The Femmes Frugal

NaBloPoMo & Halloween

2009-11-01T15:08:00.000-05:00

Most of my Halloween decoration this year were picked up at the Dollar Store last week, as I've never needed to decorate before. Today everyone should go hit up their local Target, Walmart, or what have you to buy Halloween decorations on sale for next year!

That being said, as November is National Blog Posting Month, I'm going to try and update a bit more regularly (and maybe get Alison back to the keyboard as well).

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Revolutionary: Have your budget reviewed!

2009-08-12T20:08:00.003-04:00

I'm one of those people who is always stopping at Dunkin Donuts in the morning (not for coffee, for breakfast). I know this is at least partially a product of the fact that I'm not quite comfortable cooking in my current living situation (renting a room w/ kitchen privileges), but it is also partially just laziness.

I'm in the process of buying a house, and figured it was a good idea to draw up a budget. I thought it was a better idea to have Alison critique it for me!

Here is my current budget!

And here is a link.

What do you guys think? Have any thoughts? Want me to look over your budget? Drop me a line!

~Katharine

PS - After this whole closing thing, I should be posting more often, but darned if this isn't the most stressful thing I've ever done.

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CVS Deals - 7/25-8/1/09

2009-07-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

If you're planning to hit CVS this week, I definitely recommend that you do it by Tuesday evening to get in on the three-day sale, which looks amazing! Thanks MoneySavingMom for your help!

******3-Day Sale--Deals Good Through July 28, 2009 Only******
Buy 1 Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste or 360 Toothbrush at $2.88, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 coupon here or $1/1 coupon from the 7/12 SmartSource insert
Free plus overage after ECBs

Neutrogena Cosmetics--on sale Buy One, Get One Free
*Deal*
Buy 2 Neutrogena Products at $3.49 each
Use 2 $3 coupons from the 6/21 RedPlum insert or the August All You magazine
Free plus possible overage after coupons and sale

Buy 1 Caliber 100-Page Composition Book at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Caliber Pencil or Index Card Case at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 package CVS Erasers, Push Pins, or Binder Clips at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Pilot Easytouch Pens (2-Pack) at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Swingline Tot Stapler or Caliber Sticky Notes (2-pack) at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
Free after ECBs

******WEEKLY ECB DEALS******
Buy 1 CVS Tampons at $1.89, Get $1.89 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Aussie or Herbal Essence Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler at $2.99, Get $1 ECB (Limit 1)
*Deal Idea*
Buy 1 Styler and 1 Shampoo or Conditioner
Use B1G1 coupon from the 7/26 RedPlum insert and $1/1 coupon from the 7/5 P&G insert
$0.50 each after coupons and ECB

Buy 3 Kashi products at $3.33 each, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Buy 3 and use 3 $1.50/1 printables here, here, here or here
$0.17 each after coupons and ECBs

Buy 2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent at $3.50 each, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 3)
Use 2 $1/1 printable coupons
$1.50 each after coupons and ECBs

******NON-ECB DEALS******
Bic Triumph Pens (2-4 packs)--On sale Buy One, Get One Free (2 for $3.99)
Buy two and use 2 $2/1 coupon here
Free after coupons and sale

******MONTHLY ECB DEALS FOR JULY******
Buy 1 Bayer Contour or Breeze 2 Glucose Meter at $19.99, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 2)
Use up to $30/1 coupon in the 3/22 SmartSource or 3/1 RedPlum inserts
Free plus overage after coupon and ECBs

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McCafe Monday!

2009-07-20T13:04:00.001-04:00

Stop by any McDonald's location today (Monday, July 20, 2009) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m at participating locations to get a free Iced Mocha or Hot Mocha. More details here.

Easiest way to know if your store is participating? It'll have a huge banner on it's roof saying "McCafe Monday!" lol ;-)
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Simple Savings: Matinees

2009-07-11T10:47:00.000-04:00

Matinees
The simplest way to save on movies is simply to go early enough that you still qualify for matinee rates! The times of course, depend on the movie theater you wish to attend.

Bulk Tickets
Some theater chains sell tickets in bulk packs at a reduced price! Using AMC as an example, you can purchase tickets here. With these you have to be careful though! Gold tickets are good any time, but silver tickets aren't good for special engagements, and not within the first week a movie comes out.

Cheap Summer Movies for Kids
Many chains offer cheap summer movies for kids. These are generally movies that have been out for some time, but the ticket is free or cheap. Don't expect the savings to reach out to concessions though. Again, using AMC as an example, information is here.

Now, I'm off to catch a matinee of the Johnny Depp movie. Have a good weekend!
~Katharine

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Mega-Shopping Trip!

2009-07-10T20:15:00.001-04:00

Wow, I haven't done a trip like this in ages! I hit CVS, Walgreens, Target, and Stop and Shop in under 2hrs (including travel time)!! Now that I'm finished bragging, let's cut to the chase:

CVS
3 - Post Trail Mix Crunch cereal (to donate, I kind of think they're yucky) @ 3/$10 w/$5ecb
Used: 3 $2/1 coupons here and $3.98ecb
Total: $0.02oop and $5ecb back (a $1 MM)

Walgreens
2 - Keebler Pecan Sandies @ 4/$10 w/$5RR
2 - Keebler Fudge Strip cookies @ 4/$10 w/$5RR
2 - caramel candies from the counter @ $0.33each
Used: 1 $1/1 Pecan Sandies coupon (no longer available), 2 $1/1 Keebler Fudge Shoppe cookies coupon here, 1 $0.55/1 any Keebler cookie coupon here, and $6RR from Listerine
Total: $1.11oop (funny, I paid more for the caramels--in cash--than I did for 4 boxes of cookies! $0.45 vs. $0.66 in favor of the caramels)

Target
Transaction #1:
2 - Kashi Heart 2 Heart cereal @ $2.66each
1 - Renu contact solution travel size @ $1.52
Used: 1 BOGO TQ here, 2 $1.50/1 Kashi coupon here, and 1 $1/1 Renu any size coupon here
Total: $0.18oop
Transaction #2:
2 - Edge Advanced Shave Gel @$1.90each
2 - Rayovac batteries @ $1each
1 - Crystal Light on the go drink mix, 3ct @ $0.99
Used: 2 $1/1 Edge shave gel, 2 $1/1 Edge or Skintimate Target peelies, 2 $1/1 Rayovac
Total: $0.78oop
(fyi: I f-ed myself in this one, forgot about the overage on the shave gel)
Transaction #3:
Repeated #1
Target Total: $1.14

Stop and Shop
2 - Special K Blueberry @$1.67each
Used: 2 $1/1 Special K Blueberry coupon here and 2 byo-shopping bag discounts (-$0.10)
Total: $1.24

All of these deals are good to be re-created tomorrow, should anyone wish to attempt!
In conclusion, my total was $3.49oop for 9 boxes of cereal (5 of which I'm keeping), 4 boxes of cookies, 2 shave gels, 2 contact solutions, 2 batteries, and 1 Crystal Light! My goal is to keep the cereal on average $0.50/box, which I totally accomplished, even excluding the boxes I gave away!
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Go Green-->Go Frugal

2009-07-08T23:01:00.000-04:00

I will always remember my first real summer job--I was a camp counselor at a city camp for children with special needs and all of 18 years old. The main reason why it stays with me is that the kids in my group were so inspirational and funny--to be honest I've never met any other group of people with such a sincere enjoyment of what life has to offer. But the less emotional reason is that it represented a turning point: it was the first job that I actually had to drive to myself and with another person who worked there (luckily, it was my sister, yay!).

The responsibility of getting ourselves to work is something we've all learned to deal with, whether we drive, take public transportation, or telecommute. Most of these options are seldom rewarding, though, and all seem to take just a little more of our hard-earned money our of our pockets than we'd like. There is, however, a way to get a little bit back!

After surfing the big, white waves of the internet, I found NuRide--a website that lets you earn points for every carpool, telecommute, or use of public transportation you take and exchange those points for great rewards! At first I was a little suspicious, since the fastest way to earn points is referring people, it seemed a little like an environmentally-friendly Ponzi-scheme. Happily, this did not prove to be the case. They offer seriously great rewards, like Dunkin' Donuts gift certificates and free tickets to local amusement parks or baseballs games (donated by local sponsers, so offerings vary)! Best of all, they don't spam you or sell your email address; in fact, the only piece of mail I've gotten from them was my DD gift certificate, lol!

This is a great way to go green and get back some of the money you spend commuting in the process. Think: driving yourself through rush hour traffic while drinking expensive coffee or going green while enjoying a free breakfast? Don't over-think it ;-)

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Target Deals - 7/5-7/11

2009-07-07T22:33:00.000-04:00

An amazing week, so definitely try to get out there and work these deals! Target is something of a challenge for me, mostly because each of the cashiers enforce the rules differently (some allow overage applied to your total, some adjust the coupons down, others don't accept coupons that create overage, etc), but the possible deals are so worth the experimentation. :-)

*****WEEKLY DEALS*****

Degree for Women Fine Fragrances Deodorant and Body Mist--$3.29
*Deal Idea*
Buy 1 Degree Fine Fragrance deodorant
Buy 1 Degree Fine Fragrance body mist
Use 1 $1.25/1 Degree coupon from the 5/17 RedPlum insert
Use B1G1 coupon from the 6/28 RedPlum insert
Plus, use 2 $2/1 Target printable coupons here
Free plus possible overage after coupons (Thanks, Saving with Shellie!)

Kashi Cereal (GoLean Crunch, Heart to Heart, & others)--$2.66
Use $0.50/1 Target printable coupon or B1G1 Target printable coupon
Stack with $1.50/1 Kashi Cereal or TLC Bars (IE or FF) or $1.50/1 when you sign up here
Free to $0.66 each
*Deal Idea*
Buy 1 Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal (10 oz.) at $2.66
Buy 1 Kashi Cereal (any kind) at $2.66
Use 2 $1.50/1 printable coupons listed above
Use 1 $0.50/1 Target printable coupon
Use 1 B1G1 Target printable coupon
Free plus possible overage after coupons!

Kashi Waffles--priced at $1.99 to $2.50 at most stores
Use $0.25/1 Target printable coupon
Use $1.50/1 Kashi waffle coupon here or here
$0.29 to $0.79 per box of waffles

Kashi Crackers (10 oz.)--$2.50
Buy 2 and use $1/2 Target printable coupon
Stack with 2 $1.50/1 coupons you can print when you sign up here
$0.50 each after coupons

Kashi Trail Mix Bars (6 count)--$2.50
Buy 2 and use $1/2 Target printable coupon
Stack with 2 $1.50/1 Kashi Cereal Bars or 2 $1.50/1 Kashi Cereal or TLC Bars (IE or FF)
$0.50 each after coupons

Eggo Bakeshop products--$1.50
Use $1/1 coupons here or here
$0.50 each after coupon

*****ONGOING DEALS******
Pace Specialty Salsa--$2.09 each
Stack with the $2/1 or $1/1 in 4/26 Smart Source insert
$0.09-$1.09 after coupons

Renu contact solution (travel size)--$1.52
Use $1/1 coupon here
$0.52 after coupon

Rayovac Batteries (2-4 ct.)--found in the $1 spot at Target
Use $1/1 coupon from 6/21 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon

Nexcare bandages (travel size)--$0.99
Use the $1/1 coupon here
Free after coupon

Cottonelle wipes (travel size)--$0.99
Use $1/1 coupon from the 06/07 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon

Joint Juice (single serve bottles)--$1
Buy 2 and use B1G1 coupon and $1/1 coupon here or from the 4/26 SmartSource insert
Get two free after coupons

Banana Boat Sunscreen (trial size)--$0.99
Use $1/1 in 5/3 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon (Thanks, NWA Deals!)

AXE Shower Gel (trial size)--$0.97
Use $1/1 coupon from the 4/5 RedPlum coupon insert
Free after coupon

Johnson's Soap Buddies--$1
Use $1/1 coupon from the 3/8 or 4/26 RedPlum insert
Free after coupon

A1 Steak Sauce (small bottles)--$2.09
Use $2/1 from the 5/10 SmartSource insert or here
$0.09 after coupon

Single Serve Cups of Edy’s Ice cream--$1.19 each
Use $1/1 Target printable coupon
$0.19 each after coupon

Bounty Basic Paper towels (single roll)--$0.99
Use $0.25/1 manufacturer's coupon in 6/7 P&G insert
Stack with $0.50/1 Target coupon from the 6/21 Smartsource insert
$0.24 per roll after coupons (Thanks, Mercedes!)

Dry Idea Deodorant--$2.49
Use $2/1 coupon here
$0.49 after coupon

Dawn Pure Essentials Soap--$2.49
Use $1.50/1 in the 6/7 P&G insert
Stack with the $0.50/1 Target coupon in 6/21 SmartSource insert
$0.49 after coupons (Thanks, My Frugal Adventures!)

Bare by Solo Cups (24 ct) and Plates (15 ct.)--on sale for $1.50/each
Use $1/1 printable coupon or $0.75/1 printable coupon
$0.50-$0.75 each after coupon

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Walgreens Deals - 7/5-7/11

2009-07-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

Not a good week, but as I had $12RR that were about to expire, I rolled $6 into the Listerine deal and spent the rest...actually none of these deals are good to roll. I'd recommend getting in, refreshing your RR, and sitting it out the rest of the week :-(

***WEEKLY DEALS***

Mars Chocolate Singles Bars--$0.89 after in-ad coupon (regularly priced at $0.89 each)
Buy 1 and use 1 free coupon from the Free Chocolate Fridays promotion
Then give the in-ad coupon
Get one bar free plus possible overage

Goody Ouchless Flex Hair Accessories--$3.99
Use $1/1 coupon here
Get a full-price mail-in rebate which will print as a Catalina coupon when you check out
Free plus small money-maker after coupon and full rebate

Starbucks ice cream (pints)--on sale Buy One, Get One Free (2 for $4.79)
Buy 2 and use 2 $2/1 coupons from the 6/21 SmartSource insert (or 2 $1/1 printable coupons)
$0.40 each after the coupons

24-pack of Nestle Bottled Water--$3.99 after in-ad coupon
Use $1/1 printable coupon
$2.99 after coupons

***WEEKLY REGISTER REWARDS DEALS***
Buy 4 packages of Keebler Cookies or Crackers at $2.50 each, Get $5 Register Rewards
Use 2 $1/2 Keebler cookies printable coupons
$0.75 each after coupons and Register Rewards

Buy 4 Glide Floss at $2.50 each, Get $3 Register Rewards
Use $1/1 coupons in the 6/7 P&G insert
$0.75 each after coupons and Register Rewards

Buy $10 worth of CoverGirl cosmetics, Get $3 Register Rewards
There are $1/1 and $2/2 coupons in the 6/7 P&G inserts as well as the 6/28 Parade Magazine
These could possibly be as low as $1.25 per product after the coupons and Register Rewards

***MONTHLY REGISTER REWARDS DEALS***
Buy 2 Dove Antiperspirant Ultra Clear or Body Mist Products, Get $2 Register Rewards
*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Dove Travel Size Deodorants at $0.99 each
Buy 2 Dove Body Mists at $4.49 each
Use 2 "Free Body Mist When You Buy Dove Deodorant" coupons from the 6/28 RedPlum insert
Use 1 $1.50/2 Dove Deodorant coupons from the 6/7 RedPlum insert
Spend $0.48 plus tax out of pocket, Get $2 Register Rewards

Buy 3 Listerine (500ml) Reach Ultraclean Toothbrush, or Reach Ultraclean Floss at $3 each, Get $3 Register Rewards
Buy 3 and use 3 $2/1 coupons here (use zip code 33013 for a $2/1, some only show a $1/1 coupon)
Free after coupons and Register Rewards

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CVS Deals - 7/5-7-11

2009-07-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

******WEEKLY ECB DEALS******
Buy 3 Post Trail Mix Crunch cereals (on sale 3 for $10), Get a $5 ECB (Limit 1)
Use 3 $2/1 Post Trail Mix Crunch coupons--you should be able to print at least 3 per computer
Get 3 boxes of cereal free plus $1 overage after coupons and ECBs

Buy 1 Caliber or CVS Pencils (20-pack) or Double Blade Pencil Sharpener at $0.99, Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 3)
Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Accu-Chek Aviva Diabetes Monitoring Kit at $9.99, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Send in $4.99 mail-in rebate (in box)
Free after rebate and ECBs

Buy 1 CVS Pantiliners (22-count) at $0.89, Get $0.89 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs

Buy $10 Worth of select Febreze products, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 5)
Includes Febreze Candles or Noticeables Starter Kit--$6.50; Air Effects--$3; or Fabric Refresher--$5
*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Febreze Noticeables Start Kits at $6.50 each
Use 2 $4/1 coupons from the 7/5 P&G insert
Free after coupons and ECBs

Buy 2 Dawn Dish Soaps at $1 each, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 1)
Buy 2 and use 1 $0.50/1 $0.20/1 coupons from the 6/7 or 7/5 P&G inserts
$0.15 each after coupons and ECBs

Buy 1 Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Toothpaste at $3.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 coupon in the 6/28 SmartSource insert or the $1/1 coupons here
$0.49 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 select P&G shampoo or conditioner at $4.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 3)
*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Head & Shoulders shampoo or conditioner at $4.99 each
Use 1 B1G1 coupon from the 7/5 P&G insert
Spend $4.99 plus tax out of pocket
Get $4 ECBs back
$0.99/2 after coupon and ECBs

Buy $15 worth of CoverGirl cosmetics, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
There are $1/1 and $2/2 coupons in the 6/7 P&G inserts as well as the 6/28 Parade Magazine
These could possibly be as low as $1.10 per product after the coupons and ECBs

**Sunday and Monday Only**

Buy 1 Caliber or CVS Transparent or Invisible Tape at $1.49, Get $1.49 ECBs (Limit 3)
Free after ECBs

******NON-ECB DEALS******
St. Ives facial scrub (trial size)--$1.49
$1.50/1 from the 5/10 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon

Dove Hair Care products--on sale Buy One, Get One Free
Buy 2 products at $3.99 each and use 2 $1/1 coupons from the 6/7 RedPlum insert or here
$0.99 each after coupons and store sale

L’Oreal Lip Color--on sale Buy One, Get One Free
Buy 2 products at $5.99 each, Use 2 $2/1 coupons from the 6/14 SmartSource insert
$1 each after coupons and store sale

******MONTHLY ECB DEALS FOR JULY******
Buy 1 Bayer Contour Glucose Meter at $19.99, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 2)
Use up to $30/1 coupon in the 3/22 SmartSource or 3/1 RedPlum inserts
Free plus overage after coupon and ECBs

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Free Replacement Flags

2009-07-03T14:44:00.002-04:00

Goin' Postal, a packing and shipping company, is offering free replacement flags in limited quantities this month. See this post from The Pinch for more details.

Hit up this link for locations near you.

Happy 4th of July!

~Katharine

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Free Toiletries - An analysis

2009-07-03T14:41:00.000-04:00

I know most of you guys already know this - but for those who don't, but keep in mind you can get sufficient quantities of almost any toiletries for free if you are willing to be patient and have the space to stockpile a bit. Through the CVS rewards program, or travel size containers from just about any store...

Here's a quick analysis I threw together assuming one person, with prices from Peapod (Stop & Shop / Giant's shop from home service).

Toiletry	Frequency	Cost	Yearly Cost
Shampoo	12 per year	$.89 - $9.99	$12 - $120
Conditioner	12 per year	$.89 - $15.99	$12 - $192
Toothpaste	4 per year	$1.99 - $4.99	$8 - $20
Body Wash	12 per year	$2.50 - $7.49	$30 - $90
Liquid Hand Soap	12 per year	$1.50 - $4.49	$6 - $54

So for one person, depending on what products you start out using, you could save anywhere from $68 per year to $476 per year. I imagine that the people at the higher end of this spectrum aren't about to go out and start couponing, but they could save $400 a year by switching to the cheapest products.

And this is assuming only the simplest toiletries are taken into account. If you use shaving gel, hand soap, or other products I haven't listed here, think about how much more you might be able to save.

~Katharine

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Free Quart of Paint!

2009-06-26T19:56:00.000-04:00

Have a free quart of paint delivered straight to your door! Courtesy of Glidden Paint!

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ShopRite - 6/14-6/20

2009-06-18T11:45:00.000-04:00

A little late, but there's still plenty of time to go get some of these great deals for yourself! Also, ShopRite does a great job with giving rainchecks if an item is out of stock, so stop by the service desk if you need to :)

8th Continent Soymilk, 1/2 gallon, $1.89
Use $2/1 coupon here or $1/1 coupon from 6/7 SS insert
Free-$0.89

Wishbone Salad Dressing, 16oz bottle or 7oz spritzer, 2/$3, must buy 2!
Use 2 $0.75/1 coupon here (doubles)
Free

International Delight Coffee Creamer, 16oz liquid, $0.99
Use $1/1 coupon here
Free

Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade, 32oz, $1.39
Use $0.75/1 coupon here (they may double it!)
Free-$0.64 per bottle

GM Cereal (Cheerios!), $1.99each, get voucher for 1gallon free milk (up to $4.50 value)
Use 3 $1/1 if you joined the Cheerio Challange or various coupons here
*Best Deal: $3 for 3 boxes of Cheerios and 1gallon of milk!

Happy Shopping!
Alison
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FREE SOYMILK AT SHOPRITE!!!!

2009-06-16T13:21:00.000-04:00

OMG, OMG, OMG--breathe!!!

Ok, so as you can tell, I'm totally psyched about what I'm about to tell you:
#1-you can get a coupon for $2/1 any 8th Continent soymilk product when you register here (be sure to use a real email address, since they send the password for your account in an email!)
#2-ShopRite has all varieties 8th Continent soymilk half-gallons on sale for $1.89!!!

I was able to print 2 $2/1 coupons at work and I'll print 2 more at home, but if you know me and want to make my week please print me two coupons!!! I'm putting out an APB for this, lol!

Yay!
Alison
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CVS - Free/Cheap

2009-06-16T13:02:00.000-04:00

No great deals this week, I got the Schik razor, but this might be because I'm low on coupons for these deals. If you have the coupons you can definitely get some great deals!

******WEEKLY ECB DEALS******

Buy 1 Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste, Rinse, or Oral B Floss at $2.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $0.50/1 coupon from the 6/7 P&G insert
$0.49 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Excedrin (20-24 ct) at $4.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 3)
Use the $2/1 coupon here--IE or Firefox
$0.49 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 CVS toothbrushes (multi-pack) at $2.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
$0.99 after ECBs

Buy 1 Schick Quattro Titanium Razor or Trimmer at $7.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 3)
Use $4/1 coupon from the 4/19 RedPlum insert
$0.99 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 2 adult sunglasses at $5.99 each, Get $10 ECBs (Limit 1)
$0.99 each after ECBs

Buy 3 7-Up, Canada Dry, or A&W 12-packs at $3.66 each, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use 3 $1/1 coupons here--IE or Firefox
$1.66 per 12-pack after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Purex Complete 3-in-1 at $6.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 5)
Use the $2/1 coupon from the 6/14 SmartSource insert
$2.99 after coupon and ECBs
If you try this product and don't like it, you can send in for a full rebate here.

******NON-ECB DEALS******
Select Kellogg’s cereals--on sale $1.88/box
Use $1/1 coupons from the 6/7 RedPlum insert (there's also a $1.50/2 Raisin Bran coupon here)
$0.88 per box after coupon

V05 shampoo or conditioner--on sale $0.77 each
Buy 8 and use the $2/8 coupon here
$0.52 each after coupon

Dry Idea deodorant--on sale Buy One, Get One Free (2 for $4.49)
Buy 2 and use two $2/1 Dry Idea coupons here
$0.24 each after coupons and sale

Right Guard deodorant--on sale Buy One, Get One Free (2 for $3.69)
Use 2 $1/1 Right Guard coupons from the 4/19 SmartSource insert
$0.85 each after coupons and sale

Once, again, thanks to MoneySavingMom for a great list! Happy shopping!

Alison

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Walgreens - Free/Cheap

2009-06-15T11:33:00.000-04:00

Standard list, scroll down to read my senerios at bottom:

WEEKLY DEALS

Right Guard or Dry Idea Deodorant--$0.99 each after in-ad coupon, Limit 3
Use $2/1 Dry Idea printable coupon here or $1/1 coupon from 4/19 SmartSource insert
Free plus possible overage after coupons

Walgreens Reusable bags--3/$1 after in-ad coupon

Buy 1 Schick Quattro Razor For Men--on sale Buy One, Get One Free (prices start at $9.49)
Buy 2 and use 2 $4/1 coupons from 6/14 SmartSource insert
$0.75 each after coupons

Hefty One Zip Storage bags--B1G1 after in-ad coupon (2 for $3.29)
Use 2 $1/1 coupons from 5/17 RedPlum insert
$0.65 each after coupons

Maxwell House Coffee (11 oz.)--2 for $5
Buy 2 and use $2/2 printable coupon here
$1.50 each after coupon

Buy 1 Breyer's Ice Cream at $3.99, Get a free 2 liter of A&W Rootbeer or Sunkist
Use $1/1 Breyer's coupon from 5/17 RedPlum insert
Pay $2.99 for both after the coupon and promotion
WEEKLY REGISTER REWARDS DEALS
Buy 1 St. Ives Bodywash at $2.99, Get $2.99 Register Rewards
Use $1.50/1 coupon from 5/10 SmartSource insert
Free plus $1.50 in overage after coupon and Register Reward

Buy 8 Selected Unilever Products, Get $8 Register Rewards
Includes: Ragu/Skippy--2/$4, Hellmann's Mayo--2/$7, Lipton Tea--2/$5

*Deal Idea*
Buy 4 Ragu at $2 each
Buy 4 Skippy Peanut Butter at $2 each
Use two $1/2 printable coupons
Use two $1/2 coupons from 4/5 RedPlum insert
Spend $12 plus tax out of pocket, Get $8 Register Rewards back

MONTHLY REGISTER REWARDS DEALS

Buy 2 Johnson’s and Johnson’s Baby Powder (1.5 oz) at $1 each, Get $1 Register Rewards
Use two $1/1 coupons from 3/8 or 4/26 RedPlum inserts
Free plus $1 in overage after coupons and Register Rewards

Buy 2 Oreo Cakesters at $2.50 each, Get $3 Register Rewards
Use 2 $1/1 Oreo Cakester coupons from the 6/14 SmartSource insert
Free after coupons

Buy 8 select Dove Products, Get $10 Register Rewards

Buy 1 Purex 3-in-1 at $5.99, Get $2 Register Rewards
Use $2/1 from 06/14 SmartSource insert (or $1/1 printable coupon)
$1.99 to $2.99 after coupon and Register Reward

Buy 2 Ban Deodorants at $1.50 each, Get $1 Register Rewards
Use 2 $0.40/1 coupon from 6/7 SmartSource insert
$0.60 each after coupons and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Carmex at $2.99, Get $2 Register Rewards
$0.99 each after Register Rewards

My Wags trip yesterday--
Trans#1
1 St. Ives body wash (2.99)
1 Dry Idea 3oz (0.99)
1 carmel piece (0.33)
Used: $2/1 Dry Idea and $2RR from Ecotrin
Total: $0.33oop and $3RR back

Trans#2-3
Repeated #1

Trans#4
1 St. Ives
1 2L Diet Dr. Pepper (1.59)
1 caramel
Used: $2RR and $1RR, 1 Free Dr. Pepper coupon
Total: $0.33oop and $3RR back

Trans#5
2 small boxes cookies (4/$5)
Total: $2.50
Used: $2RR
Total: $0.50oop

Good luck!
Alison
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Free drink at Border's!

2009-06-15T10:58:00.000-04:00

Amazing freebie if you have a Border's bookstore w/cafe near you! Print this coupon here and use it to get a totally free 12oz drink! It can be any drink (milkshake, javakula--yum!, anything) and you don't have to buy anything. I've stopped in twice already (you can print as many copies as you'd like) and the iced chai is amazing!

Enjoy!
Alison

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Free photos!

2009-06-12T07:06:00.001-04:00

One of the pains of being an avid photographer is having the pay out the money in the end to have the photos developed. From the points of view of the Femmes Frugal, one being an avid photographer (Katharine) and the other being a total narcissist and thus having way too many pictures of herself (Ali), this end-cost is a major draw back and has lead to massive backlogs of unprinted photos taking up space in various memory cards, hard drives, etc. But now CVS has offered us a solution!

When you visit their photo website here and create a new account, they give you a credit good for 50 free photos! Plus, if you use the code "FREE8X10" you can add an extra 8x10 photo to your order. A total of 51 photos and by having them shipped to a CVS store near you, you can also save on the shipping for a total of $0...Sweet deal!

Yours frugally,
Ali

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Check this out (for the ladies)

2009-06-10T14:55:00.001-04:00

As we all attempt to navigate the corporate/business world, a huge part of that is networking. Despite changes in the workforce make-up to be more female-friendly, I'd still agree with the statement that it's "a man's world". To even it out and make our way up the ladder, we, women, need to be able to compete and put ourselves out there with the boys. And where can we find the boys? On the golf course, of course!

This leads me to my announcement: June is Women's Golf Month! All across the country, golf courses and driving ranges are offering free clinics and seriously reduced prices for course time. Check out this website for more information about programs in your area. Most programs are running either Saturday morning or evening and require you to call a head and make a reservation, so be sure to do that before heading out. I'm hopefully going out this weekend, so I'll let you know how it goes! FYI, ask whether you need to bring your own clubs and how much balls cost (ex. where I'm going they will supply clubs for free, but a bucket of balls is $8). Being able to play golf is a fantastic thing, especially since it's an amazing sport and a good chance to get yourself out there!

Swing away at this offer!
Ali

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Working Harder for the Money!

2009-06-08T18:45:00.001-04:00

Welcome to our second week of "Working Hard for the Money"! In this series, based on the amazing ideas of Momsbyheart, we will be exploring ways open to all of us (for the most part) to make some money, whether you're in between jobs or just need to supplement your income without the traditional hassle of a second job (set hours, boring work, etc.):

1. Freelance Writing - For all of you who have those writing skills leftover from college, here are some ideas for how to make a little money doing freelance work. Based on your areas of expertise, there are any number of online publications to utilize to share something you would feel passionate about researching and writing about on a regular basis.
If you're feeling more ambitious and are willing to make a grassroots effort, make a list of magazines, local newspapers, newsletters or other publications that would work well in your chosen niche. Contact the editors and ask for their writers guidelines. Be prepared to submit a sample of your writing. Finally, you can visit the following sites for more info and freelance opportunities:
Associated Press
Writerfind
MediaBistro
FundsForWriters
FreelanceWritingGigs
WorldwideFreelance
AbsoluteWrite
Writer Interrupted
Squidoo
Triond

2. Be an eJuror - This one actually sounds pretty neat: you can get paid to be part of a mock jury/focus group that helps attorneys prepare for trial. Pay typically ranges from $10-$60 depending on the trial length:
EJury
Trial Practices
OnlineEVerdict

3. Be a Freelance Translator - If your native language is something other than English or you are fluent in another language, there are many companies looking for document translation. Expect to take a proficiency test and sign a non-disclosure statement. Here are some resources:
SDL
ArgosTranslations
WeLocalize
Telelanguage
Language Translation, Inc.
Accurapid

4. Transcription - If you have strong typing and spelling skills, consider transcription work. Here are a couple resources:
Tigerfish
ProductionTranscripts

Good luck and work hard!
Ali

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Best Deals of the Week! (6/7-6/13)

2009-06-07T21:23:00.001-04:00

This week seemed a little lean to me, so I'm going to just share the best that I've seen:

CVS
Gillette Fusion razor or Venus razor, $7.99 and $4ECB back
   Use $4/1 from 6/6 P&G insert, w/ECB = FREE
Check the clearance area! At mine there was tons of great candy...lol

ShopRite
Blueberries, 1pt, or Strawberries, 1lb
   $1.49each or $0.88 w/in-ad coupon and $25 purchase (Limit 1 @$0.88)
LaYogurt, $0.39each

Target
Crystal Light raspberry lemonade, 3ct (by the register)
   $0.99each - $1/1 or buy 2 and use $2/2 coupon here = FREE +$0.01overage!
Hefty One-Zip baggies, 7ct (in travel size section)
   $0.97each - $1/1 from SS dispenser = FREE + $0.03overage!
Morningstar Farms soy products, various
   $2.99-$3.69each - (2)$1/1 by joining Morningstar team - $1/2 Target coupon = $0.99-$2.19each
Kraft dressing or mayo
   $1.99 - $1/1 coupon here - $1/1 Target coupon = FREE + $0.01overage!

Let's start the week right!
Ali

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Free Donuts today and Ice Cream tomorrow!

2009-06-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

This is a friendly femme-frugal reminder that today Krispy Kremes is giving away one free donut per customer (no purchase necessary) and Dunkin' Donuts is giving away a free donut with each beverage purchase in honor of National Donut Day!

Tomorrow, Friendly's is giving away a free scoop of ice cream (cup or cone) to anyone who visits one of their restuarants between noon and 5pm! No purhcase necessary, just enjoy!

Disclaimer: As always, check online or call ahead to find out if a franchise location in your area is participating in one of these events...

Ali
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PineCone Research!

2009-06-04T13:30:00.000-04:00

I can honestly say that PineCone Research is the absolute best survey site that I have ever worked for. They email me surveys regularly that I am already qualified to do, as opposed to others where they mail you a link, you answer some questions and then they say you don't qualify for the survey...Also, every survey you do for them is good for $3 cash! That means after every survey you do (generally 5-7 days after) you receive a check for $3 in your mail or paypal account. No catch, no points, etc.--just money for your time. Sometimes they even send cool trials of products that are being considered for production. I've gotten a full-size can of Lysol, 12oz can of coffee, box of tampons, fresh pasta, and other neat stuff! Join now (residents of the United States only, sorry), especially if you're aged 18-24yrs, they want you!

Click here and sign up for PineCone Research now!
Ali

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Stop and Shop 5/29-6/4 Update

2009-06-04T10:19:00.002-04:00

So I cut it pretty close this week, but here's how I used my dollar doubler coupons--
Bought:
2 pints blueberries (2/$4)
2 bottles Kraft BBQ sauce (10/$10)
6 1.5oz bottles Johnson&Johnson's baby powder ($0.99each)
1 2pk Schik disposable razors
2 Itti Bitz ice cream cups (10/$10)
Coupons:
4 Dollar Doubler coupons
2 $1/1 Kraft BBQ (smartsource!)
2 $3/3 Johnson&Johnson's products (coupon here)
1 $2/1 Schick disposable razors
1 BOGO Itti Bitz/Kemp personal
2 reuseable bag credits ($0.05each)

Total: With the help of a wonderful and adorable cashier who kept telling me I look just like one of the girls from the "Ghost Hunters" show (do I?), Stop and Shop actually paid me $0.10! I really enjoyed this trip, not only because it went so well, but because, yay, free blueberries!

Maybe some of you will still have time to try this...

Ali
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