The Sharp Scissors Lady

"Local Ladies:" Meet Money Saving Mama in Michigan

2010-03-11T13:55:00.001-05:00

I have decided to take the next several weeks to introduce MICHIGAN's long list of savvy shopping blogs to you! Each day I will be adding a new blog to my "Local Ladies" sidebar! Enjoy!

Wendy, the blog author of Money Saving Mama in Michigan (.blogspot.com), is a Mid- Michigan blogger (Lansing to be exact!)

Wendy is a View Ambassador (she has the inside scoop for the future shows), she loves to share links for FREE samples, hosts give aways, and shares the links to all of the FaceBook freebies!

Wendy, thank you for carving time out of your days to help save other families money!

Thought Provoking Thursday

2010-03-11T13:03:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I think that spending coupons can bring out the most competitive spirit in each of us! If you are anything like me, I like to watch every grocery/household purchasing cent that I spend, because caring for the needs of my family has become more of a "game" to me!

I've learned, that playing this "game" to the best of one's ability, requires these "skills:"

1. START by taking a good look at where you are NOW! How much are you currently spending to feed and care of the basics in running your household smoothly? Honestly, is the key to future success, review your receipts and evaluate where you are and where you'd like to be, financially speaking.

2. COVER YOUR BASES: Take inventory of the items that you already have on hand (how many bags of FREE Green Giant Steamers are still in your freezer?), and what items your family uses most frequently. For the 'constant purchasables,' like toothpaste and laundry detergent, stock up for 6 months to a year's worth of these items at a time (of course, when they are deeply discounted) and keep from having to purchase at less than spectacular prices for longer periods of time.

3. MOVE FORWARD: Think towards future purchases! How will you continue to slice and dice your grocery/household purchases? Will you purchase toilet paper and shampoo from the drug stores (even though the prices are much higher) because you can spend your store rewards on these essential items? Will you purchase more fresh produce this summer to freeze for the slim pickin's days of winter produce? Will you try some new recipes in order to eat more often from your stockpile?

4. HOME: Have you created a home environment that successfully cares for every need that arises for your family while keeping an eye on your budget? Do you eat well, do your kids enjoy special treats (if your kids know that they only get those special treats if you have a coupon for those items, raise your hand!!!) and is your bathroom cupboards and fully stocked with enough toothpaste to last you to 2011!

And here are the last two essential elements to happy 'gamesmanship...'

TEAM SPIRIT: Shop for the good of those outside of your immediate family! Planning and purchasing items for others who may benefit from your generosity will always have a win/win effect!

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: Don't get wrapped up with someone else being able to spend less than you... length of time spending coupons, number of family members, types of foods purchased, and personal shopping habits all factor into who spends how much (or how little)! Focus, instead, on improving your standards for yourself!

Have YOUR ideas of shopping changed since YOU began spending coupons? Do YOU view shopping as a game?

REMINDERS:

2010-03-10T13:47:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wanted to SHOP with ME... ask any coupon question, have me coach you in where/how to purchase your family's favorites... and SPEND MY COUPONS?

Well, I'm being auctioned off!!! I'm FIGHTING CANCER with COUPONS, and a $5 donation HERE could win you a shopping date with yours truly!

Drawing to be held on March 12, 2010. Winner will be notified immediately after drawing!!!

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Coupon Class in Livonia

Saturday March 13, 10am-Noon

The class is approximately 2 hours in length and includes tips, tricks and skills to purchasing all of your grocery and household needs for less!

You must register (along right sidebar) to secure your seat! Find the rest of the class details HERE!

"Local Ladies:" Meet Spectacular Savings

2010-03-10T13:30:00.005-05:00

I have decided to take the next several weeks to introduce MICHIGAN's long list of savvy shopping blogs to you! Each day I will be adding a new blog to my "Local Ladies" sidebar! Enjoy!

Heather, the blog author of Spectacular Savings (.net) writes a fantastic blog filled with fabulous finds! Spectacular Savings is based in the Kalamazoo area, and offers coupon match ups for Meijer and Rite Aid!

Two unique features found at Spectacular Savings are the "Save More, Give More" weekly post alerting you to FREE or nearly FREE items that are absolutely donation worthy, and Heather's passion for freezer cooking!

Heather, thanks for spending some time online to share your tips, tricks and insight with the rest of us!

Want-A-Peek Wednesday

2010-03-10T12:37:00.002-05:00

Meijer

Grocery Total: $87.00
Spent: $24.31
Saved: $62.69
Store Rewards Spent: $5 (RR's) and a $7 store credit

Items purchased with coupons:
KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon, IP= Internet printable coupon.

Benevia (IP), Green Giant boxed veggies (IP's & rain check), Dial soap pump (IP), Ore Ida (MFC)

Great Scoop for Bakers!

2010-03-10T07:58:00.002-05:00

Jolyn just wrote a great article about purchasing baking supplies for less than full retail since coupons for these types of supplies are not always available! Be sure to read the comments!!!

I didn't grow up in a house with a whole lot of baking... but I'm working on brushing up my skills thanks to savvier spending! If I burn something or the recipe flops (it could *never * be my fault... wink!) I'm not frustrated by wasting a ton of money/ingredients... I'm just frustrated about wasting my time and energy!!! ;)

"Local Ladies:" Meet Monroe on a Budget

2010-03-09T13:20:00.002-05:00

I have decided to take the next several weeks to introduce MICHIGAN's long list of savvy shopping blogs to you! Each day I will be adding a new blog to my "Local Ladies" sidebar! Enjoy!

Paula, the blog author of Monroe on a Budget (blogsmonroe.com/budget), is also an author in black and white! Paula, by day, is a newspaper reporter for The Monroe Evening News!

Paula, who targets her writing to the middle class, has written some extremely informative articles from assistance programs to utility bills... and I think, everything in between! Check out all of the scoop that she has gathered, along her left sidebar!

Paula, thank you for sharing your knowledge of frugal living resources for those of us battling this tough economy here in Michigan! Keep the great articles coming!

Tutorial Tuesday: Soaking Beans

2010-03-09T08:47:00.008-05:00

I've wanted to try soaking my own beans for quite a while, but I've been kind of timid about the whole process- but seriously, its not so bad!

I personally hate standing in the bean aisle at the grocery store! I hate choosing between the store brand, national brand and the 'you soak' varieties! Sometimes there is just a few cents difference between the store and national brands... and the 'you soak' seems like so much work! Honestly, grocery shopping should NOT be so difficult!

So here goes...

Ingredients: beans.

First start by opening your bag o' beans (hey, since its March, its o'everything!) and rinse your beans. Pick out any oddball finds and discard!

Place your beans (I am using a 1 pound bag) in a large pot and add 6-8 cups of water to your beans.

Boil for 2 minutes, remove from the heat, cover the pot with the lid, and allow to stand for 1 hour. (Not so tough so far huh?)

After the hour of soaking in warm water, drain your pot, and then refill your pot with another 6 cups of water...

Simmer your beans (with the lid on, but off set just enough that steam can escape) for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, or until your beans are as tender as you like to eat them!

Viola! They look just like their canned counterpart!

The 1 pound bags of dry beans plumped to almost 6 cups of ready to eat beans!

I'm kind of on the fence as to if soaking/cooking my own beans is worth it to me...

Cans of beans retail anywhere from $.59- $.99/can, so the average retail would be $.79/can.

I feel that after rinsing canned beans, an 11 3/4 ounce can yields 1.5 cups of beans, so by this math standard, I would receive approximately 4 cans (6 cups) worth of cooked beans.

My 1 pound bag of dry beans cost $1.39, so divide that by 4 (cans worth) and it equals $.35/can.

This savings, per "can" is pretty substantial! I was pretty surprised!

I did not, however, enjoy the smell of the beans cooking- it wasn't awful, but not pleasant! All, in all, I'm sure that I will soak and cook my beans again, but I will probably do much larger batches and freeze the beans for later use!

Have YOU ever soaked beans? Do YOU think soaking beans is worth it? Do YOU have any other tips, tricks or recipes YOU'D like to share?

"Local Ladies:" Meet West Michigan Mommy

2010-03-08T15:56:00.003-05:00

I have decided to take the next several weeks to introduce MICHIGAN's long list of savvy shopping blogs to you! Each day I will be adding a new blog to my "Local Ladies" sidebar! Enjoy!

Melissa, the blog author of West Michigan Mommy (.com), does a FANTASTIC job of sharing coupon match ups, locating freebies and keeping her ear to the ground for fun times around town for the West side of the state!

Melissa matches coupons for Meijer, Family Fare, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid on a weekly basis! I appreciate that Melissa takes the time to have 'accurate' coupon match ups for her West readers, since Meijer does NOT double coupons on the West side of the state... bummer!

Melissa, thanks for all of the time you spend online while still being able to care for your family of four! YOU are helping us ALL to save!

Drug Store Deals: March 7th Weekly Edition

2010-03-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU Coupon Crazy Chrys for your drug store deal-ing coupon match-ups!

Drug store deals for this week:

CVS:
FREE Oral B toothbrushes, $2/4 boxes of Kelloggs cereal

Walgreens:

$.05 Nestle candy bars, Glade 3 wicks for $1.99

Rite Aid:
FREE Cover Girl & Trident

Chrys is a local Detroit blogger who is a master of spending very little out of pocket at CVS, Walgreen's and Rite Aid- and she has graciously allowed me to link her drug store coupon match-ups with you each Monday... WOO HOO, thanks Chrys!!! Coupon Crazy Chrys is now available along my sidebar!

Grocery Game Plan: Kroger

2010-03-08T07:56:00.003-05:00

Here are my favorite stockpilable items this week, 3/8- 3/15, at Kroger!

Feel free to visit Kroger.com to view the complete ad.

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Betty Crocker fruit snacks, $1.99
Spend the $.40 MFC (printable found on MMS)
Total: $1.20/box

Betty Crocker cake mix, $1

Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, $.88
Spend the $.40 MFC (printable found at MMS)

Green Giant Steamers, $1.50
Spend the $.50 MFC
Total: $.50

Visit macombmoneysavers for the entire listing of sales this week at Kroger for the Metro Detroit area.

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*Kroger sale prices are available to those who shop with a Kroger Savings Club Card. You will only receive the sale price discounts when you shop with your card. If you don't have a Kroger Savings Club Card, just stop by the Customer Service desk and sign up for a card so that you may begin reaping the discounts immediately.

*Kroger will double Manufacturer coupons up to and including $.50.

*NEW!!! Kroger now limits the number of coupons allowable to 3 identical coupons per like items. Purchasing several flavors/varieties side steps this limit!

*Rain checks for out of stock items are available at the customer service desk.

*Kroger offers a 'brought my own bag' discount of $.05 per bag.

*If you are headed to SUPER Kroger (108 W. Highland Rd., Howell MI 48843 (517) 552-0126) the most local Kroger that doubles coupons up to and including $1 (up to THREE identical coupons) visit 123Save for the best deals for the current week's promotions.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed any sweet deals!

Grocery Game Plan: Meijer

2010-03-08T07:56:00.001-05:00

Here are my favorite stockpilable items this week, 3/7- 3/13, at Meijer.

To check out the full online ad for this week at Meijer, click here.

KEY: MFC = Manufacturer's Coupon, MBC = Mealbox Coupon

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Ground Angus, $1.99/pound

Ore Ida products, 2/$5
Receive $2 instantly at the register

Barilla Pasta, $.89/box
Spend the $1/2 MFC
Total: $.39/box

Aunt Millies bread, $3.19/loaf
Purchase 1 receive 2 FREE (includes buns!)
Dial foaming hand soap, $1
Spend the $1 MFC (IP found on MMS) Total: FREE

Check out the rest of this week's Metro Detroit Meijer Match-ups, visit Macomb Money Savers!

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To access Meijer Mealbox coupons (MBC): Mealbox Generator to print multiple Mealbox coupons per page. Or visit Meijer online (look for the 'Special's tab in the blue box to the right!) to print a single coupon per page. I offer two printing locations because the Mealbox Generator is not as extensive as the Meijer online site.

Keep in Mind:

*Meijer will only double the first TWO identical MANUFACTURER coupons. This may mean that you will need to break your purchasing into ONE large transaction and SEVERAL smaller transactions to ensure that ALL of your coupons are able to double.

*Meijer will never double a Mealbox coupon.

*Meijer allows the 'Stacking' of one Manufacturer coupon and one Mealbox coupon per item purchased unless either coupon states otherwise. For example, a coupon may say save $1 on two items, then you would need to follow the purchasing rules for that specific coupon.

*Rain checks are available at the customer service desk, at the podium in front of the cash register lines or with your cashier.Remember that Meijer rain checks have an expiration date 30 days from printing along with a limited quantity printed on the rain check. The quantity limited depends on your stores location.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Sunday Survey

2010-03-07T07:14:00.002-05:00

I was recently taking a survey online about... what else, coupons! I was shocked at their breakdown as to what was sending a LOT of coupons, ahem, more than SIX! Shopping with only 6 coupons is like only spending chump change (OK, not really)!

How many coupons do YOU typically spend in any given week?

I spend about 40-50/week.

Spending/Saving Saturday February 28-March 6

2010-03-06T18:40:00.005-05:00

SUPER Kroger:
Grocery Total: $48.99
Spent: $6.51
Saved: $42.48
Store Rewards Spent: $0

Items purchased with coupons:
KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon, IP= Internet printable coupon.

Costco: (again? I know!!!!)
Grocery Total: $16.17

Walgreens:
Item total: $11.18
Spent: $2.18
Saved: $9.00
Store Rewards Spent: $5

Meijer produce run: tomatoes and bananas, $2.20

And my additional shopping earlier this week, where I had spent $33.99 & saved $10.70.

Weekly Total:
Spent: $61.05
Saved: $62.18

"Clean Me Up Spotty:" Silverware Drawer Edition

2010-03-05T13:18:00.007-05:00

I LOVE the convenience of our silverware drawer in the dead center of our kitchen, I can get whatever 'instrument' that I need with a tug of the drawer pull! But... this drawer takes a beating by catching junk that doesn't belong in there- just because it is so accessible!

Today was the day! I removed every little cotton picking item from the drawer... and I was shocked by some of the things I found... look to the far left, see the bubble wand? Weird!

After a thorough disinfecting wipe down, I returned all of the items that actually belong in the drawer...

and then I either trashed or relocated (to their proper location) the rest!

WOW! It feels so good to have a clean and organized silverware drawer!

What are YOU in the mood to organize?

Thought Provoking Thursday

2010-03-04T13:32:00.004-05:00

When I find that a deal just isn't worth it for me... I like to leave the coupons for another shopper! This practice is called being a 'Coupon Fairy!' Hmmm, it looks like I just got my wings... wink!

What kind of a price tag do you place on your time?

Being an avid coupon spender, I've learned to set some pretty well defined parameters for my own personal deal seeking!

My first year of coupon spending bliss, if I'm gut level honest, consisted of me shopping at least three times per week! My son was a baby, he was easy to entertain (he mostly slept in his car seat) and quite often, when the weather was warm enough, we'd shop via our stroller since we live close enough to CVS, Walgreens, Target (my most fateful downfall!) and a grocery store... heck, I'd call it a great way to shed those post baby pounds!

But, my perspective began to change when I felt like my son started suffering from 'cart seat butt' (yep, I coined that phrase) and I began to worry that his first sentence may be "Mommy, lets go shopping!!!"

I literally (very embarrassingly now) shopped all of the time. If I read sweet deal that a blogger had posted online, I felt the need to swoop in and duplicate the deal for myself! Yep, I was a major donor at my local food pantry, which is awesome, but the truth was, I enjoyed the getting out of the house and the thrill of the savings!

Little by little, I began to feel overwhelmed. Coupon spending had become more than just a tool to allow me, as a full time stay at home Mom, to feel like a financial team player beside my husband. In reality, coupon spending had become addicting.

It was about a year ago that I took a long hard look at my shopping priorities (along with other priorities as well), and I decided that I needed to scale back my purchasing to just the items that my family uses most frequently. I also still pick up FREE or ridiculously inexpensive items to donate, but not to the same degree of intensity!

I had to learn, sadly... the hard way, that managing my time and energy is just as important as managing my finances.

Now, when I read about 'sweet deals' online, I ask myself these important questions to decide if this deal is for me:

Do we actually use this/need this type of products in our family?
Do I prefer another brand? Should I just wait for my favorite brand to be on sale?
Is doing this deal a good use of my time? My energy?
How far out of my way would I be driving? Is it worth the gas?
How much would the tax be on my "FREE" item? Is it still worth purchasing?
Could someone else benefit more than me from leaving these items on the shelf?

This week, FYI, Purex laundry detergent is on sale at Walgreens on a BOGO (buy one get one FREE) sale, and a recent newspaper insert offered a Purex BOGO coupon... making TWO bottles of laundry detergent FREE! But I'm skipping this deal!

Yep, I've got the coupons and I could definitely find the time to stop into Walgreens, but I don't NEED detergent, Purex is NOT my favorite brand, its NOT worth it for me to spend my time, energy and pocket change to pay the tax for products, nice as they are, that someone else can benefit from the spectacular sale!

I couldn't have said that a year and a half ago... but I'm growing!

Nowadays, I love grocery shopping and an occasional stop into a drug or convenience store! I know that I'm keeping up with my new way of spending less time and less money to run my household when I do shop at a drug store and the store employees tell me that they've missed me!

How do YOU manage your clipping & spending time?

Read more frugal tips at LifeAsMom!

And the WINNER is...

2010-03-04T12:22:00.004-05:00

#113 Carolsue said...

I am a new follower - Carolsue
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

Yay for Carolsue! Please send me your contact info and I'll pop your FREE coupons into the mail!

Thanks to everyone else for sharing some of your highlight life moments! I loved reading them, I even teared up a bit! SYS readers are awesome! Thanks for making this site a fun place for me to post!

Want-A-Peek Wednesday

2010-03-03T13:17:00.004-05:00

Meijer

Grocery Total: $25.26
Spent: $14.56
Saved: $10.70
Store Rewards Spent: $2 (see below)

Items purchased with coupons:
KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon, IP= Internet printable coupon.

Kraft Mac&Cheese (IP), PAM cooking spray (MFC)

As I walk past the U-Scan machines, I always peek to see if anyone has left their catalina's behind (for me!!!), this week I lucked out because TWO shoppers left me a 'courtesy dollar!' Thank you whomever you are!

Costco

Spent: $19.43

Spending total so far this week:
Spent: $33.99
Saved: $10.70

Show Me Your Shamrocks!!!

2010-03-02T16:52:00.003-05:00

Walgreens is running a new promotion (modeled by one of my *favorite* employees!!!) where you donate $1 to fight Muscular Dystrophy and you receive a coupon for $3 off a $15 purchase!

As you can see, the standard exclusions apply, but this coupon does not expire until April 15, 2010!

REMINDERS:

2010-03-02T10:45:00.002-05:00

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Coupon Class in Howell

Friday March 5, 7:30-9:30PM

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Enter to WIN $50+ in FREE item coupons, including Huggies diapers, Kraft cheese and Oreos!!!

There are several chances for you to enter!!! Read more and enter to win HERE!

Tutorial Tuesday: Salt Crusted Baked Potatoes

2010-03-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

So... I have this thing for baked potatoes! Any time, any where, I just LOVE them!

Every once in a while, my husband will take me to J. Alexanders for dinner, and although I need to order the Greek salad for dinner, I always order a ($4 and totally worth every penny) salt crusted baked potato to take home for lunch the next day!

I decided to try to mimic the salt crusting at home (for about $.20 and still totally worth every penny...wink), and I began with a recipe from CoastalGoods, and then I enhanced it a little bit!

Ingredients: large baking potatoes, egg white, water, Kosher salt and Rosemary.

Start by adding one tablespoon of water to an egg white.

In a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup of Kosher salt and a few shakes of your Rosemary.

Next, take each of your potatoes and prick several holes with a fork. (10-15 sets per potato.)

Use your fork to whip the egg white and water together, this will be the "glue" to help your salt mix adhere to your potato!

Roll your potato in the liquid, making sure to coat all of the potato.

Immediately follow by rolling the potato in the salt mix- coating evenly.

I placed a sheet of foil on my cookie sheet, and baked my potatoes for an hour at 400*.

When they were done cooking, they were surprisingly fluffy tasting!

Of course, we loaded our with butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon! Yum!

Personal Note: The first dinner that we ate our potatoes, we left the salt crusting on, but we didn't eat the skin (I was sad! I love to eat the skin, and its super healthy!) When we reheated potatoes for another dinner, I rinsed the crusting off and reheated them! I was able to eat the skin... even Dave ate the skin, and he never does!

Recipe Recap:
Large baking potatoes
1 egg white
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 cup of Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon of Rosemary

Bake for 1 hour at 400*

Meijer Naturals Update:

2010-03-01T14:42:00.009-05:00

I posted what I anticipated to be one pretty sweet deal at Meijer this week.

But when my catalina coupon printed after I purchased two $.57 items, I was bummed because the catalina was only spendable on MORE Meijer Naturals products... but I thought that I'd be OK, since I was planning to purchase a few more cans.

And then I read the fine print (akkk, I HATE fine print!), and the coupon indicated that the catalinas would not 'roll,' meaning that I couldn't spend this catalina on another Meijer Naturals products and expect another $1 catalina to print... bummer!

Then, because I really didn't have a choice, I decided to purchase 2 more inexpensive Meijer Naturals products with my $1 catalina coupon... and the register would only allow $.57 to be deducted from the price of the sale, so only one little can's worth of cost... so I still had to pay for the second can.

Sorry, the deal is not as sweet as I had anticipated. Boo!

In case you'd like to take your chances... here are the items and prices from my least expensive store. Unfortunately, following in 'bummer' type fashion, they are not as inexpensive as I had reported earlier, sorry!

YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY!!! My TWO Year Coupon Spending Anniversary

2010-03-01T09:08:00.003-05:00

It was TWO years ago today, that I ventured to the grocery store with a fistful of coupons... for the very first time!

Sure, previously I had shopped with coupons... less than the number of fingers that I have on one hand (that's 4... wink) per shopping trip, but I was getting geared up for THE BIG LEAGUES OF COUPON SPENDING! I wanted the BIG savings... and I was determined to figure out this coupon spending stuff for myself and my family!

I'd been wowed a few months earlier, while purchasing all of the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner for a local family though the Salvation Army, with my Life Group. We spent $50 and coupons (thanks to my BFF Alissa) and we were able to purchase $150 worth of groceries for our adopted family! That's when my obsession set in!

Unfortunately, I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time of our awesome Life Group shopping trip, but over the course of the next several months, I read all that I could find on the Internet for learning to spend coupons! I've come a long way!

Before I began spending coupons "hard core" (aka: stockpiling), our family would spend between $125 -$150/week for food and to run our household... minus diapers, as we were gifted several months worth when my son was born.

After two years of learning the coupon spending 'ropes,' (yep, I'm still learning!), I have been able to limit our grocery/household spending to $50/week... including diapers this time!

The time and weekly Sunday paper expenses are undeniably worth their investments!

I've decided to share ALL of my FREE item coupons with one lucky winner, in honor of my TWO YEARS worth of savvy spending! I've decided that they would be far more beneficial to another coupon spender's budget!

YAY! YAY! Let's GIVE them AWAY!!!

$50+ in FREE item coupons include: 1 package of Huggies diapers, Kraft cheese, (2) Yoplait multi packs, Digiorno pizza, Excedrin, Oreo Cakesters, Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls, Box of Kashi cereal, Uncrustables and Sugardale bacon.
*Shopping is way more fun when you walk away with freebies!!!

Here's how to enter: (be sure to heighten your chances of winning by entering more than once!) *If you are reading this post in your email or through a feed reader, please leave your comments on this blog post instead of in my email! Thanks!

1. Sign up to become a FOLLOWER of Sharpen Your Scissors, this is the most sincere form of flattery to a blogger!

2. If you are already a Sharpen Your Scissors FOLLOWER than flaunt your follower status and share how long you've been following Sharpen Your Scissors!

3. For each friend/family member/co-worker/neighbor that you recruit to become a FOLLOWER of Sharpen Your Scissors you will receive another entry to win!
(Make sure to enter separately for each person!!!)

4. Share a short story of the coolest (or one of the coolest) things that someone has ever done for you! In my opinion, coupon spending is all about taking care of your family and those around you... paying it forward! For me personally, I was blown away by all of the love, support and delicious meals that we received after my son was born! Coupon spending allows me to (inexpensively) prepare meals for others in need!

5. Link this page to your blog, Facebook page or Tweet about this give away! (I'm @mrsdavewebber on Twitter!) Then let me know that you've put out your broadcast!

The WINNER of the $50+ in FREE item coupons will selected via Random.org, Thursday 3.4.10 at NOON!

Good luck!

Drug Store Deals: February 28th Weekly Edition

2010-03-01T00:08:00.001-05:00

THANK YOU Coupon Crazy Chrys for your drug store deal-ing coupon match-ups!

Drug store deals for this week:

CVS:
Revlon cosmetics and beauty tools, BOGO

Walgreens:

FREE Motrin PM, $.25 Frappachinos

Rite Aid:
Garnier Fructice hair products, $.99, $.25 Snickers

Grocery Game Plan: Kroger

2010-03-01T00:07:00.000-05:00

Here are my favorite stockpilable items this week, 3/1- 3/7, at Kroger!

Feel free to visit Kroger.com to view the complete ad.

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Irish Spring Intensify body wash, $1

Betty Crocker cake mix, $1/box

Visit macombmoneysavers for the entire listing of sales this week at Kroger for the Metro Detroit area.

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*Kroger sale prices are available to those who shop with a Kroger Savings Club Card. You will only receive the sale price discounts when you shop with your card. If you don't have a Kroger Savings Club Card, just stop by the Customer Service desk and sign up for a card so that you may begin reaping the discounts immediately.

*Kroger will double Manufacturer coupons up to and including $.50.

*NEW!!! Kroger now limits the number of coupons allowable to 3 identical coupons per like items. Purchasing several flavors/varieties side steps this limit!

*Rain checks for out of stock items are available at the customer service desk.

*Kroger offers a 'brought my own bag' discount of $.05 per bag.

*If you are headed to SUPER Kroger (108 W. Highland Rd., Howell MI 48843 (517) 552-0126) the most local Kroger that doubles coupons up to and including $1 (up to THREE identical coupons) visit 123Save for the best deals for the current week's promotions.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed any sweet deals!