FREE Reach Dental Floss

Click here to print your coupon for $1 off any Reach Dental Floss.  You can find these at Walmart or Dollar General (maybe other stores) for $1 or less and that will make them FREE.

Rite Aid - 75% Off Clearance Items for Gift Closet

While I was out yesterday taking Payton to the dentist and dance, I ran by Rite-Aid to check out their 75% off Christmas clearance.  I have been waiting for them to mark down these items.  I really wanted to add a few to my gift closet. I love any kind of gifts that have to do with pictures.

This is what I purchased:

2 - Photo Coasters - Reg. 5.99, Marked Down to 1.49
2 - Revolving Photo Cubes - Reg. 5.99, Marked Down to 1.49
1 - Photo Snowglobe - Reg. 3.99, Marked Down to .99
1 - Photo Travel Tumbler -Reg. 3.99, Marked Down to .99

Total OOP - 8.58
Savings - 34.50 

Thought of the Day

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what others say you cannot do.

TGI Friday's - $5 off $15 Purchase

Click here to print your coupon for $5 off $15 purchase.  Expires 1/13/11.

2 FREE Issues of Family Circle Magazine

Click here to request your 2 FREE issues of Family Circle magazine.

FREE Sample of Post-It Durable Tabs

Click here to request your FREE Sample of Post-It Durable Tabs and print up to $4 in coupons.

My Shopping Trips Yesterday - Including my Favorite Deals at Rite Aid

As posted earlier, one of my goals this year was to take a little "me" time and to do some of my shopping each week with no kids.  Last night, I took advantage of my "me" time and went shopping.  It was a nice break and enjoyed getting the great deals.

Rite-Aid:
1 Glass Christmas Ornaments - Clearance .99
2 Wet Ones - 1.99
Used (2) 1.00 coupons and received $2 +UP Rewards = FREE
1 Wheat Thins - 1.00
Use 1.00 coupon = FREE

Total OOP - 3.30
Received 2.00 + UPS Rewards for my next shopping trip

Dollar General:
2 - Olay Body Washes - $2.00
Used (2) $2 coupons = FREE
1 - Huggies Wipes - $2.50
Used .75 coupon = 1.75
Renuzit Air Freshner - $1.00
Used (1) FREE Product Coupon = FREE

Total OOP - $2.35


Walgreens:
1 - Enfamil Baby Formula - Reg. 25.49 on sale for 19.99
Used 2.00 mfr coupon
1 - Similac Adv Formula - Reg. 22.99 - On Sale for 19.99
Used Mfr Coupon for FREE formula that I received in the mail, cashier entered 22.99 for coupon so I received an additional $3 savings
Used 1.50 Register Rewards

Total OOP - 14.29
Saved - $34.99

Formula is something I usually have to buy each week and it is expensive.  I was so excited to get 2 for $14.29!!

(Formula not shown in picture.)

I may try to head back to Rite Aid today after I take Payton to her 1st dentist appointment.  They had all of their Christmas items clearanced down to 75% and I have been waiting for them to clearance some Christmas gift items.  There is a few things that I would like to purchase for my gift closet.  

Thought of the Day

Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.

Wendell Johnson

And the Winner Is ..........

The winner of the Chex Mix Prize Pack is:

Here are your random numbers:

19 - Baby Mama

Timestamp: 2011-01-03 22:26:55 UTC

Baby Mama has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks to everyone for entering.

My Shopping Trip for my Favorite Deals at Walgreens, CVS and Staples

We got asked out to a FREE dinner last night by a good friend.  It was a Christmas/Birthday/Lottery Winning celebration.  He took us to Arigatos Japanese Steakhouse (my favorite).  Dinner was great so while we were out we did some shopping on the way at CVS, Walgreens and Staples.

Here is my favorite deals for the week:

CVS

5 - Wisk at $5.00 each

1 - Xtra Laundry Detergent - $1.99

5 - Pepsi 2 Liters at .88

Used (5) $2 Wisk coupons

Used (1) $1 Xtra coupon

Used $1 ECB

Total OOP - $21.75

Receive $10 ECB

With ECB and coupons laundry detergent was only $1 per bottle.  I am now stocked up for a while.

Staples
2 Scotch Pop Up Tapes - $1 each
Used $1/2 coupon
Total OOP - $1.08

I don't really need tape but the pop up tape is great for when Payton wants to help me wrap gifts.  So I stocked up for Christmas.


Walgreens

Transaction #1
1 Finish Gelpacs - $3.49
Used 2.25 coupon
Total OOP - $1.51
Received - $1.50 Register Reward

Transaction #2
1 Finish Gelpacs - $3.49
Used 2.25 coupon
Total OOP - $1.51
Received - $1.50 Register Reward

Transaction # 3
1 Finish Gelpacs - $3.49
Used 2.25 coupon
2 Christmas Gift Tags - .49 each
Total OOP - $2.58
Received - $1.50 Register Reward

Transaction #4
1 Coke 12 pack - $3.34
1 Finish Gelpac - $3.49
1 Deodorant for DH - $2.99
Used FREE Coke 12 pack coupon
Used $2.25 Finish coupon
Total OOP - $4.99
Received $1.50 in Register Rewards

Transaction #5
1 Finish Gelpac - $3.49
3 Papermate Mechanical Pencils - .19 each
2 Finesse Shampoos - $1.99 each
1 Huggies Diapers - $6.99
Used 2.25 Finish Coupon
Used (2) $1 Finesse Coupons
Used $2 Register Reward
Used $10 Walgreens Gift Card
Total OOP - $2.99

Received $1.50 Register Reward

My total OOP for the day was $36.91.  I have a $10 ECB and $7.50 in Register Rewards.  I am stocked up on laundry detergent for some time.  I already had 2 new bags of Cascade gelpacs and with the 5 Finish I have enough for a long time.  The pop up tape was bought mainly for Payton to help wrap gifts next Christmas but it was still an excellent price. The gift tags are something that I will need next Christmas since I am out and they were 50% off.  The diapers were at a great price even though I didn't have a Huggies coupon I still got them and you can never have too many.  You can never have too much shampoo and I will also send off for a rebate so they will equal out to be FREE.  I just mentioned last week that we need some new pencils and .19 was too good of a price to turn down.  My husband informed me that he was out of deodorant so I had to buy 1 until I can find a great deal.  The Walgreens gift card was a stocking stuffer from my mom and it came in very handy yesterday.  I was very pleased with my shopping yesterday and with the cashier at Walgreens who didn't say a word when I asked if I could do 5 transactions.  He was a young guy and seemed to not mind.   I have to run to Rite Aid tomorrow to pick up a prescription so I have a few things to pick up there. 

My Goals for 2011

After reviewing our finances, my life and having a discussion with my husband.  Here is a few goals that I have set for myself that I feel like I CAN achieve in 2011.  Putting them on paper and sharing them with you  motivates me even more to do whatever I need to reach my goals.  Wish me luck!

Goals for 2011:

- Finish paying off our debt!!!

- Work even harder at saving money.

Remember, I am now a stay at home mom now so this has become a little harder but I WILL get it done.

 - Plan my shopping trips each week with the sales and coupons I have.

- Make a menu plan each week with food that we have so I will be prepared and organized if I need to pick up something up.

- Set aside time each to shop without the kids.  I find it so much easier to shop and look for deals when I do not have the kids with me.  This has been on of the reasons that I haven't been "couponing" as much.  I will set aside at least 1 evening/afternoon to shop alone.

- Purchase a laptop computer.  This is one of my personal goals.  I currently have a PC upstairs but I think it would be more convenient to have a laptop that I can use anywhere.  This way I don't have to "plan" a time to go upstairs and get on the computer.  My plan is to save "my" money and purchase a laptop without using any money in our budget and without using any of our savings.  I did receive some money for Christmas so right now I am starting out with $75.   I am also looking for ways to earn a little extra money for this purchase. 

- Set aside time for just ME each week.  Being a mom is one the greatest gifts in life but everyone needs a break and little me time.  I find this time to be rejuvenating and as the saying goes, if moma ain't happy no one is happy.  :)

-
Since the beginning of the year, I have already starting working towards my goals.  Since, I have discussed these with my dh I think it will make it alot easier to accomplish since he is onboard and also wants me to accomplish my goals and save money.  I also joined the Money Saving Challenge at Frugal makes Cents.  Reading this blog daily keeps motivated on finding ways to save money.

Thought of the Day

Beginning of the year, is a perfect time to set goals that you want to achieve.

Ways I Saved/Earned Money This Week

What a week it has been!!  First of all, let me say Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope our year is filled with lots of fantastic coupons and great deals.  This past week has been a doozy.  I got sick the day after Christmas and dh got called in to work due to the weather so Sunday and Monday was miserable.  I was sick and snowed in with 2 kids.  Not sure how I made it through Sunday but thankfully I am feeling better after lots of rest and medicine.  Wednesday and Thursday was spent getting my house back in order from Christmas, my kids got way too much.  I also took down all of my decorations and got everything packed away for next year.  Friday, moma needed a break so we called the grandmas to take care a child each and we spent the day returning some gifts (Bryson got 3 of 1 toy and 2 of 2 more toys for Christmas) and exchanging a couple of things and then we treated ourselves to The Olive Garden for an early dinner. I received a gift card for Christmas and I also had a coupon.  Throughout the week I did find several ways to save money. 


Here is a list of things I did to save/earn money in the past week:

- I read all of my Inbox Dollars emails daily to add money to my account.

 

- I read all of my MyPoints emails daily to add points to receive FREE gift cards.

- Didn't do any grocery shopping this week except for bread, milk, formula and diapers.  Only spent $20 OOP.

- Had leftovers for lunch 4 days this week. No food wasted and money saved by not cooking something else.

- Continued trying to teach my 4 year old the importance of not leaving lights on or not using lights during the day when they are not needed. (Not sure if we will ever get there!)

 

- Cleaned out my coupon binder and filed new coupons for future shopping trips.

- Spent lots of time at home sick and snowed in.  No gas money spent.

- Turned my heat off on Friday we are having a warm spell.

 

- Watched 1movie for FREE saved on my DVR, thanks to Starz free weekend on Directv a couple of months ago. 

 

- Made all meals out of stockpile.  No money spent on eating out except for Friday.

 

- Received a $3 deposit in paypal for a survey payment.

- My mom had a Honey Baked Ham for Christmas and she sent home lots of leftovers.  I saved some for sandwiches and then put the rest in the freezer.  Enough for a couple of meals.

 

- Recycled 16 Christmas bags that we received with gifts.

 

- Recycled 8 boxes.  5 of them can be used for other occasions and will only need a ribbon. 

 

- Took an inventory of my Christmas supplies.  I have plenty of wrapping paper, Christmas bags, bows, and tape.  I do need to buy some ribbon and name tags.  I hope to find some 75% off or more.

 

- Had lunch at moms on New Years day and of course she sent leftovers home again for dinner.  She has supplied us with lots of free meals in the past few days.  

 

- Returned several toys and received gift cards for the credit.  I plan on saving these to use as needed on the kids.

 

- Starting a list of my goals for 2011 to save money, earn money and hopefully finish paying off all of our bills.  (Will share this later!) 

 

What did you do to save/earn money this week?