I did go a get a few needed things tonight.

Like I said yesterday I did go and pick up a few things. Nothing exciting, but I wanted to list it.

Target:
I picked up my free tote bag, that is it.
Nothing out of pocket

Farm and Fleet
40 pounds of Rabbit food
Total $10.01, I used my Visa gift card, so nothing out of pocket.

Aldi:
Corn Chips
Hamburger buns
5 pounds of ground turkey
4 jugs of cat litter
Total: $22.52

Walmart:
4 Microwave meals
1 bottle Endust
4 Soaps
3 boxes of cotton swabs
3 cat litters
Before coupons: 38.49
After coupons: 21.17



Walgreens:
2 Pizzas
5 microwave soups
Total after coupons: $6.50, but nothing out of pocket I used my Walgreens rebate card.



Lolgi's:
9 powerade drinks ( 20 cents a bottle after coupons)
5 bags of Quacker Rice Cakes ( 25 cents a bag after coupons)
Strawberry milk straws ( free after coupon)
box of breaded mushrooms (free after coupon)
3 dozen eggs (46 cents after coupons)
1 can of OJ
4pk of yougart
6 pack of kids yougart
4 packs of cat treats (free after coupons)
3 ham steaks ($1.31 total for the 3 after coupons)
6 packages of Tuna Creations
1 small sour cream
2 packages of taco seasoning
3 garlic breads
2 cans of Manwich
5 bottles of chocolate milk ( free after coupons)
3 boxs of cereal
Magazine (free with $50.00 purchase)

Before coupons: 73.55
After coupons $25.11

So, out of pocket for everything $68.80. And I had enough rabbit food and cat food and cat litter to keep the animals going to awhile.
I got several items for my lunch at work, so I don't go out to eat or eat in the cafeteria.

I don't plan on grocery shopping now for at least 3 to 4 weeks, we have to live on out stock pile and what I bought tonight. I will pick up items that are free or close to free, but that will be it.

My menu plan for the next 2 weeks will include:
Breakfast:
Cereals
Toaster Strudel
Pancakes
Eggos
Oatmeal
Fruit
Eggs
Omelets

Lunches:
Mac and Cheese
Grilled cheese
Soups
Hot dogs
Pasta roni
Speghettios
Sandwiches - Peanut Butter and Jelly Or Ham
Tuna
Microwave meals (for me at work)
Noodles Soup bowls (for me at work)
SIDES: Apple Sauce, mixed fruit, cottage cheese, and suddenly salads

Dinners:
Speghetti
Walking Tacos
Casserole ( given from the church last night)
Ham Steaks
Frozen Pizzas
Sloppy Joes
Hamburger Helpers
Turkey

I have plenty of Steamer Veggies, mashed potatoes and rice a roni's for side dishes.

You may look at this and think, wow not very healthy, BUT, while my husband is out of work, we will have to cut down on fresh fruits. I will still try to get bananas at the Kwick Trip if I am out that way.

Free Food

Tonight was dinner and prayer at our church, we all went there for dinner and the lady that was fixing dinner packed up all the extras for us to take home! It should cover dinner for 2 nights. She also had an extra gallon of milk and one dozen eggs.

Also, I went and cashed in my Thank you Points. So, I have a $25.00 Visa Gift Card coming. I will save it for upcoming needs.

I also got a $10.00 refund check in the mail and $1.00 for a survey in the mail today.

I am still in shock, but okay. Thank you for the kind emails and support. I am going to go out tomorrow night and do a bit of shopping. I have some free item coupons that expire at the end of the month (saturday) so I want to use them up before they expire. I wil not spend much, I am watching every penny!

I sat down and reworked out budget. I have enough money to cover the next 2 months. So, right now, the only worry is no health insurance.

KEEP BEING FRUGAL!!!

Bad news....and free pizzas

Dear Readers, I try to keep my personal life off my blog. This blog is my journey to be debt free, but since this concerns my journey, I am posting it.

Tonight, my husband came home from work...at 7:30pm..not 7:30 am like he normally does. Yeap, he was laid off. He only had this job 9 months. He loved this job and this lay off really will hurt us. My job ends the day school ends, June 2009.

I have no idea what we will do at that point. So, I am going to have to freeze my Credit card pay off date. We will make minimum payments on our credit cards and save whatever money we can into our emergency fund.

I have to hold onto hope that my husband will get unemployment. That will help, but it will be about half what his take home was. I pray he gets unemployement.

I am hurt, angry and in shock...I am going to have to put my frugal ways to the test. Think of what more I can sell and pray God has a reason for this.

On a side note: Tonight, I got 4 free pizzas at Walgreens...I needed to use that RR before it expired.

Free Diet Dr. Pepper 2 liter or 20 oz.

http://www.freedietdrpepper.com/

Fill out the form and they will send you a coupon for a free 2 liter ( or 20 oz.)

OPEN TO FIRST 2,000,000 TO REGISTER 1/26/09-3/31/09. MUST BE 13 OR OLDER. LIMIT ONE PER PERSON. COUPON GOOD FOR ONE 2 LITER OR 20 OZ. DIET DR PEPPER (UP TO $1.59) AND EXPIRES 6/30/09. ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE U.S.

Another Frugal Happy Day!

A co worker at work asked me if I wanted the clothes she cleaned out of her closet. She said that some were maternity, so I would just have to go through them. I had no problem with that, she has given my clothes in the past and they are all very nice.

I went through it, about 1/2 I rebagged to give someone else, they were either too big or maternity, but the other 1/2 were really nice clothes! I am so excited! I practically have a new wardrobe!! Between Steve and Barry's Going out of Business sale and now this! I really have some nice, comfortable, and pretty new stuff!! ( new to me anyways!!)

It's true I won't use half the clothes, but I have a rule. If someone offers me something (clothes, movies, books, etc) I always say yes. 2 reasons; One, I can use it myself or Two, I can find someone else who can use it. Hand me downs and pass them on's are great frugal ways of saving money and getting free things!

*************** Other Notes***************
Also, in the mail, I got my $5.00 Starbucks gift card from Swag Bucks!! Cool! Less then a month and I already got a gift card!!! I am saving up for the Target one next!!

My Posts about my trip to Pick N Save this past week ended up on Channel 6's News Blog Front Page. Kinda cool! :) I know with the bad economy more people are struggling. I hope that I can be a help to anyone who really wants to learn. Thank you for the email about my coupon binder. If anyone has any more questions...feel free to post them!

My Coupon Binders

I got an email from a reader recently asking me about my coupon binders. I decided to take photos and show you what I do to keep organized. I have two binders, one is for foods and one is for everything else. My purple binder is for my food coupons and it has a front flap. I keep scissors, pens, calculator and a gift wrap cutter in there. Then the inside front has an accordian file. I put my ads and my coupon policy information in those files. Then my pouches; the first pouch is for coupons I am going to hand to the cashier and the red zip pouch has two pockets, One pocket is for coupons I plan to use ( I also use envelopes for seperate stores and keep those in the accordian file until I get to the specific store) the other pocket is for coupons my kids and I find while shopping, which I will sort and go through later when I get home. I purge my binder once a month, getting rid of expired coupons. MY blue binder is for everything that is not food. It's exactly the same as my food one but it doesn't have the flap on it and the supplies. It has two pouches for coupons.
I take my binders with me when I shop, so if I come across a clearance or unadvertised special, I have my coupons with me. I use photo pages to keep coupons in. Most people use baseball card holders but those are to small for my comfort.
Below is everything in pictures.. post any questions!

My Coupons Binder:


My front flap:


The Store Ads:


My coupon pouch:



My shopper cards and gift cards:


THE COUPONS:

Trip to Pick n Save...Free Groceries!

I went to Pick n Save. I had a $15.00 gift card from a Christmas Gift and a small amount of money left on my shoppers hotline card.

Transaction 1:
6 boxes of Cereal
Cocoa Puffs
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cookie Crisp
Fiber One Shreadded Wheat
Banana Nut Cherrios

Before coupons: $20.34
After coupons: $6.84

Used the gift card for the $6.84 and I got a FREE Gallon Milk catalina. :)
Even with out the gift card, $6.84 divided by 6 boxes is $1.14 a box of cereal.

Transaction 2:

2 dozen eggs
2 ham steaks
2 small bottles of OJ
bottle of French Dressing
2 loafs of white bread
2 pounds of bananas
1 gallon milk

Before coupons: 22.84
After coupons: $4.69

I also put that on my gift card. I will get a $3.00 Ham Rebate too. So, then my total will be $1.69.

Then I stopped at Kwik Trip

3 bags of milk
2 bottles of OJ

Total $4.29 put on my shoppers hotline gift card.

So, nothing out of pocket. :) Good trip! Now for those of you who say, Well, I couldn't do that, I didn't have the gift card. My out of pocket would have been $15.82 and the cereal alone was $20.34 before coupons. SO, it still was a great deal. The coupons I used were Sunday paper coupons and some wine tags. It's still a good deal. The amount of time I spent, looking at the ad and grabbing my coupons was less than a 1/2 hour and the time in the store was about 45 minutes, but that was because I couldn't decide if I wanted to buy the ham and OJ. :) Glad I did!

Wonderful Frugal Day!

What a nice day we had...and out of pocket I spent $1.69..

First stop, the library. The kids each got one computer game and some new books. They also each picked out a video for the week. The library has puzzles, computers for the kids, coloring corner and many games. So, the kids can not only read but play there as well. All for free (well, we pay for it with our taxes anyway!).

Second stop, the aqua center. Today was their open house. So, we got to swim in the water park for free. We got lemonade and popcorn, also free. Then the kids wanted Nachos. The chips were free, but we bought the cheese cups (50 cents each kid).

Third Stop, Used our Block Buster coupons. 3 movie rentals after coupons, 69 cents. :) The kids are going to have a movie night tonight!

Forth, my daughter was given some ceramic things to paint, so we got out our paints and painted. It cost us nothing because the ceramic things were given to her and I have some paints and brushes from a freecycle give away. So we have spent part of the afternoon painting. I am taking a break right now to write this.

What a fun day for my kids. We spent time as a family and spent very little money.

Walgreens Trip

I want back to Walgreens on my way home from work tonight.

I bought 7 12 packs of soda again ( we normally don't buy this much soda, so my husband is in HEAVEN!)

Total:$21.00
After Coupons and Register Rewards: $9.16
Then I got another RR for $10.00. So I paid $1.37 a 12 pack and I got $10.00RR

3 years of Todays' Diet & Nutrition Magazine Free

https://www.gvpub.com/subscribe/tdninaug09.shtml

Today's Diet & Nutrition magazine is offering a free 3 year subscription.

Expires 01/24/09

Regular price is $18.99 for 3 years

1. Click here to go to Today's Diet and Nutrition Site
2. Coupon Price : Free | Code : INAUG09

Redbox Code for Today

Redbox code for today!
K6W3G4
Rental is free for one night, you must return the next day!

Walmart, quick trip

I ran to Walmart and Walgreens due to other errands.

At Walmart,
4 bars of baby soap
1 box of cotton swabs

76 cents after coupons




At Walgreens

6 jars of Ragu
2 boxes of Lipton Tea
2 packs of cheese
1 pack of christmas to/from labels

Total: $21.97
Then I used my coupons, Total after coupons: $19.47
Then I used my RR's from the soda deal and granola deal from last week. Total after RR's:$7.47
Then I used my Shoppers Hotline Gift card so it paid the balance. Out of Pocket: Zero! and I got a $10.00 RR from the Ragu/Lipton Purchase!!

I know we will be having lots of speghetti and grilled cheese sandwiches this week. :)

FREE sample of BOOST® Kid Essentials Multipack

Here is a coupon for a free sample.

BOOST KID Essentials Multipack

Walgreens trip

Well, after having freezing temps and the flu, I finally had a chance to run to Walgreens.

Transaction one:
7 12packs of Sierra Mist and Mountain Dew
Total before coupons:$21.00
Total after coupons: $13.79
That is a $1.97 for a 12 pack! And the best part, I got $10 RR for my next trip! :)

Transaction two:
4 boxes Fiber One Granola Bars
1 box Fiber One Pastry Tarts
1 Value Box of Nature Valley Granola Bars
Total: $13.34
After coupons: $6.67
I got another $2.00 register reward and 10 bonus boxtops.

So, I will save the $12.00 in register rewards for next week. I still have several $3.00 off $10.00 Grand Opening coupons which I will use next week before they expire.

Not my best trip, but my husband loves Mountain Dew and for the $20.46 I spent, I got $12.00 in future purchase register rewards.

I also stopped by and picked up my free Blockbuster Rental. :) So we wil have a movie night tonight. Free.

Free Bottle of Sauve Shampoo Today!!

IT's open!! Go get your free bottle!
SAUVE

Today's Redbox Code

Today's free movie rental code is H48MX2.

Go enjoy a free movie! And remember to return it tomorrow, otherwise it's a dollar a day.

Point programs Cash In!

On Dec. 20th, I signed up for a new program, Swagbucks. It's a point program similar to most of the others. This one you do searches and get "bucks". Well, It's not even a full month and I was able to cash in for a $5.00 Gift Certificate for Starbucks! This program is easy to do and getting my first GC so fast was a bonus!
Sign up for swagbucks yourself at www.swagbucks.com

I also cashed my Disney Rewards points. I got 2 Music CD's my kids have been asking for. So, that will be a nice gift for them!

I also cashed in some of my MY POINTS. They have a bonus deal right now, Order any gift card and you get a bonus $15.00 FTD flower Gift Card. So, I cashed out for a $25.00 Walgreens Gift Card and the $15.00 FTD. :) Great deal!

IF you would like to know about any of these programs, send me a Email or post a comment. I will get you the information.

So tonight I am getting $45.00 in gift cards and two Disney CD'S!!!

WOO HOO! Free Drinks for the kids!

Someone my husband works with bought some drink mix that he decided he didn't like, so he asked my husband if he wanted them. SURE! So, here is what my hubby brought home.



These are the don't add sugar ones, just add water!

Quaker Rice Cake Sample

Rice Cake Sample

Click on the Free Sample Button.

Enjoy!

Bzz Agent

I haven't been on Bzz Agent for a long time..but I went there tonight and did a bunch of surverys. I didn't realize that if you do the survey's, they pay you between 3 and 10 My Points! I am really excited about that because I am almost to another gift certificate!!

:) If you want to learn more about Buzz Agent, you can go to BZZ if they ask for who referred you, you can enter Frugalmommie22.

Back to Walgreens...

Ok, I admit, since Walgreens opened up only a short drive ( about 8 blocks) from my house, I have been getting the deals more often then I ever did before. After I heard about the South Beach Deal, I wanted to get right over there because I know stocks are typically limited.

Here is my transaction:
1 pack of Pull Ups
4 Glade Oil Candle refills ( which is great because I bought the holiday glass holders last month - Free after coupon, of course)
2 Walgreens Tote Bags (clearance!)
6 boxes of South Beach Bars ( lunch box snacks!)
3 boxes of Electrasol
1 bottle of Shampoo
4 cans of Progresso Soup

Total before coupons: $56.44
Total after coupons: $23.95
Then I paid with the Register Rewards from earlier today, so my total, adding in the tax, was $5.62! Less then the cost of the sale price pull ups! Also, several of the items were rebate book items, so I am getting another $9.00 back in rebates! Which means I made money on the deal!

The receipt said I saved $76.67, which I am sure they are adding in the cost before the sale prices, but since I would never buy it full price, I really don't feel I saved that much.

:) Here is a photo of the reciept:

IP Coupons for South Beach Diet

Link to South Beach

Print the coupons from the website, then head to Walgreens. This months rebate book as spend $15.00 and get a $5.00 rebate back. You will need about 5 to 6 coupons ( depending on price and YMMV).

These make good lunch snack and purse snack items. :)

Trip to Walgreens...

Went to Walgreens today.
I did two transactions:

First Transaction:
2 bottles of Centrum Vitamins (bonus 30 pk)
1 bottle of Caltrate

Total before coupons: $21.00
After coupons: $12.00
I got a $10.00 Register Rewards back.

Tranaction 2:
Fructius Shampoo
Bayer Aspirin
Aleve ( Bonus bottle 50% extra)
2 bottles of Childrens Vitamins
Alke-seltzer Flu Medicine

Total Before coupons: $29.28
After Coupons: 21.28
I got another $10.00 Register Reward

So I spent $33.28, but I got $20.00 in register rewards for next time AND the second transaction qualifies for the Bayer Rebate that was in this past sunday's paper. Which will give me another $10.00 back. First Rebate for 2009!! So, I spend $33.28 out of pocket but I have $20.00 of free spending money next trip and $10.00 coming back to me. :) The kids have vitamins again for awhile and I have more flu medicine on hand incase I get sick like I did last spring!!

If you have a little boy....

Lego has a new magazine Lego Jr. You can get a 2 year subscription for free...

follow this LINK

:)

Free Bottle of Sauve on Jan. 14th

Sauve Coupon for free bottle!
Link

Go check it out Jan. 14th

Velvetta Cheese IP Coupon and Free Speghetti

Bricks Coupon
$1.00 off any 16 oz or larger Velvetta Cheese. 4/30/2009

Fazoli's
Free Speghetti!
Get a coupon for a Free Speghetti Platter with the purchase of a small drink.

Walgreens has free ice cream this week!

I just finished up at Walgreens!



Before coupons: $27.26
After Coupons: $8.74
Rebates to send in for: $2.50

The ice cream is on sale 2 for $6.00, you can sign up for a IP bricks coupon for $3.00 off any one pint. I was able to print it twice.

http://b.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=vi&tqnm=qadracm26625076&c=BJ&o=54923&p=TAFQADLDUO7336175585&eb=1&z=

Steve and Barry's going out of business...

I had never heard of this store until this weekend, but when we went on our vacation, we found a Going Out of Business Sale. I asked my hubby if I could stop and look...What a great shopping trip! Nothing was over $3.33. Total before discount.$450! After the discounts, I spent $113.33. I put it on my credit card so I could collect my thank you points, but I already wrote the check out which I will drop in the mail tomorrow, so no accumlated debt! Here is what I got:
8 pairs of men's carpenter jeans
2 pairs of men's dress shorts
1 pair of men's casual shorts
8 pairs of woman's underware
3 bras
3 packs of socks for boys
1 swimsuit
1 sun dress
1 hooded winter jacket
3 fannel babydoll style shirts
1 black hensey cotton shirt
5 pairs of woman's jeans
2 long jane type shirts
7 pairs of assorted work pants, corduroy, chinos, trousers, etc.
3 big mesh bags ( tote bags for grocery shopping!)

Great Book...and 2009 Goals.

Happy New Year...I spent the New Year celebrating my wedding anniversary with my husband, what a wonderful relaxing time we had! During our get away I reread one of my favorite books, Frugal Luxuries; Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort you Soul by Tracey McBride. I encourage you to read it. It explores different topics and how you can live frugally yet still create a wonderful family fun atmosphere. It talks about how to live abundantly while saving money and enjoying life. Enjoying life doesn't mean you have a lot of money, it means you are content with what you have and enjoy what life has given you.

IF your goal is to be debt free this year, there are two things you must do. One, stop spending. You don't NEED it! Whatever it is! Two, while you cut your spending, you have to increase your income. Our family is still on track to be credit card free as of July 2009. That will mean about $700 a month in payments. It's going to be a challenge, but it's a challenge I look forward to. I don't want to have monthly payments that are skyrocketing.

Also, one more reminder, go through you coupon binders and purge all 2008 coupons. Let's hope 2009 is full of great deals and freebies!

Here's to 2009!!