any GNC store by December 31, 2009, to get a free Sun-Rype Fruitsource bar.
Go here to sign up for a free sample of Dove Calming Night Body Wash and Body Lotion.
To receive a free A.1. Steak Sauce Favorite Recipes booklet just call the automated toll-free number 1-888-217-8325 and Press 2.
AIG Hawaii is offering a free T-Shirt. This offer is available is available to U.S. residents only. Expires 12/31/09.
SandyPaper.com is offering a free Memo Cube. This offer is available to the U.S. and Canada.
Get a Free Travel First Aid Kit from Advocate Condell Medical Center. This offer is available to the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Picture People is offering a printable coupon for a free 8×10 or 10×13. Picture People also does not charge sitting fees. Click here to find a location near you.
PlayDrums.com is offering free Drumsticks, book and DVD. Just print the coupon here, take it to your local music store to be signed by an employee and mail it in. Offer expires 12/31/09. Continental U.S. only.
BellaAndEdward.com is offering free printable Twilight Bookmarks. International.
APC Tools is offering a free 2010 Pocket Calendar. This offer is available to U.S. residents only.
If you are a Norah Jones fan you can listen to her entire new album here for free.
Free Sample of Pampers Extra Protection Diapers
Free Sample of GoodNites Underpants
Free Sample of Dentek Triple Clean Floss Picks
Eukanuba is offering a free copy of the 2008 AKC National Championship DVD. Offer is found the the right hand side of the page. Available to U.S. residents only.
Free Sample of Betty Crocker Potatoes when you sign up for the Dinner Made Easy email newsletter.

SWEEPSTAKES:

Penguin Cocktail Shaker Sweepstakes: Stir some personality into your holiday party with this martini essential from Pier 1 Imports
Fashionable Laptop Bag Sweepstakes: Enter to win this protective case with a pop of color from Golla
Conair Power of Pink Sweepstakes: Enter to win a Conair Power of Pink MiniPRO Flat Iron Number of prizes: 50 Expires: Wednesday November 25 2009 ARV: $19.99
Taryn Rose Sweepstakes: Enter to win a pair of Barika flats Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Tuesday November 24 2009 ARV: $495.00
New Balance and aerie by American Eagle Sweepstakes: Enter to win a pair of limited-edition New Balance 600 sneakers Number of prizes: 3 Expires: Monday November 23 2009 ARV: $65.00
Aetrex Zoom Runner Sneaker Giveaway: Enter to win a pair of comfortable, supportive Zoom Runner Z589W sneakers from Aetrex Number of prizes: 15 Expires: Tuesday November 10 2009 ARV: $119.95
Sandals Resorts, Saint Lucia Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a four-day, three-night all-inclusive stay at any Sandals Resort on the island of Saint Lucia Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday November 11 2009 ARV: $2,000.00
SunRidge Farms Organic Harvest Month Gift Basket Giveaway: Enter to win a delicious SunRidge Farms Gift Basket filled with organic, natural snacks and sweets Number of prizes: 15 Expires: Saturday November 14 2009 ARV: $50.00
iMainGo 2 Portable Stereo Speakers Giveaway: Enter to win the powerful iMainGo 2 portable stereo speakers Number of prizes: 20 Expires: Sunday November 15 2009 ARV: $39.95
Silver Ion HEPA Air Filter Giveaway: Enter to win the flu-fighting Silver Ion HEPA Air Filter from Alen Corporation Number of prizes: 5 Expires: Monday November 16 2009 ARV: $210.00
Pacific Designs’ Beach Glass Necklace Giveaway: Enter to win a handcrafted sterling silver necklace from Pacific Designs. Number of prizes: 30 Expires: Tuesday November 17 2009 ARV: $20.00
La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa, Montgomery, TX, Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a three-day, two-night stay for two at La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa in Montgomery, Texas Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday November 18 2009 ARV: $1,000.00
ShopOnBuy.com Shopping Spree: One (1) grand prize winner will win a $1,500 shopping spree and ten (10) first place winners will receive a $50 Restaurant.com gift certificate!
SBE Anniversary Sweeps: Thirteen (13) winners will win a monthly prize worth $250 and one (1) winner will win a grand prize worth $10,000!

GIVEAWAYS: (enter them here--whether they are yours or not!)

*Huge thanks to my sources: Thunder Fap, PointClickHome, Woman’s Day Magazine, The Freebie Blogger, Money Saving Mom, Couponing 101, Sisterly Savings, "Deal"icious Mom, The Happy Housewife, The Good Deal Gal, & Better Homes & Gardens

Photo credit: janrey_photo

8 Things I Know about Walgreen's

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

For this week's Monday 8, I will feature 8 Things I know about Walgreen's pharmacy. This is a follow up to last week's 8 Things about CVS.

It's no secret, if you've been at my blog for any length of time, that I once LOVED Walgreen's rebate program, but since they have replaced it with a full-time Register Rewards program, my love has wavered. I'm trying to like it, I really am. I just run into too many problems with trying to work a Walgreen's deal than I do with CVS or Rite Aid.

So please forgive the fact that my biased opinion will come through in this post. As I said, I really am trying to like them again, but it is not proving easy.

*key: RR = Register Rewards

8 Things I Know About Walgreen's

You cannot use more coupons than items. That's right. If you have mfg coupons, there must be more items than coupons or you will not be allowed to use them all. Why is this a problem? Shouldn't you always have the same number (or less) of items than coupons...well yes. But you must keep in mind that RRs count as manufacturer coupons, so they must be counted in this transaction as well. They don't have to be items that you have coupons for (for the extra quantity), there just must be more coupons than items. For instance, if you have 7 coupons for 7 items, you cannot use a RR to pay in addition to those coupons unless you throw in another "filler" item...like a $0.60 candy bar.
You cannot use RRs to pay for the same item and expect more RRs. Most RRs do not "roll." In other words, although you are not limited by their coupon policy to the number of transactions you can do, you are limited in how you can do them. You cannot get $4 in RRs from your favorite brand of deodorant, use that coupon to buy more deodorant and expect more RRs to print. You can put a transaction in between to pay for toothpaste with that $4 in RR, earn $4 in RR from toothpaste and then use that to pay for more deodorant.
$/$$ coupons are after all mfg coupons. If you get your hands on a $/$$ coupon that Walgreen's sometimes mails out for a limited time sale (like good for only 2 particular days), the total value is deemed the value after all of your manufacturer coupons are processed. This differs from other pharmacy policies, but is an important one!
The previous rebate program was much better. Okay, so this isn't a true fact, but it might as well be in my head. I won't go into it, as I will just get all angry and you might get all weepy when you see what deals you once could have had. Just trust me...rebates were much cooler.
You can return makeup purchased there for any reason. Like I mentioned with CVS last week, you can return make up purchased at Walgreen's for any reason...even after it is opened. This is a great incentive to try out a new product from this store while it is on sale or wrapped up in a RR deal. If it ends up not working for you for any reason, you can return it if you still have the receipt.
Make sure you read the RR item description carefully. Don’t depend on the picture or the tag on the shelf. Make sure you use only the description mentioned in the monthly booklet or in the weekly ad to buy your items. Don't depend on the picture in the book (which can either be wrong or limiting in your choices) and don't depend on the tag on the shelf. I trusted the tag one time and was wrong. The manager credited me my RRs, but not in the order I wanted to do my transactions, so it really messed up my rhythm and my plan for my run to the store that night.
You can do their RR transactions as many times as they’ll allow it in the store as long as you follow rules #1 & #2 above. Unlike CVS, which limits your deals based on the association of that deal with a membership card, you can do the sales/RR deals as many times as your store allows as long as you adhere to the rules mentioned above.
They have the best clearanced items of any other drug store in my area. The one saving grace with my local Walgreen's (aside from the awesome staff) is the fact that they have some incredible clearance deals...most any time! I have found $0.10 candy for my son, clearanced gum that I got for free after a coupon, some super cheap cleaning products, and just recently some great stock stuffers on clearance for my nieces!

So no, Walgreen's isn't all bad. And it is certainly better than full price any day! That's just my two-cents!

Photo credit: mechanikat

Merck Manual Winner Announced!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Yesterday was the end of the Giveaway for teh Merck Manual Home Healthcare Handbook and today I present you with the winner:

Using random.org for my random number generator, the winner is....

Commenter #17, which was Jessca! Congrats!

Thank you all for playing! Stick around for some more fun!

Look What I Got!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Look over there--->

You see it? A little bit down for you maybe?

Or maybe when you are reading this post you are already below it....look up.

Still don't see it?

Look harder.

It's a button. For my site.

I made it. =)

You can have it if you want. =)

By the way...although I made the button, I used the background image from my header which was made by Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates. Great stuff over there.

Another Run to Kroger....

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Although I shopped the Mega 10 sale at Kroger last week with outstanding results (if I do say so myself), I decided to hit it up again this week to do some stockpiling and buying for others. Although we don't need to go grocery shopping until Monday, I wanted to take advantage of the deals...especially since new printable coupons have come out since last week!

I wasn't able to go until late last night and since I didn't get home until right at 11:00, I didn't feel like setting up my loot for photo ops. So I'll just recite the receipt for you:

Mega 10 Items (prices shown are after Mega 10 discount):
2 Sunny Delight Smoothies: $0.89 each
-$0.55 Sunny Delight Smoothies printable (qty 2) = $0.34 each

4 Welch's Juice: $2.49 each
-$1.00 Welch's printables here or here (qty 4) = $1.49 each

4 Carnation Evaporated Milk: $0.49 each
-$0.50/2 Carnation Evap Milk coupons from 11/1 RP (qty 2) which were doubled = ALL 4 FREE

1 Kellogg's Rice Krispies: $2.19
-$0.75 Rice Krispies printable = $1.44

2 Yoplait Kids Yogurt: $1.49 each
-$0.40/1 printable (qty 2) doubled along with
-$0.80/2 Shortcuts coupon = $0.58 each

2 Yoplait GoGurt: $1.49 each
-$0.40/1 printable (qty 2) doubled along with
-$0.80/2 Shortcuts coupon = $0.58 each

2 Ore Ida Frozen Potatoes: $1.99 each
-$1.50/2 from 9/27 SS = $1.24 each

2 Whiskas Temptations Cat Treats: $0.99 each
-$0.50/1 from 10/25 RP (qty 2) doubled = BOTH FOR FREE

1 Kraft Cheese Slices: $2.49
-$0.55/1 from a previous Kroger mailer = $1.94

2 Kellogg's Nutrigrain Bars: $2.00 each
-$1/2 printable = $1.50 each

2 Chex Mix: $1.49 each
-$0.50/1 printable (qty 2) doubled along with
-$0.50/1 Shortcuts
-$0.50/1 Cellfire = BOTH FOR FREE

10 Betty Crocker Potatoes: $0.99 each
-$0.40/1 BC Potatoes printable here or here (qty 10) doubled along with
-$0.40/1 Cellfire (qty 1)
-$0.40/1 Shortcuts (qty 2) = $0.07 each!!!!

6 Coca-Cola 2L: $0.79 (used as a filler to reach my next 10 items...they'll be used)

Non Mega 10 Sale Items
Cheerios, 14 oz: $3.99
FREE Cheerios 14 oz (store) coupon from home mailer I received yesterday!
-$0.55 printable = $0.55 OVERAGE!

1 Blueberry Muffin Poptarts: $1.99
FREE Poptarts coupon via mail

2 Nerds Candy, 12 oz: Clearanced to $1.64 each
-$1 coupon from pre-Halloween postings = $0.64 each

1 Adorable Purple Trick-or-Treat pumpkin for carrying Abigail's Candy next year: $0.80

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

So what are the end results? According to my receipt:

Out of Pocket: $26.05

Mfg Coupon Savings: $25.34

Bonus Coupon Savings (from doubling): $8.60

Store Coupon/Kroger Plus Savings: $51.61

Total Savings: $85.55 or 78%

And although I only spent $26.05 out of pocket, I still get the pre-sale amount of 78 points added toward gasoline discount! HOORAY!

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

And lastly...I WILL quit talking in just a moment...what will I do with this stuff?

Qty 5 of the potatoes, all of the evaporated milk, and all of the cat treats will be donated to others. The rest will be consumed by my family.

Friday Faves - Cat Owners Will Get It

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Our Financial Status - Update #1

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

So after my confessional post, I asked you guys to keep me accountable. Well, that's pretty hard to do if I don't update you, so I plan to do that at the beginning of each month.

I am posting how much over/under we were, but you can't see our budgeted amounts. I'm still feeling out my comfort level of publishing such personal info.

Here's where we stand for October:

INCOME: $2905 over expected.
Result of one extra week in the month for unemployment check, a reimbursement check from Chip's previous employer, and the sale of trumpets mentioned in the confessional post.

OVER BUDGET AREAS:
Credit Card Payments: $1944 due to sending money from the trumpet sales to pay off card #1. I can definitely live with this one.
Gasoline: $56
Groceries: $45
Mobile Phone: $60 (we bought new phones in September and the chargers we had to pay for showed up on October's bill)
Dining: $90 yeah. No kidding. The "good" news is that most of this was incurred before I started tracking using Mint. We had a really bad beginning of the month for eating out.
Doctor: $140. We have a $40 co-pay. I chose one co-pay per month to be in our budget. Since both kids were due a check up this month, we were $40 over. I also sent an extra $100 to apply to hospital bills from Abigail's birth. Since neither child is due a visit to the doctor, if everyone is well through November, the rolling budget will clear itself out for December's check up (for Abigail). The additional good news--I will get reimbursed $40 for a co-pay from my employer. (they reimburse up to two co-pays a year per member of the family; I've already collected both of Abigail's, but not Patrick's, so we have one due to us).
Auto Repair/Parts: $63. We needed some new wipers for the van. The good ones aren't cheap (and we needed three of them), but they should last for a while!
Hair Cuts: $20. It never happens that BOTH guys need them at the same time...but it did this month! This should roll through November and balance out for December.
Home/Building Supplies: $15. We went over because Chip built an obstacle course for Patrick's birthday party. Oh well...he only turns 4 once. =)

ON BUDGET AREAS:
Childcare (very predictable)
Life Insurance (very predictable)
Life Insurance (very predictable)
Newspaper (very predictable)

UNDER BUDGET AREAS:
Utilities: $43 Hooray for weather that doesn't have our AC pumping constantly!
Baby Supplies (non grocery): $34 I had some diapers already stocked up from a good sale, so not much was needed in this area.
Clothing: Nothing spent--None of us needed anything this month. This is one item in Mint that I have as a "rolling" expense so whatever we don't use one month will roll over to the next. We don't buy clothes regularly, but when we do, we buy more than what I've budgeted for one month, so it should work out.
Pest Control: Nothing spent--Strange. We didn't get a bill. I wonder if they came....
Make-Up/Toiletries: $4. Hooray! True underage!

Some miscellaneous items that I didn't expect or budget for:
Birthday party preparation costs
Photos printed (miscellaneous).
Photo shoot at Sears
Dog Food/Grooming

So, overall, we were over budget with our expenses, but had more income than expected as well, so we did okay. Obviously I can see that we need to work on our eating out budget and now that we are in the groove of not eating out so often, this should go down drastically for November.

I expect November to possibly be over budget for gasoline, as we will be traveling to visit my mom this weekend, and most probably in groceries, as we are hosting family for Thanksgiving this month. However, my hope is to offset these areas by being under in other, more controllable areas.

The good news is...one card is knocked out of the running now. We can "snowball" and add that payment towards card #2.

What do you think? Any suggestions to help us?

WFMW - Recandying

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Yes. I just made up a word. Don't look at me like that.

I've made an executive decision about the candy content in our house.

Patrick got LOADS of candy for Halloween this year (although this picture is not one we took). Too much for any one child really. When I took in all of the candy the wheels in my head started turning, and I had a brilliant idea.

Some of that candy will go in his Christmas stocking.

Is that cheating? Maybe, but I will explain the method to my madness.

He got far more candy than we want him to eat. And since we limit his candy intake it will probably take him up until December 24th to finish off his Halloween stash. Then he would more appear? I don't think so.

So I took some of his non-Halloween specific candy out of his trick-or-treating bag and put it in a bag with other items waiting for Christmas. He hasn't missed it a bit (except for one blue pixie stick that he had noticed had disappeared. It surprisingly was found IN THE HALLOWEEN BAG the following day). If your child is more attentive to his/her candy stash, you might want to slowly take a little out over a few days. It would be less obvious that way.

So instead of regifting, we are recandying this year. Cuts down on the amount of candy he gets across all of the holidays and saves me money at Christmas! Win-win I think!

So that is what is going to work for us this holiday season. Go check out the holiday edition of What Works for Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family to see what works for everyone else!

Photo credit: Amarand Agasi

Email Subscription is Disappearing

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:53:00 +0000

If you subscribe to my feed via email, I have some bad news for you...you are about to lose me. That's right...my email subscription feature is about to disappear. As in Friday. This Friday. 11/06.

However, there is good news to be had. There are other options. You can subscribe to my feed via RSS feed and you can view it in the reader of your choice. Please update your subscription by signing up here and you'll never miss a single feed.

Seriously...there are 55 of you out there that I don't want to lose. It would be really quiet around here with so many of you missing, so please go ahead and update your subscriptions!

For the rest of you...thanks for hearing me out. Encourage your long-distance friends to stay around so we can continue to be one big happy family. =)

That is all. Regular blogging may now recommence.

Tuesday Free For All

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Go get your free stuff now. And thank those that work hard to provide these links for all of us (their sites are listed at the bottom!).

Also--note any giveaways that you would recommend (yours or others!).

Happy freebie-ing. =)

FREEBIES:

ChristianAudio.com is offering a free download of Desiring God by John Piper during the month of November. Go here and add it to your cart. Then use coupon code Nov2009 at checkout to get it for free.
Free sample of Clorox wipes: Costco is giving out free samples of Clorox disinfecting wipes.
Free sports drink mix: Get a free sample of Endurance Sports Drink.
Animal cruelty free shopping guide: Get a free shopping guide that lets you know how to buy products that are free of animal cruelty.
Sign up here for a free sample of Folger's Gourmet Selections Lively Columbian Coffee. Hurry as there are less than 18,000 samples left!
Go here to download a free copy of the ebook, Thriving on Less.
Print a coupon here for a free bottle of Steaz Zero Calorie Tea. The coupon says that it is available at Whole Foods Market as well as other participating natural food stores nationwide.
Stop by Victoria’s for a Free Bra Fitting and get a Free Beauty Rush Lip Gloss with printable coupon! Coupon valid until 11/15/09.
Sign up here to receive two free BreatheRight samples.
Free tea samples from Tea Chef
Madre y Mujer is offering $15 in coupon savings. Coupons could be for Huggies, Pull-ups, Scott, Viva, Cottonelle, Goodnights, Poise, Depend, Kotex, and Kleenex. Offer is at the top right hand side of the page. International.
Get a free DVD rental at Blockbuster Express kiosks when you use the code 9PM. Code expires 11/30/09. Click here to find a location near you.
Sign up to receive Hello Kitty’s Sweet Happy News and receive a free Hello Kitty 2010 calender for download. International.
The National Wildlife Federation is offering a free “Where the Wild Things Are” printable activity book. International.
Click here a free sample of PowerBar’s new Energy Gel Blasts energy chews.
Register or login to you P&G Solutions account here to request a free sample of Head & Shoulders.
Go HERE to request a FREE Sample of Dispoz-A-Scoop Biodegradable Pooper Scooper!
On Tuesday, November 10th from 5-8 pm, come into a Whataburger dressed in orange from head to toe and receive a free Whataburger. Click here for a location near you.
WickedInfo.com is offering free wombat bumper stickers. Offer available to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. – Because who doesn’t need a wombat bumper sticker?!
Go here to request your free sample of Garnier Nutrisse Skin Renew courtesy of Wal-Mart.
Free sample of Kashi TLC chewy bars HERE
Get a free copy of Sears Wish Book. Delivery of the catalogs will take 2 -3 weeks. Get yours HERE
To receive a free sample of Heat Defense Therapy or Intense Damage Therapy fill out the form HERE

SWEEPSTAKES:

Panasonic Steam/Dry Iron Sweepstakes: Ironing may never be fun, but new innovative design makes it faster than ever
Digital Thermostat Sweepstakes: Save on energy bills with Emerson’s BLUE Easy Reader Digital Thermostat
Omni Hotels Fort Worth, TX, Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a four-day, three-night stay for a family of four at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday November 04 2009 ARV: $2,000.00
The Office (Season 5), 30 Rock (Season 3) and Heroes (Season 3) DVD Sets Giveaway: Enter to win a DVD set of each of these favorite TV shows Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Saturday November 07 2009 ARV: $165.00
Jari Love’s Get Extremely Ripped! 1000 Workout DVD Giveaway: Enter to win Jari Love's fast-paced and fun workout DVD Number of prizes: 20 Expires: Sunday November 08 2009 ARV: $14.99
Pert Plus Hair Care Prize Package Giveaway: Enter to win a prize package of Pert Plus Hair Care products Number of prizes: 25 Expires: Monday November 09 2009 ARV: $20.00
Aetrex Zoom Runner Sneaker Giveaway: Enter to win a pair of comfortable, supportive Zoom Runner Z589W sneakers from Aetrex Number of prizes: 15 Expires: Tuesday November 10 2009 ARV: $119.95
Sandals Resorts, Saint Lucia Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a four-day, three-night all-inclusive stay at any Sandals Resort on the island of Saint Lucia Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday November 11 2009 ARV: $2,000.00

GIVEAWAYS:

*Huge thanks to my sources: Thunder Fap, PointClickHome, Woman’s Day Magazine, The Freebie Blogger, Money Saving Mom, Couponing 101, Centsible Sawyer, Sisterly Savings, "Deal"icious Mom, The Good Deal Gal, & Better Homes & Gardens

Photo credit: mistressnyx

8 Things I Know About CVS

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Today's Monday 8 will reflect my pharmacy shopping fun by sharing with you eight things I have learned while "CVSing". You can learn more about how to do this by following the links in my sidebar entitled CVS 101, 102, & 103.

Give the $/$$ coupons BEFORE any mfg coupons. If you give the manufacturers coupons first, your total may fall below the required total needed for the coupon, thus making you unable to use it. However, if they take it off first, you can still always use all of the manufacturers product coupons.
Pay attention to ad to see which specific items on sale (don’t trust the picture or even the tags on the shelves). Too many times I have gotten to the front to pay for something and see no ECBs print out after the purchase is complete. Yes you can return it for a refund, but that's just a hassle that is unnecessary. It has become easier now that they have installed the product/card scanners in the store, as you can scan it yourself. Just pay attention BEFORE getting to the register!
Ask for the rain check. If you want something that has a great ECB deal going on, ask for the rain check. My store will give you the rain check for the price AFTER ECBs, which is awesome, as you can get it at a later time without worrying about keeping up with ECBs. Make sure you know if your store has an expiration on their rain checks though so you don't miss your good deal!
I really do need 5 toothbrushes. There are some things that really make sense to buy every time they are on a great sale/ECB deal at the store...like toothbrushes. Firstly, they are easy to store, they never expire, everyone needs one, they can be used in stockings and in shoebox gifts or gifts to soldiers for the holidays, they can be donated to charities or community/church pantries, they can be used in guest bathrooms, and they are just too easy to get for free to ever pay for another one. So stock up! One point above, though, does lead me to....
Keep in mind your storage capacity. Think about how much storage space you have. Often there are good deals on items, but if they expire before you can use them or if they just take up too much space, it's not a bargain. Don't let huge quantities of discount toilet paper take over your house just because it was a bargain. Remember that your space (and sanity) are worth something as well!
Marking down ECBs is at the discretion of the store management. Some stores will let you "mark down" ECBs to a less value if your ECB receipt is more than the pre-tax total. For example, if your pre-tax total is $6.98, some stores will use your ECB of 7.00 by marking it down to 6.99, but some will not. Find out before finding out the hard way!
ECBs will not pay for tax. Tax cannot be paid for using ECBs, as they only have value to the store and not to the local, state, or federal tax commission. =) Depending on where you live, tax may be calculated on the pre-coupon price of merchandise or tax may be recalculated after coupons, but you can never pay for taxes with ECBs.
You can return makeup purchased there for any reason. This is reason enough to buy make-up at CVS. If the color isn't quite right for your complexion you can return it...even after it is opened. This makes a great argument for trying new make-up products at CVS. You can often get them discounted per the ExtraBucks program, but if you keep your receipt, if you don't like it for any reason, you can simply return it for a full refund. Definitely a great incentive to get me to try new products!

So there you go...a synopsis of the things I've learned about CVS...mostly the hard way. Stay tuned for an upcoming post regarding Walgreen's as well!

Photo credit: afagen

Weekend Round-Up #17

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Too. many. links. No. time. for. commentary.

FINANCES:

USA Today had an article you might find interesting: Latest bank fee is for paying off credit card on time every month . Definitely a huge incentive to get rid of those suckers!
Credit Cards To Charge Good Behavior Fees at Frugal Dad is another article that looks at treatment that people who try to be responsible with their credit cards are now getting from creditors.
My Husband Hates Coupons – 5 Ways to Change His Mind at Frugal in Virginia is from hubby's point of view. You might need to check this out.
How to Save Money for Christmas in a Short Amount of Time at Generation X Finance is a great post for those of us starting late!
Q&A: Does Couponing Only Work if You Eat Junk Food? at Money Saving Mom answers a good question that many people have about couponing. Here's the answer you can give them!
Stay At Home or Pay for Daycare? at Bargaineering offers an anaysis of a quandry that many face.
Sorting Through The Financial Issues That Come With Getting Married at 20s Money offers tips on an important part of a relationship that most of us don't anticipate.
Economically Shopping For Christmas Toys at Frugal Dad is a timely article for those of us with reduced incomes this upcoming holiday season.
So What If People Make Fun Of Our Frugality! from Budgets are Sexy is a pick-me-up for those of us who have been ridiculed for our smart finances.
15 Surprising Places You Can Trim Your Budget at PT Money reviews both some older ideas and some new thoughts.
10 Ways To Increase The Value Of Your Home. at My Two Dollars could be a valuable post to read if you're trying to sell your home right now!
Sneaky coupon tricks: 6 hacks to help you fight back from MSN Money is just proof that this couponing lifestyle is going mainstream!
23 Things Beginners Absolutely Must Know About Saving for Retirement from Money Under 30 offers important information that you need to think about--especially when you are young.

FAITH:

The truth about humanity by Billy Coffey is life. At its most real. Why does it have to be a battle?
Things That Matter by Shaun Groves is a smack in the face that I needed. That's why I love his writing.
The guy who refuses to scoot at the end of the pew. at Stuff Christians Like had me in tears--especially with the show boating in the sanctuary line.
The BIG Announcement at Scraps of Life just goes to show that God is faithful. All the time. Go celebrate with Christy!

FAMILY/HOME:

I want an edge piece! at Mummified Times Five shows us a great product for edge lovers!
Make a gift bow from a magazine page at How About Orange is a great idea! Now don't tell my gift-wrap employer I said that!
End of the school year - teacher gift at Nap Time Crafts isn't a new blog post, but I just found it and thought it was brilliant and could be a good Christmas gift for a teacher!
How to Remove the Stink from Plastic Storage Containers at Home Ec 101 finally solved a problem for me!

FUN:

Security Door Fail at Failblog is one of a huge collection of funny. Not always suitable for the whole family though. (although this one definitely is)
An Open Letter to Dental Hygienists at Tyler Staton's blog had me almost in tears.

FAVORITE NEW SITE OF THE WEEK:

Dumb Laws. I've seen it before, but it has been updated since my last visit a long time ago. Always good for a laugh.

Photo credit: ellenm1

Mummy says...

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

77% Savings at Kroger!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:44:00 +0000

Kroger is having one of their Mega 10 Sale where you get $5 when you buy a (mix & match) selection of 10 items. If you buy 20, you get $10, and etc. Basically it takes $0.50 off each item. My store doubles coupons up to $0.50

This what I got:

4 Chex Mix (various)
2 Swiss Miss hot chocolate, 10 ct
4 All Free & Clear, 32 loads
2 Welch's Juice, 64 oz
1 Frank's Hot Sauce, 12 oz
4 Carnation Evaporated Milk, 12 oz
2 Dole Mandarin Oranges, 12 oz
2 Dole Tropical Fruit, 12.25 oz
8 Fudge Shoppe Cookies (don't judge me)
2 Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener, 32 load
2 Ore Ida Frozen French Fries
2 Dial 3-pack soap
2 Pepperidge Farm Orange Milanos
2 Pepperidge Farm Snack Crackers
1 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spreadable

Items not part of Mega Sale
1 Kroger Hamburger Buns
1 Kroger Wheat Bread
1 Tyson Chicken Breast Tenderloin
1 Ground Beef (about 1.3 lbs)
1 gallon Whole milk
1 gal skim milk
1 1/2 gallon chocolate milk (still $0.99 from Tuesday's big sale)

Coupons Used:
-$0.50 Chex mix mfg coupons (x4)-which were doubled; paired them with 4 coupons from cellfire and shortcuts for $0.50 each (made all 4 free)
Swiss Miss -$0.50 from writing manufacturer (x2) which were doubled (total of $1.00 overage)
All Free & Clear, -$1.00 (x4)(RP 08/02, SS 10/04, printable)
Welch's Juice, -$1.00 (SS 08/16, printable here or here) (x2)
Frank's Hot Sauce , -$0.50 (SS 10/04 or printable) which were doubled
Carnation Evaporated Milk , -$0.50 (SS 09/27 or printable) (x2) - made all 4 free after doubling Dole Mandarin, -$0.50 printable (x2) which were doubled (giving $0.82 overage)
Fudge Shoppe Cookies, -$1.50/2 printable (x4)
Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener, -$3.00 (RP 10/04) (x2), making both free!
Ore Ida French Fries, -$1.50/2 (SS 09/27 or previously available printable)
Dial multipack soap, -$0.35 (SS 10/04) (x2) which were doubled
Pepperidge Farm Products, -$0.50 from writing manufacturer (x4) which were doubled
-$0.50 Beef which was doubled
-$3.00 catalina that printed two weeks ago from Pillsbury offer (I had bought 5 products)

Grand Total: $32.81
Total Saved: $107.09

Savings of 77%! Wanna' see?

Hugely long receipt
Here's the total I paid (in bold). Note number of items sold is 47.
Savings:
Mfg Cpn Savings: $33.70
Bonus Cpn Savings (amount that was result of doubling): $9.18
Kroger Plus Savings (Store Sales): $64.21
Total Savings/Coupons: $107.09
Now my explanation to you about my purchases:

The Chex Mix was free and will do great for lunches. Swiss Miss was free with overage and will go to the church pantry. Detergent is our brand, so I decided to stock up while the gettin' was good. Juice is for current need. Frank's purchase is to replace our "stand by" in the pantry since the last one just went to the fridge when opened. I will use 2 of the evaporated milks during the upcoming holidays; the other two will go to the church pantry. The canned fruit is some of Patrick's favorites. The cookies will last us a while and are a guilty pleasure. The fabric softener I got only because it was free--it will go to the church pantry. The fries will keep in the freezer for a while and since they were such a good price ($1.25 each), they will get used later. Soap was for stockpiling due to good prices. Pepperidge Farm products were just good prices for indulgences; I have no good excuse. The spreadable butter was a current need. The buns, chicken, beef, bread, and milks were all current needs (we usually have chocolate in the house but although not a need, it was just too good a price to pass up).

Huge thanks to Southern Savers and Coupon Mom who pointed me to most of these coupons!

Friday Faves - No Wonder Men are Happier

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

A cute email sent to me some time back.

Men Are Just Happier People-- What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental $100.
People never stare a t your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood...all the time.
Phone convers ations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Have a great weekend!

Merck Manual Home Health Handbook - Review and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I was recently asked to review the new Merck Manual Home Health Handbook for this blog. Since I could see the value in owning such a book myself, I decided to give it a shot.

This volume of medical information is from the most popular name in medical information literature. Compiled of information from over 300 different doctors, this book offers a plethora of medical information that most of us do not normally have access to readily.

The book is well organized, beginning with a section entitled "Fundamentals" that covers general health and biology type topics including health care and prevention of diseases. The section and largest section is a collection of diseases and disorders arranged by organ or organ system, offering information on both common and very rare disorders. Additional sections are divided into Men's health, Women's health, children's health (by age) and health of the older community. Yet another section deals mainly with first aid and poisoning. This section alone is needed in every household in America. The final section of the book focuses on special subjects such as clinical trials, hospital care, alternative medicine and herbal remedies and other topics.

Additional features of this book include cross references included throughout the book to help find other topics that are related to the one at hand. There is drug information included as well as, my favorite, "Did You Know" bubbles throughout the book with helpful and interesting information about the topic at hand.

It also has very up-to-date information including the famous H1N1 virus! You can read more about this book yourself here.

So what did I think?

I certainly have found a LOT of information contained in these pages. I can see this offering a HUGE help in reading up more on disorders and diseases that either you've discussed with a doctor or that you know is running in your genes and you want to investigate. The index and table of contents are easy to use and make finding a specific subject very easy.

The downside? It may not be as "everyday language" as they feel it is. It probably seems that way to people who speak medical jargon all day, but to a vast majority of the public who might need this information, it might be hard to understand. I definitely would not recommend it to someone who is not well-educated or at least studious.

Overall? I am happy to now own this book to have this wealth of information on hand. I would certainly suggest that if you have any health issues that you want to read further into or if you'd just like to have the information on hand for addressing issues with your children, you should get this one.

And now I'm giving one of you the opportunity to own it yourself!

How? I'm giving one away thanks to the kind people at Merck who asked me to review it.

How do you win? Easy....

For your first chance to win simply leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to own this medical volume. If your email is not tied to a visible blogger id, leave your email address in the comment as well. This entry is required before any others are accepted.

For additional entries, leave a comment for each of the following:

Leave a comment anywhere else on my blog (up to 5 posts) and come back here and tell me where you did so (leave a comment for each here so you get an entry for each). - for my faithful commenters, let me know other posts that you've previously commented on.
Follow me via reader or RSS (see top just under the header) - 1 entry
Get two entries if you ALREADY are a follower! Thanks! - 2 entries
Blog about this giveaway (3 entries) and/or leave it on a Mr. Linky about giveaways (leave the link to the post in the comments) (1 entry per Linky)
Add me to your blogroll - 2 entries
Email someone about this giveaway and Bcc me (at mrsnespy at hotmail) - one entry per email address - all addresses may be combined into one email.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Multiple entries of the same variety will be deleted. Giveaway is open to US residents only. The giveaway ends 11/08/09 at 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be announced (and emailed) on 11/09 and has 48 hours from time of email to reply with shipping address before new drawing is held. Winners will be chosen by random number generator.

Thanks and good luck!

I was approached by a marketing company for Merck Manual for this review. The only payment I received was a free copy of the book for my review and to keep after the review. I requested an additional copy for this giveaway, which they sent as well. No other compensation was given. This review is my honest opinion of this product; you may experience different results.

WFMW - Boil Water Faster

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:13:00 +0000

I must give all credit for this hack to my hubby. He is brilliant at times, and this is one of those moments for him to shine. =)

You want to know how to get water to boil faster?

Easy--put the lid on it.

Yes...the process is easier if you have a glass lid and can therefore see that the water is boiling so you can proceed with whatever task made you boil the water. But seriously...the process happens more quickly when you put a lid on it.

Why? The lid traps the heat inside, making it hotter inside the pot and therefore encouraging the water to reach boiling temperature faster.

No, it doesn't cut the time in half or anything, but there is a noticeable difference to me.

It's that simple.

And that works for us at our house. Go over to We Are THAT Family to see what works for everyone else!

Photo credit: canonsnapper

Great Prices on Video Games!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:12:00 +0000

As the holidays approach, I will be noting some great prices on possible gifts for your family. I don't typically do these "blurb" type posts, but this will only last through the holidays. There are just too many offers out there not to share.

If this is a duplicate of something you've already seen, just pass by...but I figured that someone might need to see it for the first time!

Gamefly has many Used Video Games on sale for $19.99 or less with free shipping. (thanks, slickdeals!)

Wii

PS3

Xbxo 360

Tuesday Free For All

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Another Tuesday Free for All rolls around today. Make sure to enter any links for great giveaways that you know about (they don't have to be yours!).

Also...go thank all of the people listed at the bottom of the post who put together all of these awesome freebies each week!

Here we go....

FREEBIES:

Get a FREE copy of The Purpose of Christmas, written by Rick Warren.
Free recipe holder from Viva HERE.
Free sample Dentaburst HERE.Free baby samples HERE.Free Yo Crunch yogurt when you send in Halloween candy wrappers HERE.Free sample to the first 4,000 John Frieda
Frizz Ease HERE - select the CLICK HERE link under NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.Still available: free Nestle calendar filled with coupons HERE.
Free cologne - Mute your speakers first!: Click "Get a sample" along the bottom to print a certificate good for a free sample of CKfree perfume.
Free Taco on Halloween: Come into Taco Bell on Halloween night and get a free taco.
Free diapers: Get a free sample of Pampers Extra Protection diapers.
Free copy of Retirement for Dummies: Register here to get a free copy of Retirement for Dummies.
Neutrogena Advanced Acne Treatment: Register here and get a coupon good for $5.00 off Neutrogena Advanced Acne Treatment.
Free air sanitizer: The first 10,000 people to sign up will get a free sample of Oust Air sanitizer.
Free bagels: Print this reusable coupon good for free bagels at Noah's Bagels.
More free bagels: Use (and re-use) this printable coupon at Einstein Bros. on Fridays before 11am and you'll get a FREE bagel through November 3, 2009.
$1 off Scotch-Brite sponges: Print this coupon good for $1.00 off Scotch-Brite sponges.
Free photo portraits at Target: Print these coupons good for free photo portraits at Target.
This freebie was available a few weeks ago but they ran out of stock. If you didn't have a chance to request yours then, it's available again. Sign up here for a free sample of Oregon Chai Tea Latte Mix.
Go here and click on the banner to get a free sample of a Kashi TLC Granola Bar.
Go here to request a free sample of Prilosec OTC.
Email publisher@thehomeschoolmagazine.com to request your free frugal ebook from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. This ebook includes 100 pages of frugal gift ideas, recipes, and more. You do not have to be a magazine subscriber in order to receive it.
Sign up here for your free copy of Cooking with Stock. This is a brand-new and updated edition.
Get a Free Panty from TeenFreeWay on 10/29 – Everyone Gets One! You pick the size, color and style! Here’s how to get yours: Complete the form here. Become a TeenFreeWay Fan on Facebook Log into your Facebook account on 10/29 to get your Free Gift!
Free Sample of L’Oreal Everpure – must log in or register.
Free Sample of Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew.
Free Sample of Lorac’s TANtalizer Baked Bronzer, or a Mini Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Glam with coupon at Sephora inside JCPenney.
Request a FREE Sample of Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Body Wash HERE!
Get a FREE portrait collage at Sears plus no sitting fee by scheduling an appointment HERE.
Get a free digital subscription to VIV Magazine and a free usable tote bag when you join the community. To get a free membership, use the code freeviv. There is no need to enter your credit card information. U.S. only.
On Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, Sam’s Club will be giving away 25,000 Hugo canes to United States Military Veterans in need of mobility assistance. Quantities are limited per club. Available while supplies last. Sam’s Club Membership is not required but proof of military service may be required.
Come into Toys R Us on Saturday, October 31, 2009 from noon to 3pm to participate in Geoffrey’s Trick “R” Treat parade. Children age 3 and up will receive a complimentary reusable bag which they can fill up with goodies and giveaways as they parade around the store. Call first to make sure your store is participating.
Sam’s Club is offering a free one day pass good until November 7, 2009. A 10% service fee applies on all purchases made with one day memberships (not applicable in CA, SC or Elmsford NY).
Get a free DVD rental at Blockbuster Express kiosks when you use the code BM99A. Code expires 10/31/09. Click here to find a location near you.
Get a free DVD rental from Publix when you use this code, PUBLIX1. Also, rent one, get one DVD free using code, PUBLIX2. Both codes expire 11/25/09.
Enter the Oliveri Pasta For A Year Contest and receive a free Oliveri Recipe Book and Coupons. Make sure to check the box at the bottom of the form. U.S. and Canada only.
Send your friends (or yourself) a Sharis Pie-Gram. The Pie-Gram includes a coupon for a free slice of pie. Limit one coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other offers.Click here to find a location near you.
Enter the Airwick Frangrant Homes Club and receive rewards for entering in product UPCs and doing certain activities on the site. Use your rewards to enter giveaways, print coupons, request samples and more. Available to the U.S. only.

SWEEPSTAKES:

Retro Pillowcases Sweepstakes: Add a little retro flair to your boudoir with this '80s inspired design from Snooze City Designs
Magisso Cake Server Sweepstakes: Serve your desserts in style with this elegant kitchen tool
RECO Jeans Sweepstakes: Enter to win the Jade Vine jean Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Tuesday November 03 2009 ARV: $160.00
Urban Decay Sweepstakes: Enter to win $99 worth of Urban Decay beauty products Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Monday November 02 2009 ARV: $123.50
Renée Rouleau Sweepstakes: Enter to win a Renée Rouleau skincare set Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Monday November 02 2009 ARV: $123.50
Win a Profile In ELLE and a Hugo Boss Wardrobe!: Enter for the chance to win a profile in ELLE and a BOSS Black wardrobe valued at over $1,500! Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Friday October 30 2009 ARV: $1,500.00
Lauren Hutton Naturals Face Disc Beauty Giveaway: Enter to win Lauren Hutton's all-natural circular palette featuring 11 makeup must-haves (everything except mascara) in an all-in-one kit Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Saturday October 31 2009 ARV: $70.00
Casa Velas Hotel, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win an all-inclusive four-day, three-night stay for two at the Casa Velas Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday October 28 2009 ARV: $1,700.00
Vivabox Fragrance Collection Giveaway: Enter to win 10 irresistible designer fragrances, five for women and five for men Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Sunday November 01 2009 ARV: $55.00
Lug Puddle Jumper Bag Giveaway: Enter to win a Puddle Jumper bag from Lug Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Monday November 02 2009 ARV: $75.00
Pier 1 Imports Dinnerware Prize Package Giveaway: Enter to win four place settings of the Carynthum Dinnerware Set from Pier 1 Imports Number of prizes: 10 Expires: Tuesday November 03 2009 ARV: $45.00
Omni Hotels Fort Worth, TX, Getaway Giveaway: Enter to win a four-day, three-night stay for a family of four at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel Number of prizes: 1 Expires: Wednesday November 04 2009 ARV: $2,000.00

GIVEAWAYS:

*Huge thanks to my sources: Thunder Fap, PointClickHome, Woman’s Day Magazine, The Freebie Blogger, Money Saving Mom, Couponing 101, Centsible Sawyer, Sisterly Savings, "Deal"icious Mom, The Good Deal Gal, & Better Homes & Gardens

Photo credit: ammcf

8 Free Family Fun Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Today is the beginning of a new series I am naming "Monday 8s" where I talk about 8 of something. Really clever, no? Some of these will be about frugality, some about family life, some about general information, and some about random things.

I know, not too specific is it? Well, that's the fun of it I guess.

Today's Monday 8 will fall into the realm of frugality since it is the kick-off post.

So here's to a new series beginning!

8 Free Family Fun Activities

Visit local park/playground. Most towns/communities/neighborhoods have some form of local park or playground to visit. You can find anything from playground equipment to picnic tables to walking trails to tennis and basketball courts. This one is a "no brainer."
Library. The library has drastically changed since I was a child. Now you can find lots of good and free reading material as well as movies, books on tape/CD, magazines, and free internet usage. Most also have some type of playstuff set up in the children's area like a train table or such. Just remember to keep your voices low. =)
Nature Walk/Bike Ride. Get outdoors with the entire family. Ride your bikes to explore (semi) far away places together and get some great exercise. Or for something closer to home, take a walk and look at birds, bugs, leaves and flowers on your way. My son is one to collect rocks, so there are always plenty on the trip to occupy him. And a walk with a handful of rocks is always an adventure to him!
Picnic. This one is a fun one. You don't even have to go to a park for this one. Just set up a blanket in the yard and have a meal together on the ground. Fighting off the ants is part of the fun. Or even if it is raining, have a special indoors picnic. We VERY OCCASIONALLY have had the treat of eating on a quilt in front of the TV while watching a family-friendly movie. It's always a treat!
Play hide-and-seek/tag. That's right...get outside and run around like you were 8 years old again. You're not too old for it...and your kids will love it!
Camping. Sure you can go all out and do this at a campsite, but I was thinking something even more simple...like your own yard. Set up a tent or just put some sleeping bags out on a porch. You can be within a few feet of the house, but your kids' minds will be far away getting to enjoy this specialty!
Playing Board Games. There are so many good board games out there for kids now. Some emphasize learning (counting) or skills (money) while others are just outright silly. They are all fun though and just a few dollars invested once can create memory after memory for your children.
Sing/Dance. That's right...just turn up the music and let loose! Your kids naturally love music and they don't care if you have rhythm or can carry a tune. They care about fun...so go have some!

So even when our purse strings are tied tight, there are still lots of fun things to do in order to create a lifetime of memories for your children.

Photo credit: theophine

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Today's the big day...winners are announced for the Vaseline Sheer Infusion giveaway!

First of all, thank you for all of the participants! I loved getting to me several new faces and I hope you stick around!

Sadly there was one late entrant (after midnight last night) that I could not enter. So sorry!

So...get on with it, right?

Well, using random.org as my random number generator, I came up with the following winners:

lilshuga2001
bettycd
Julie

I will be contacting you via email to let you know. Please respond within 24 hours with a physical address so I can get them out. Per the giveaway rules, if I haven't heard from you with an address in 24 hours from the time of the email, I will draw another winner.

Thanks again for playing!

Weekend Round-Up #16

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

You know, it's honestly hard to do a round-up every weekend. Oh, not because there isn't enough good writing going on. On the contrary, it is hard to narrow down my findings. Honestly, if I wanted to take your entire weekend up, I could send you to 200+ posts that I feel you should read. But who has that kind of time (other than me, obviously)?

So I will just give you the brightest and best from this week, as determined by me. =)

Frugality:

6 Ways to Save While Shopping Online at FiLife offered some great tips to use this upcoming holiday season!
10 Attributes Of The Perpetually Broke over at Bible Money Matters is a very honest and open look at overspenders. Now, looking at that list, can you see yourself anywhere in it?
Extreme Couponing 101: Burnout over at Southern Savers offers both advice and reassurance to those of us who have hit a wall when trying to save on groceries. It's okay--you're not alone, and here are some tips on overcoming it while staying on track!
Does a Bad Economy Equal a Sad Christmas for the Kids? at Being Frugal offers a refocus of priorities during a time that is very tough financially for many families. Regardless of your financial state, definitely worth the read.
What NOT to Do When You are Behind on Your Bills at Suburban Dollar. I thought this might be a great read for many who are finding themselves in this situation presently.
5 Ways Spending More is Actually Frugal at My Dollar Plan is proof that you really can enjoy new things while being frugal.
Avoid The Pressure To Spend is another post from Bible Money Matters that I am suggesting because I feel too many people spend money just because they feel they should.
Beware Credit Card Skimmers and How to Spot Them at Money Under 30 was a real eye-opener for me. I knew to beware of restaurant servers/waiters/waitresses but had no idea some people actually attached these to machines!
10 Free Online Budgeting Applications at Lazy Man & Money is a great resource. We have just started using Mint ourselves but from here you can see a collection of great tools available.

Family/Home:

Clean out your wallet is part of Poorer Than You's focus on this week being National Protect Your Identity Week. Go over there and check out the whole series for some great info.
flu and cold season: 15 ways to fight the flu at The Centsible Life reminds us of some obvious, and introduces us to some not-so-obvious ways to battle the upcoming cold/flu season.
Raising Content Kids at The Happy Housewife is an awesome post. Starting this when their young helps prevent them from becoming another selfish entitled person to deal with when they grow up (sorry...did you notice a bit of ~~not so~~ subliminal commentary there?)
Be Safe This Halloween! at Because I Said So is a suggestion for a great product for both this Halloween and any family outing in your future. Go check these things out! Patrick would LOVE them just because of what they are.
What Kindergarten Homework Taught Me by Billy Coffey and posted at The Higher Calling Blogs was heart-warming, reassuring and real. Billy really knows what to say to me.
Oh, the Joys... at Call Her Blessed had me cracked up. Seriously...this is so something that would happen to me.
Frugal Fun: Card Games For Those Rainy Days at Frugal Family Fun is a great list! This is a new site on my blogroll and I am loving it. Some of my fondest memories of childhood involve a deck of cards, so this one touched home.
Doing The Math by Shaun Groves invoked true sympathy for him and others who are missing that special someone. And I count my blessings.

Faith:

The Boy Made of Post Its at Flowerdust is seriously worth your click through. Anne is an awesome writer and I love her blog, but the photo there is amazing. And make sure you stay around for her commentary after the photo. Love her!
Getting mad when someone interrupts your quiet time with God at Stuff Christians Like is yet another great read from Jon.

Fun:

Bride/Baker Communication 101 at Cake Wrecks is just one of the jewels you can find at that site. It's only on my "fun" list because it was not my cake.
Grocery Store Musical at Improv Everywhere offers yet another great production from this group. I cannot fathom the shock of actually being there when it broke out.
Can’t See The Forest For The Airborne Trees at Not Always Right definitely made me smile. However, if I think about it too long, I might consider crying.

Favorite New Site of the Week:

Students Say the Darndest Things: It's a collection of quotes from members of youth groups from various youth pastors. Some are those "had to be there" type of humor, but many are really stand along funny...especially to those who are regularly exposed to the chaos that is the teenage mind.

Photo credit: eddiemcfish

Friday Faves - Lizard Attack

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Watering Down Frugality

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

If you go by the dictionary’s definition of frugality, you will find that it is “1.) economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful and 2.) entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty”.

However, some confusion comes into play with a basic definition. To people “on the outside,” the word has a connotation usually associated with “cheap,” “tightwad” or “miser.” Those who live frugally know it to be a completely different lifestyle than those words bring to mind. Frugality is about being smart with your spending. Whether that means buying less, buying better quality, buying on sale, or not buying at all depends on your level of frugality.

You see, there are different degrees of frugality, and I believe all should be applauded. Everyone making an effort to improve their quality of life while making changes in their spending habits is using their resources more wisely. Sometimes people start slowly and continue to make changes as their comfort level is altered. Some people dive in to the deep end from the beginning and take a “sink or swim” approach. Some decide to “up” their level of frugalness after they learn new and exciting ways to save money without compromising what is truly important to them.

To go along with the “sink or swim” analogy I used above, I am dividing people into 6 categories. Let’s examine them now:

SUNBATHERS: This category is filled with people who are aware that there are people swimming out in the water, but are not interested in participating. These are people who like to spend money. They put little to no thought into trying to save money or look for a bargain. If they find a sale, it is counted as a “bonus” incentive for buying the product, but are not deterred if the item is full price. They are not interested in pursuing a frugal lifestyle for some reason (reason does not really matter).

SIDELINERS: This group is the spectator group. These are people who like to find things on sale and may even shop with the intent of finding a good sale but still seem surprised when they find a good bargain, as if it is an abnormality. They know people are finding great deals and wonder how. They worry that their lifestyle will be compromised by living any more frugally than they do, but often wonder if they could pull it off themselves. They search coupons hoping to find their favorite products. They want to get into the water are afraid the water might be too chilly for their tastes.

TOE-DIPPERS: These are people who are beginning their journey into a frugal lifestyle cautiously. They do not want to compromise their quality of life or just are not confident in their ability to really make enough changes to have an impact. They are proceeding carefully…looking for sales harder, researching prices for items on the internet, shopping around stores for the best deals. They begin to consciously keep coupons and use them regularly at the store. They may “downgrade” from an expensive-to-maintain car to an easily serviceable model to cut costs. They have become content with the temperature of the water, but are not sure about its depth. Some are content to walk through and just get their feet wet and others are building up their courage to wade out a little deeper. Unfortunately many get side-tracked here because they buy cheap rather than frugally. When this happens the sting of the water is too cold and they run back ashore.

WADERS: This group is waist-deep in the frugal lifestyle. They are comfortable with being open about their savings-based lifestyle and are not afraid to let others see them out in the water. They have conquered the initial steps and are usually familiar with how to get the best grocery prices, how to utilize coupons on a regular basis, and have made efforts to reduce home energy costs by efforts like turning off utilities when not in use. They only order water at restaurants because they refuse to pay for another type of drink. They are encouragers to the toe dippers, offering, “Come on in! The water’s fine!” They have learned the difference between buying smart and buying cheap. They know that it is okay to pay more for quality. They usually know items that it is okay to go “cheap” with and when quality truly matters to them. Many people are content to stay here and jump as the waves roll in. Others are heading deeper to where they can no longer reach the bottom and are forced to test their swimming abilities.

SWIMMERS: These are those who are swimming about and truly enjoying their frugal lifestyle. It is very much a part of their everyday lifestyle, and they are comfortable with their place in the water. This group “works” grocery store and pharmacy sales and coupon policies. They menu-plan based on store sales. They often stockpile non-perishables and toiletry items. This group refuses to pay full price for anything and often uses coupons, sales, bartering, negotiating, and other tactics (or any combination of them) to purchase for themselves and their families. They share their tips with others although sometimes the others cannot understand how swimming works. This is the group who has people standing behind them in line at the store who fall into three categories: 1.) those who wonder how in the world they learned to swim so well, 2.) those who are annoyed by the fact that swimmers get in the way of their fancy yacht, and 3.) those who feel pity by the fact that these swimmers obviously do not have the means to walk.

DIVERS: This group is full of those who are one with the ocean of frugality. They enjoy home-made or home-grown items. They use cleaners made exclusively of baking soda and vinegar. They have mastered the efficiency on their utilities. They often do without the conveniences that society has grown to depend on (cable tv, multiple phones, super texting plans, new vehicles, high speed internet, convenience foods, fast food). They squeeze every mile they can out of their gasoline when they have to drive places but often find other ways to get to their destination, such as biking, walking or public transportation. Meals are cooked from scratch. They all, I would think, have a large pantry and/or a deep freezer. This group understands that there is a world underneath that being able to dive allows them to appreciate that those on the shore will never get to experience themselves unless they too begin to get in the water.

It’s funny…those on the shore are soaking up the rays and wondering what the fascination is with the water. They often pity that those diving in the water, as they are not enjoying the sunlight as they are. Those diving however, understand that that sunlight warms their water and appreciate it for how it works for them. They pity those on the shore for missing out on the ocean life.

The thing is, as long as you have gotten your feet wet, I feel you should be celebrated. There is nothing wrong with your particular level of frugality. If you are comfortable there, you should be applauded for doing what you can to enjoy the water. Not everyone is a strong swimmer. Not everyone wants to encounter the sealife that can only be seen when you dive. Not everyone wants to wade any deeper than their ankles for fear what is swimming around their feet. The point is, celebrate what you are doing and enjoy it. If you want to go deeper, it is okay to go at your own pace. Most of us have gotten to where we are by slowly wading out deeper and deeper and finding our own comfort level.

Of course, these are stereotypes, and with all categorizing, many will not fit easily into one specific category. But you probably know where you fit the best. I am somewhere between a wader and a swimmer. I am swimming, but I’m not yet a strong swimmer. Sometime I get scared and drift back to where my feet can touch. I’m working on it and getting more and more confident daily.

So what about you? Where do you fall? Leave a comment letting me know if you are content with your current category or what you want to change in order to take that next step.

Photo credit: kerryvaughan

Second Week of Rite Aid Blowout!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Here's the breakdown of this awesome deal:

1 Neilmed Nasal Mist: reg $14.99; sale $9.99; used -$2 printable coupon; I paid $7.99
1 Neilmed Nasogel: reg 7.99; sale $5.99; used -$2 printable coupon; I paid $3.99
1 Chloraseptic Kids Grape Spray: reg $6.69; sale $4.49; I paid $4.49
1 LittleColds Mucas Relief: reg $8.29; sale $5.49; I paid $5.49
1 LittleColds MultiSymptom Cold: reg $5.99; sale: $3.99; I paid $3.99
1 ColdCalm Pellets: reg $10.99; sale $7.99; used -$1 printable coupon; I paid $6.99
1 Sambucol Lozanges, 30 ct: reg $12.99; sale $7.99; I paid $7.99
1 Zantac Cool Mint Tablets: reg $9.99; sale $8.99; used -$5 printable coupon; I paid $3.99
1 Blink Tear, 15 mL: reg $10.99; sale $7.99; used -$1.50 printable coupon; I paid $6.49
1 Kellogg's Corn Pops: reg $4.49; used free Kellogg's product up to $5 coupon from Kellogg's (due to reporting poor packaging and thus ruined Eggo waffles); FREE
1 Kellogg's Froot Loops: reg $4.49; sale BOGO; FREE

Used -$5/$25 coupon

Regular Retail Total (before tax): $97.89
Total after Sales (after tax): $52.44
Used $22 Single Check Rebate check from September

Total Out of Pocket: $30.44
Rebates Due: $62.91 (all items except cereal have full price rebates)

Before using SCR to pay: $10.47 overage!