Freebie!

Free e-book: Saving Money on Groceries
Download your free copy now for great tips on how to save more money on your groceries!
http://www.themenumom.com/ebook-saving-groceries

Free can of Red Gold Tomatoes

Go 'like' Red Gold Tomatoes on facebook to claim your coupon for a FREE can of Red Gold Tomatoes!

Freebie!

Free Beach-Nut Stage 4 Toddler Welcome Kit!  The kit includes 1 pk of steamies, 1 bottle of juicies, and 2 goodies!

http://www.beechnut.com/toddler1/index.asp?sourceID=157

Super 1 Pop Tart Deal

I just had to share this with you real quick!  This week there is a coupon in the Super 1 flyer to get Kellogg's Pop Tarts, 8ct for only $1.00.  I will definitely picking this item up!  My daughter LOVES pop tarts!

As I mentioned before, this deal is for Central Louisiana.  You will have to check your local store to see if this deal is being offered in your area.

Ways 2 Save Part II

Okay, so last post I talked about our MOPS meeting being about handling money and some of the different ways we can save money.  Well, I wanted to talk about some of the specific DIY projects I do to save money.  So here's a list for you:
1. Make ALL cards (This was our MOPS craft, too!)
2. Make hairbows & headbands
3. Make bow holders
4. Hair cuts
5. Make Laundry Detergent
6. Make cleaners
7. Make taco seasoning
8. Mend your own clothes
9. Wash and Clean the car yourself
10. Check out books at the library rather than buying them
11. Vaccinate pets at home
12. Build the dog house, don't buy it
13. Paint it yourself
14. Learn how to put up a back splash and  lay tile yourself (My husband and I did it!)  
15. Make decorations (this is really easy to do if you have a cricut)
16. Make your child's b-day cake instead of ordering one
17. Take your own photos (Odds are you will do much better than a photographer unless you plan to spend   at least $800)
18. Re-purpose things
19. Make holiday decor and home decor:  frames, candles, paintings, vinyl quotes, flower arrangements, glass etched items, coat racks, canvas art, wreaths, garland, etc.
20. Make gifts: blankets, toddler rocking chairs, framed photos, glass etched items, candles, frames, bows, bow holders, home decor items, personalized onesies, baby pants from an old t-shirt, scrapbook, scarfs, jewelry, ornaments, hair accessories, cards, etc.


What are some of your DIY projects that save your family money?

Ways to Save Money

Today was my monthly MOPS meeting, and boy was it great to be back!  Our theme was handling money.  During our discussion group, one of the questions was, "What are some ways that you save money?".  Of course you all know my answers were about couponing, D.I.Y. projects, and making detergents and cleaning supplies.  One of the ladies in my group, D, mentioned getting a food saver.  I had never thought about this before, but what a great idea!  It provides a much better was to freeze left-overs, or store them in lunch size portions for your hubby, as well as a great way to seal products like chips, making them last longer.  Do any of you use a food saver?  If so, what do you think about it?  Do you use it a lot?  We also talked about being patient when making a purchase, shopping around for deals, buying clearance, etc.  The question was also posed as to how much we spend per month on groceries.  I won't say what everyone said they spend on average, but I will share mine.  Our monthly grocery bill varies from $175 to $300.  I know that is kind of a lot, but here is why and how.  When I properly plan our monthly menu and base it mostly off of what is on sale, and do the coupon match up work we can do the $175 range.  If I don't put in the work it will be in the $250-$300 range.  Now, since my husband is a teacher, we get paid once a month so when we have a really long month, like this one, it will easily hit $300, even with coupons and all.   The last time we got paid was December 16th, so it will have been 46 days without pay or grocery shopping on the 31st.  So, needless to say it will be a BIG shopping trip.  So, how do you save on your grocery bill?  How often do you do the grocery shopping?

Freebies!

Get your FREE copy of Jiffy's Hospitality in a "JIFFY" recipe book.

http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php

 

 

Free sample and coupon from Stayfree!

Blue Bell Ice Cream Deals

Okay, here are 2 scenarios for blue bell ice cream:

Walmart: Blue Bell Ice Cream, half gallon for $5.25
                  - $1.00 off coupon from bluebell.com
                  = $4.25 

Mac's Fresh Market: Blue Bell Ice Cream, half gallon 2 for $9
                                 - $1.00 off coupon from bluebell.com
                                 = 2 for $8.00
 

Super 1 Savings

This week at Super 1 Frito Lay Ruffles Potato Chips are on sale for $1.97 a bag.  Also, for 3 days only (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), they will have Charmin Basic Bath Tissue, 12 roll pack and Bounty Basic Paper Towels, 8 rolls for $4.88 each.  

*This is for the central Louisiana area*
*Please check your local Super 1 for these deals as I can not promise your local store will have the same deals.

A New Look!

Soo....how do ya'll like the new look?  I know I am LOVING it!  Tracey did such an awesome job!  I am so glad to have been able to work with her...what a blessing!  If you haven't noticed yet, I now have a button that you can grab and post on your blog.  How exciting is that?!

So how do you guys feel about the new look?  Are you loving it as much as I am?  Is there anything else that you would like to see on the blog?

A Special Shout Out!

I am super excited for the new blog header and button Tracey is designing for me over at the Little Bitty Design Studio!  You guys are going to love the new look!  She does such a fabulous job!  Tracey teamed up with Katie over at Brighton Park for an awesome giveaway, which I won! 

So a big thank you goes out to Tracey and Katie!  I am really looking forward to see what Tracey has in store for us!

*GIVEAWAY TIME* Gift Card Gala Giveaways! SEVERAL WINNERS! ~ TheItMom.com: Coupon and Freebie Deals

*GIVEAWAY TIME* Gift Card Gala Giveaways! SEVERAL WINNERS! ~ TheItMom.com: Coupon and Freebie Deals

Freebies

Free sample of Simply Right Baby Formula:
http://www.simplyrightformula.com/baby-formula-sample.aspx

Free lip gloss with in store purchase at Victoria's Secret!

Sign up for free P&G coupons and samples!

Free sample of Shout Color Catcher:
http://www.shoutitout.com/en-US/Promotions/Pages/ColorCatcher.aspx

Free sample of NeilMed Sinus Rinse Bottle and Packets:
http://www.neilmed.com/usa/facebook_freesr.php

Free sample of Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers!

Wal-Mart Deals

Here are some Wal-Mart deals for the week of Jan 15th!

Kotex U Liners (18 ct) $1.24
-$1 off 1 SS 1/15 coupon
= $0.24

Brita Pitcher Basic $8.97
- $4.00 off 1 Brita Pitcher or Faucet Mount SS 1/15 coupon
= $4.97
( - $10.00 mail in rebate)
(= $5.03 money maker after rebate)

My Kroger Shopping List

Okay, here is my shopping list and coupon match-ups for my Kroger shopping trip this evening.

Pepsi 12pk          3 for $12
- $1.00 off diet pepsi Kroger coupon
= 3 12pks for $11.00

Tide Laundry Detergent 50oz         $4.99
- $2.00 off manufacturer's coupon
= $2.99

Gillette Body Wash 16-18oz         $2.49
- $1.00 off manufacturer's coupon
= $1.49

Manwich 15.5oz          $1.00
- .50 off digital coupon (dbled to $1) on 3
= $2.00 for 3

Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding 4ct          $1.00
- .45 off coupon (dbled to .90) on 3
= $2.10 for 3


* $4.00 off digital coupon*




Total cost before taxes = $15.58
Reg. price would have been $25.48 (before taxes).  That's a savings of $10.10!


Not too bad for a slow week.

How To Cut Down On Your Grocery Bill

If you're wondering how you can lower your grocery bill, here's how.

1. Make a list of things you NEED.  (Notice I stressed 'need' in the making of your grocery list.  If you are spending money on junk food, and items that you do not need, you are not achieving your greatest savings.)

2. Make a plan!  (Plan out your shopping trip.  Sit down and look at the ad, plan as many meals as you can around what is on sale and what you have coupons for.  Then you need to do the match-ups, which will get into in a bit.  Another big part of the plan is to decide when to shop.  I recommend shopping not too long after you have eaten a light meal or a snack.  If you go hungry, you will not stick to the plan.  If you go over stuffed, you will not buy everything you need, you will talk yourself out of getting some things you may really need later on.  Also, try to go during a time when the store will be less crowded so that you can avoid the stress and focus on the task at hand.)

3. Match-ups and Coupon Stacking!  (During the planning process, you need to sit down with your ad and do some match-ups.  Which sale items do you have coupons for?  You should also see if you can do any coupon stacking.  Coupon stacking is the method of combining store coupons with manufacturer's coupons.  Stacking results in the biggest savings!)


4.  Go shopping & stick to the plan!  (You've done your homework, so show us what you can do!  Avoid those in-store temptations, and I promise you will see results.)


Try this out, and let me know how much you saved!  If you have any questions, I'm here to help!  Good Luck!

Wal-Mart

Justin in case you forgot, Wal-Mart has printable coupons as well!  
http://coupons.walmart.com/?povid=cat14503-env172199-module092411-lLinkISNCOUPON

Right now they are offering coupons on everything from groceries, to movies, to car seats and baby formula.

Saving Big at Target!

There are some pretty good Target coupons available right now!  Head over and check them out.  http://coupons.target.com/

If anyone in your family wears Converse tennis shoes, Target has a coupon for $5.00 a $15.00 Converse purchase. 

Also, if your New Year's resolution is to lose weight, or live a healthier lifestyle, Target has some great coupons you might find very useful right now.

Enjoy!

New Kroger Ad!

Here is the new Kroger ad for this week!  

 http://krogersouthwest.mywebgrocer.com/Circular/KROGER-381/003811322/Weekly/2/1

Looks like some pretty good deals.  I haven't had a chance to do my match-ups yet, but right off I saw an opportunity for some free deodorant.

Tell 4 - Save $4 Deal

Tell 4 get $4.00 at Kroger right now! Head on over to kroger.com. and login or register to get started. Go to digital coupons to load your coupons for your next shopping trip, and click the tell 4 get 4 ad. All you have to do is email 4 friends about kroger's digital coupons, and you will have $4 instantly loaded to your shopper's card. I am super pumped about this!