Ways I Saved/Earned Money This Week (Past Couple of Weeks Included)

- My computer crashed a couple of weeks ago and my dear sweet friends Shannon fixed it.  Thanks Shannon, you saved me lots of money!

- I read all of my MyPoints emails daily for my account and my husband's to add points to receive FREE gift cards.

- Cleaned out my coupon binder.

- Continued to use my FREE samples this week including - 589
toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.

- Only used my dishwasher once this week.

- Printed a few coupons for future shopping.

- Paid a couple of bills online. No money spent on stamps.

- Requested a couple of FREE samples.

- Read a (1) FREE magazine that I received in the mail this week.

- Stuck to my menu plan this week. No eating out.

- Used my Just Save fuel rewards when filling up with gas and saved .20 per gallon.

- Continued to cut my dryer sheets in half to save.

- Planned my grocery shopping using sales and coupons.

 - Did a couple of sponsored posts for cash and gift cards.

 

- Cashed in Swagbucks for (1) $5 Amazon gift cards.  I am already saving for next Christmas!

- Ordered 1 last gift from Amazon. Paid nothing OOP since I have a credit from my FREE gift cards from Swagbucks.

- Ordered my FREE Christmas cards from Shutterfly for doing a sponsored post.

- Sold 3 toys that my kids have outgrown to my hairdresser for $40.

- Wrapped all my Christmas gifts with paper purchased from clearance last year for almost nothing. 

- Used Christmas gift bags that I recycled from last Christmas for a few gifts.

- Still organizing and cleaning out my storage closet.  It is taking me awhile because I work on it a little bit each day while my 2 year old is napping.

- Donated 7 garbage bags of clothes, 1 box of books, approximately 100 items on hangers, and 2 garbage bags of toys to the Goodwill.  Got a receipt to use on my taxes.

- Donated a couple of toys from my gift closet to Toys for Tots.

- DH replaced my windshield wipes instead of taking my Tahoe to the dealership.  Thanks DH for saving me a trip and money.

- Cashed in 30 Coke Reward Points for a coupon for a FREE Coke 12 pack, one of the 12 days of Christmas offers.

 

What did you do to save/earn money this week? Please link up below or leave a comment and share how you did.

FREE Christmas Cookie Recipe eBook

Free eCookbook: The 9 Christmas Cookie Recipes for Hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party. Hosting a Christmas cookie exchange is lots of fun. And, even if you're not hosting, but you're attending a homemade Christmas cookie exchange, it's a great experience to bake and swap your favorite Christmas cookies for the holidays. And, even if you're not participating in a Christmas cookie exchange at all, and just want to make unique Christmas cookie recipes, our free eCookbook provides great and easy Christmas cookies that all your loved ones are sure to enjoy.

Sunday Coupon Preview

 

There will be no coupons in this Sundays paper.  There are lots of great printable coupons available from Coupons.com, RedPlum, and Coupon Network. 

Thought of the Day

 

Countdown to Christmas has begun ..... 10 days!

New Coupons Available

Great new coupons available today!  Print them while you can.

$1.00 off any REACH Floss Product
$1.00 off any REACH ACCESS Flosser Product
$1.00 off REACH Floss or REACH ACCESS Flosser
$1.00 off (1) Silk Fruit&Protein quart or larger
$5.00 off Tigger Movie Bounce-a-rrrific dvd
$0.75 off one Silk Quart or Half Gallon
$1.00 off Fruit and any TWO Kellogg's Cereals
$6.00 off DOC MCSTUFFINS DVD and Digital Copy
$1.00 off Juice and any 2 Kellogg's Krave Cereals
$1.00 off any 1 Gerber Graduates 2+ Kid Selects
$1.00 off any one Gerber Graduates 2+ Dippers
$1.00 off any TWO (2) COMBOS Baked Snacks
$1.00 off Yogurt & any TWO Kellogg's Cereals
$6.00 off two Select Disney Junior DVDs

 

Thought of the Day

Let the past make your better not bitter.

Vistaprint - $2 Personalized T-Shirts - Great Gift!!

Christmas is only a few more days away so make sure you have all your presents and stocking stuffers ready to go! To spread a little more holiday cheer (and cross off another last-minute present off your list), design your own personalized T-shirt for everyone in your family. They'll make a perfect matching set for every member of your family to wear to your annual family reunion during the holidays or even for your annual family football game. For only $2, plus shipping and processing, you can easily design the perfect shirt for friend who just started her own gardening company, your cousin who is an aspiring musician, or your niece who just got back from studying abroad in Italy. You can even help your kids design "Best Mom" or "Best Dad" t-shirts for last-minute stocking stuffers or presents under the tree. Everyone is sure to love the one-of-a-kind, personalized T-shirts that are affordable enough for friends and family, but also comfy enough to wear every day after holiday season! Shipping starts at $4.14.

York Photo - FREE Offer

Choose one Free Offer: 11x14 Collage Poster, Desk Calendar, or 4x6 Photo Book.

Use code: SPECIALHOLIDAY.

Does not include shipping.

Target Coupon - FREE $10 Gift Card with $50 Purchase

 

Are you heading to Target to do shopping soon?  If so, print this coupon to receive a FREE $10 gift card with a $50 purchase.  Coupon expires 12/15/12.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Lights Walking Trails

I love this time of the year.  So many fun thrifty things to do.  Here is a few pictures from the Pilot Mountain Christmas lights display.  Payton and Bryson had so much walking through the trails and enjoying the lights.

Merry Christmas!!

My Favorite Deals at Lowes Foods This Week - 12/12-12/18

Here is a list of my favorite deals at Lowes Foods this week.  Remember, Lowes Foods doubles coupons up to .99.  You can use 20 coupons per transaction.  They will accept 4 "like" coupons and 2 "like" internet coupons.

Also,  you can earn .10 per gallon fuel rewards with every $100 spent.


Fresh Rewards eOffer
Nestle Toll House Morsels - $1.88
Buy 2 and Use .75/2 coupon 11/4 RP
Final Price - $1.13 each
Limit 2

Birds Eye Steamfresh Varieties - $1
Buy 2 and Use .50/2 coupon 11/18 SS
Final Price - .50 each

Butterball Turkey Bacon - $2.25
Use .75/1 printable coupon
Final Price - .75 each

Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes - $1
Buy 2 and Use .50/2 coupon 12/9 RP
Final Price - .50 each

Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk - $1.99
Use .55/1 coupon 11/4 RP
Final Price - .89 each

Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar - .98
Use .50/1 printable coupon
Final Price - FREE

Carnation Evaporated Milk - $1
Buy 2 and Use .50/2 coupon 9/30 RP or $1/2 coupon 10/28 RP
Final Price - $1

Fuel Rewards
Alpo Canned Dog Food - .99
.10 per gallon wyb 12

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix - $2.49
.10 per gallon wyb 4
Use .50/1 printable coupon
Final Price - $1.49 each

Chobani Little Champions - $1.39
.10 per gallon wyb 9
Use .30/1 printable coupon

Nabisco Crackers - $3.49
.10 per gallon wyb 3
Use .75/1 Ritz Crackerfuls printable coupon
Final Price - $1.99

Zatarain's Dinners - $3.49
.10 per gallon wyb 4

You can the current Lowes Foods Circular here!

To Celebrate Today - 12 Freebies for 12-12-12

To celebrate 12/12/12, below is a list of 12 freebies that you can request.  Enjoy!



- Click here to design your FREE Postcard from the Gap. Use your photos on Facebook and design a FREE postcard.

 

Click here to request your coupon for a FREE Essence of Beauty Hand Lotion from CVS.






Click here to request your FREE subscription to American Baby magazine.

Click here to "Like" Nescafe on Facebook and request your FREE sample of Nescafe Memento.

Click here to request your 4 FREE samples of Airborne.

Click here to print your coupon for a FREE Lens Cleaner and Cloth from your WAlmart Vision Center.

 
Click here to request your FREE Sample of Greysky Coffee.

Click here to request your FREE subscription to BabyTalk magazine.

Click here to print your coupon for your FREE Revitalens Starter Kit from Walmart Vision Center.

Click here to request your FREE Propel Zero samples.

Click here to request your FREE sample of Kirkland Signature Super Supreme Diaper from Costco.  A Costco membership is not required.

Click here to request your FREE sample of Garnier Fructus Triple Nutrition.

Thought of the Day

12/12/12 - Another triple sequence day will not occur for almost a century.  Make today memorable in some way. 

Shutterfly 8 x 8 Photobook Giveaway - 2 Winners

I love photo books and have designed at least 25 or more for myself and for gifts.  Some people scrapbook their children, special occasions and holidays, I "photobook".   I try to do at least 3 a year for each child (I am a little behind but constantly working on it) one for their birthday, one for Christmas, and one for our summer vacation. In the past, there has been a few extras throughout the year also.  I think they are great keepsakes that my children will treasure forever.

 

Photobooks are also great gifts for anyone.  I have given several to family members and friends.  I have made duplicate copies of photobooks I have designed for my childrens grandparents.  They loved having a brag book to share with their friends.  I have also made a photobook for a friend of just random pictures that I have taken of her children when we had been together.  It contained pictures that I took that she did not have and she loved it.  

 

A photobook would also be a great gift for your spouse.  Take some pictures that you know he/she would love.  Tell him/her how much they are loved and appreciated. 

 

 

 Shutterfly Photo Books: The Best Gift Ever

 

 

 

I am giving away 2 FREE Shutterfly photobooks.  Giveaway does not include shipping.  The FREE Shutterfly photobooks needs to be ordered by 12/31/12.

 

 

How to enter: (6 entries per person)

-  Watch the video and leave me a comment letting me know what scene in the video reminds you of a memory from your own life.   (Required)

 

- Visit Shutterfly's photobook page, click on the "Styles" tab toward the middle of the page, and let me know your favorite photobook style. 

 - Follow/Subscribe to my blog (1 extra entry) and leave me a comment telling me you did.

- Follow me on twitter - and leave me a comment telling me you did.

- Tweet about this giveaway (@mariathriftyWAI) and leave me a comment telling me you did.
Tweet this - Enter Shutterfly 8 x 8 Photo Book Giveaway - 2 Winners #SFLYphotobook http://www.thriftywaysandideas.com/2012/12/shutterfly-8-x-8-photobook-giveaway-2.html

 

- "Like" me on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.

This giveaway will close on Friday, December 14 at 9pm.  The winners will be emailed and posted on Saturday morning. The winners will have 48 hours to respond or new winners will be chosen.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post. Shutterfly provided me with the information and links in this review and giveway. I did receive compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. 

FREE eBook - Homemade Christmas Decorations

Free 18 Homemade Christmas Decorations: How to Make Christmas Decorations eBook featuring 18 homemade Christmas decoration ideas to make for your home. Make Quilted CD Ornaments (p. 8), Faux Christmas Icicles (p. 25), a Christmas Tree Advent Calendar (p. 31), and much more with this free eBook.

New Coupons Available

 

Print these coupons while they are available!

$3.00 off any L'Oreal Preference Hair Color
$3.00 off any shade of L'Oreal Feria Hair Color
$3.00 off any one (1) Axe holiday pack
$3.00 off Prevacid24HR product
$3.00 off any BrainStrong product
$10.00 off Barbie toys by Mattel, $50 minimum
$0.30 off 4 oz. or larger HARIBO product

Thought of the Day

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.

My Favorite Drug Store Deals This Week - 12/9-12/15

Here is a list of my favorite deals at CVS this week:




Lindsey Olives - $1
Use $1/1 printable coupon
Final Price - FREE

Luvs Diapers - $6.99
Use $1 coupon from 11/25 P&G
Final Price - $5.99

Here is a list of my favorite deals at Walgreens this week:








Goody Colour Collection Contour Clips - $2
Receive $2 RR
Final Price - FREE

Help I Can't Sleep - $3.99
Receive $3 RR
Final Price - .99 after RR

Hallmark Holiday Gift Bags - Start at $1.99
Buy 1 - Receive 1000 Bonus Rewards
Final Price - .99 after Bonus Rewards

Here is a list of my favorite deals at Rite Aid this week:






Dimetapp or Robitussin - $5.99
Buy 1 - Receive $2+UPR
Use $2/1 printable coupon
and Use $2/1 coupon from the Rite Aid Flu Shot Booklet
Final Price - FREE after coupons and +UPR

Royal Gelatin - .33 each
Buy 6 - Receive $1 +UPR
Final Price - .16 each after +UPR

Yardley Soap Bar - $2
Buy 2 and Receive $1 +UPR
Use (2) $1 coupon 11/18 SS
Final Price - .50 each after coupons and +UPR

FREE Christmas Slow Cooker Meals and Ideas eBook

Free eCookbook: Christmas Dinner Recipes: 18 Holiday Slow Cooker Meals and Ideas, featuring more than 30 pages of slow cooker Christmas recipes + AllFreeSlowCookerRecipes' The Slow Cooker Chronicle newsletter for FREE!

Get this brand new FREE eCookbook collection of our tasty ideas for Christmas. This eCookbook is full of mouth-watering and easy slow cooker Christmas recipes. Inside, you'll find some of our best Christmas dinner recipes and ideas such as our simple Christmas appetizer recipes (p.14). If you like to warm up on a chilly, winter night with a warm drink, check out our festive holiday drinks (p. 7). Plan a Christmas ham dinner with our slow cooker main dish recipes (p.18). And, be sure to check out our Christmas dinner side dishes ideas (p.22) and dessert ideas for Christmas (p.25). Try some easy slow cooker Christmas recipes with our Christmas Dinner Recipes: 18 Holiday Slow Cooker Meals and Ideas eCookbook.

FREE Christmas Desserts eBook

Free eCookbook: Scrumptious Christmas Desserts: 'Tis the Season for 21 Holiday Treats features 21 pages of our best festive dessert recipes + Mr. Food Recipe eNewsletter for FREE! 

Get this brand new FREE eCookbook collection filled with holiday treats for every occasion. In our latest eCookbook, the Mr. Food Test Kitchen has assembled the absolute best treats for all of your holiday needs from office parties to family gatherings. From heavenly cakes to gift-ready candy and more, we've brought you festive treats to celebrate the holiday spirit.

The eCookbook has step-by-step instructions for easy recipes like Christmas Crunch Cake (page 1), No-Bake Holiday Fruit Cake (page 3), Jingle Bell Torte (page 6), Chocolate Cherry Truffles (page 10), Buckeyes (page 12), Peppermint Twist Cheesecakes (page 15), Holiday Whoopie Pies (page 16), Brownie Bonbons (page 19), Chocolate Fudge Wreath (page 20), and lots more.

 

 

Vistaprint - 10 FREE Personalized Holiday Cards

The holidays are finally here with the smell of gingerbread and sugar plums filling your homes with holiday joy! Your holiday gift list may continue to get longer like the guest list for your holiday party, but some of the best things this season can still be yours for free! This week, you can get 10 of your favorite personalized holiday cards for free from Vistaprint! Plus, you can even get free shipping on orders over $30.

Choose from over 3,200 designs to find the perfect backdrop for the picture of your children mid-food fight when they were baking sugar cookies, the photo of your new Golden Retriever puppy adopted from the shelter, or your annual goofy family portrait. Show friends and family your new bundle of joy by adding the photograph of her sporting chic reindeer antlers to a holiday card with candy cane stripes and a quaint little reindeer image. Or for a true heartwarming card, use snapshots of everyone in your family, starting with baby pictures, and chronicling annual highlights in a Year in Review card, including your favorite stories from this year.

This year, some of your most cherished keepsakes for everyone on your list can still be purchased for next to nothing. So start spreading your holiday wishes now! Shipping & Processing: Holiday Cards start at $5.52; Bonus: Spend $30 at Vistaprint and get Free Shipping!

 

New Coupons Available

Click on any coupon below to print while available!


$3.00 off any 1 Gerber Good Start Soothe Formula

$2.00 off the Dec/Jan issue of People StyleWatch

$1.00 off 2 ARMOUR Meatball Products

$0.55 off One (1) Bridgford Foods Monkey Bread

$3.00 off Home Alone on Blu-ray

Menu Planning Monday

Monday - Pizza, Salad

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday, Mexican Rice

Wednesday - Hot Dogs with Slaw, Home Fries

Thursday - Soup, Grilled Cheese

Friday - Salmon and Grilled Shrimp, Rice, Corn

Saturday - Hosting a Christmas gathering at my house - Still planning menu.

Sunday - I try to leave Sunday open. DH likes to cook!

You can find other great weekly menus at Menu Planning Monday at Organized Junkie!

Thought of the Day

Tomorrow is a new day! 

This was my thought for the past few weeks.  It has been a whirlwind of ups and downs for me.  Luckily, I have survived and today seems to be "normal" so far.  Between preparing for the holidays, kids having colds, Christmas shopping, trying to clean out and organize closets and toys, and then last week my computer died.  Hopefully, things are back to normal today!