Invest $5, Get $50

I am SUPER excited about the new deal on Sharebuilder! They often run promotions that will get you a free $25, but they are currently running one that will get you $50 and you only have to invest $5! I created 2 accounts for QQflyboy and myself tonight and we will each get $50 deposited into our accounts in 4-6 weeks.
I have fallen off investing for the past 2 years since our move and this was great motivation to get going again. I bought a stock I strongly believe will be around for awhile and it is on sale in our current economy. I miss being the savvy investor I have been in the past. I just gave myself a kick in the pants!
If you are interested, follow the directions below. I highly recommend doing this! Very easy and lucrative.:) I found this info on http://www.moneysavingmethod.com/.

Go to http://www.sharebuilder.com/
Click on the Open an Account tab in the upper right hand corner
Choose Individual Account ( or custodial account if for a child. NOT valid on ESA accounts )
Change the Promotional Code to INVEST50 ( expires 12/31 ), otherwise you will only get $25.
Click No, stating you do NOT have another account
Fill out your personal information on the next few pages & then Create Account. You will then get a message stating your $50 will hit in 4 weeks. Do a screen print of this page!!!
On the next page, click Basic Plan
Make sure Build My Account Over Time is checked then click next
Create your Own Automatic Investment Plan on the next page
Click here to find a stock under $1
Enter the Stock Symbol and $5
Set your schedule to One Time
Enter information to authorize and Fund then Create Account

Happy shopping!

Free Christmas song downloads

Oprah's Web site is offering eight Christmas songs for download free from top artists, including Josh Groban, Il Divo and Faith Hill. Complete instructions are available on Oprah's site. But download soon, it's only available through Friday! To check it out, click here.
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A Day Off = A Baking Day!

This weekend I really wanted to try this scone recipe, but I had no butter and no motivation to go out and get some. So I finally got to make them today, and WOW they are delicious. I love anything pumpkin though so I may be biased, but I see them in my future coffee shop as a crowd favorite!

Recipe: (Thanks to mommystayshome http://mommystayshome.blogspot.com/2008/11/cranberry-pumpkin-scones-and-banana.html)

Cranberry Pumpkin Scones

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour (Just to help make them softer)
1/4 cup sugar or honey
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup butter (no substitutes) cut up
1/2 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dried cranberries

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1.) Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.
2.) Cut in the butter until it resembles fine crumbs.
3.) Add pumpkin, applesauce, nuts, and cranberries, stir just until moistened.
4.) Transfer dough to a greased cookie sheet and pat down into an 8 inch circle.
5.) Use a knife to cut dough into 8 wedges, do NOT separate wedges.
6.) Sprinkle with brown sugar
7.) Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes

**I had to add more flour because my dough was SO sticky. So you may need to also!**

Next Post I'll post about the pumpkin dinner rolls I am making (and that will hopefully turn out!).

Super Baking Sunday!

Well it was a super baking Sunday! Not sure what got into me today, but I spent the day making frugal recipes using what I had on hand, and everything turned out delicious!

First up was pumpkin muffins. I used a weight watchers recipe so these may not be the taste for everyone since they use less sugar they aren't very sweet. But they are 1 point for the mini's and 3 for the large ones. I froze them in baggies I can throw in lunches and a batch to take out for next week.

Yesterday I got ground turkey burger from Costco. I learned about a trick to stretch your ground burger by adding veggies (carrots, onion, and celery) when cooking it up. So I sauteed the veggies in the pan before adding the burger. Then I put into individual baggies so this will make for a easy and frugal protein to toss into pasta or tacos or on tortilla chips and its already pre-cooked! I highly suggest this, a time saver in the future!

Next up was making crock pot chili. I pretty much made my own version of this based on several recipes that I have tried.

One Pot Crock Pot Chili

2 cans of diced tomatoes

1 6oz can of tomato paste

1 can of kidney beans drained

1 can of black beans drained

1 onion chopped

3/4 cup carrots chopped

basil, oregano, salt and pepper, chili powder to taste

Stir together in crock pot and let simmer on high or 4 hours or low for 6-8 hour

Lastly I made carrot cake! This was my first time ever making this, but all those carrots I had inspired me to use them in a new way. I again used a weightwatchers recipe that used less sugar and also wheat flour, and it came out really tasty. Even supportiveheels approves! I am going to experiment with the batter for muffins for our upcoming muffin swap!

Bake Away!

Today I planned to cook and bake several things, but I got a little lazy. I didn't want to go to the store for a list of ingredients. I stumbled onto this recipe for rolls and realized I had everything I needed! Yippee. I found the recipe at http://www.mywoodenspoon.com/, an interesting website with many cheap recipes. I'll be going back there.
When Harris Teeter did triple coupon week last month, I bought 4 packages of Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast because they were free plus overage. This recipe was SUPER cheap to make as I used the free packages of yeast. I think I'll make more and freeze them for later.

Lori's Quick Rolls
1 pkg. RapidRise Yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. oil
Salt
3 c. flour

DIRECTIONS:
Dissolve 1 package yeast in 1 cup of warm water. Add to sugar, oil, salt, and flour. Mix and knead well. Let rise in warm place for 1 1/2 hours. Roll out 12 rolls and place in a greased pan for 12 to 15 minutes at 400′.

Walgreens Steal- Go get yours!

I heard about a good deal at Walgreens this week on boxes of turtles with coupons I had. I also had a $2 RR (register reward) from last week's trip that was seriously burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to go grab the deal and throw these in the Christmas present stash. I mean who doesn't love a box of yummy turtles? The cashier was a younger girl, who completely thought I was crazy with my 6 coupons and 6 items to match...but oh well.

Deal:

2 boxes of DelMet's with Nestle Chocolate Turtles 7oz @ 2/$5
1 blistex tube @2.19
3 holiday pencils @ .39 each

Used:
-.70 blistex wags coupon and -.25 blistex mfc
2 -1.50/delmet's turtles
-.78 wags holiday pencils coupon
-2.00 Wags register reward

OOP: $1.56
Savings: $9.71

It Keeps Getting Better!

So this week was one of my better weeks of CVS history. I was glad to be doing my weekly addiction at a new location due to being in smalltownNC for the weekend with thriftynester and qqflyboy and honestly, a bit glad I didn't have to face my normal cashiers. My first transaction went off as planned but the cashier was not too polite, maybe too many frugal friends that day had gotton to her!

Transaction #1

4 glade candles $2.50 each = $10

2 Kashi Go Lean bars $1 each = $2

2 Soft and Dri deodorants $2.99 each = $5.98

1 Vaseline cocoa butter lotion (a bonus size one too! score!) $5.99

Used:

2 -.55 soft n dry peelies off the sticks
-1.25 Vaseline coupon

2 -1.50 off 2 glade candles

-2.00 kashi coupon

- 4/20 CVS coupon

ECB's -6, -6

OOP: $1.06 on a Giftcard

ECB's earned: $5 for glade, $4 for soft and dri, and $2 for Vaseline lotion = $11 ECB

Transaction #2 (back at pharmacy, the front line got very long)

1 windex bottle $2.50

1 L'Oreal Age Perfect tinted moisturizer @ $15.99

Used:

-1.00 off L'Oreal

-1.50 off Windex product

ECB's -2, -4, -10 + -16 in ECB's

Subtotal : negative one cent plus tax = OOP of $0.16!!!! On a gift card!

ECB's earned: $15.99 for L'Oreal

I am definitely getting really good at this CVSing thing! I now have $22.99 in ECB's to work with for next week, saving them for Black Friday shopping!!

Staples Deal: Great for Christmas Presents!

Another great deal worth mentioning:


I found a coupon on a site for $5 off M by Staples product at Staples. I went to check it out and found these cute binder clips for 5.99. Used my coupon and got them for $1.06! Totally goes in the Christmas present bin! I plan to go and do this deal a few more times! Click here for the coupon. Happy shopping!

I've become "that lady" to the CVS cashiers....

I am pretty sure my picture is hanging up behind the counter of my local CVS. So much so, that I am feeling the need to move my addiction to a new store for awhile, as for fear of becoming talked about as "that lady" is probably close to a reality. I can just see it in the look in their eyes, they know me and my game. Some applaud me for it, and I think others think I am crazy. Nonetheless, another day, another great deal. Not as good as it could have been since those dang Pepsi coupons were missing, but oh well.

Deal:

3 12-packs of Pepsi products @ 3/$10

2 Listerine Agent Cool Blue (no idea what I will use this for..thought it was mouthwash) @ $3.99 each

2 boxes Kellogg's cereal @ 2/$4

Coupons:

2 $1/2 Listerine coupons

2 $1/2 Kellogg's coupons

$4/20 CVS coupon (it totally said that I had used it before-- I hadn't but I printed it off someones website-- I told her I hadn't used it before, truth, and she put it through. I wont be passing this along since it doesn't work)

Total before coupons: $25.98 plus tax

Total coupons used: $8

ECB's used: 11.99 and 1.59

OOP: $0.51 on a GC

ECB's earned: $6 for Listerine and $2 for pepsi = $8 ECB

Not as good as it could be, but good and totally worth being "that lady" for :)

Harris Teeter, Part 2

I couldn't resist going back to Teeter for more great deals. Again, I went with my binder. I knew there were a few more things I wanted that I couldn't get the day before because I had already used my 20 coupon per day limit.
I spent more on this trip, but I got a few extras things (2 bags of coffee on sale and 75% off Halloween stuff) and the deals were great! Several things were free, plus overage! Lots more stuff for the stockpile. :)

Total before coupons and VIC savings: $137.69

Total VIC savings: $34.77

Total coupons savings: $62.26
Total OOP after coupons and VIC savings: $40.66
Total Savings: $97.03

I am definetely getting better at this coupon thing! I got a lot of things this weekend for holiday baking and dinner parties for next to nothing.

Harris Teeter Triple Coupons Take 2

So I just couldn't resist another try at Triple Coupon week at Harris Teeter. There were some new coupons in today's paper I wanted to use, plus see if things were stocked back up for a few things I missed out on the other night that were out of stock. I didn't actually NEED any groceries, but couldn't resist a great deal. I went to grocery stores twice in the last week for deals, so I am very very stocked up on groceries and learning that stockpiling with groceries as well is what will help me save money in the long run. So off I went!

Most of the things were under a dollar, or around a dollar. I got another thing of 8 o'clock coffee for about $2.50-- that is a STEAL! They were BOGO and HT gives you half price, plus I had a $1/1 coupon that I cut out of the coffee thing from the purchase I did on Friday. Had to cut the container apart but it was worth getting another $2.50 lb of coffee!!! Some other great deals to note: the muffin mixes came out to be $0.25 a piece, the crust about $1 (saving for Thanksgiving pumpkin cheesecake!!), $1 for Splenda (did this deal the other day too), poptarts for $0.60, Warm Delights treat for $0.40 and plenty other great steal prices.

Total Before Coupons and Vic Savings: $40.12
Total Vic Savings: $5.54
Total Coupon Savings: $21.84

TOTAL OOP: $13.74

A total savings of $27.48. I saved twice the amount I actually paid!! I spent $13 on a TIP last night at a restaurant......puts this deal in perspective!

Just Ask and you Shall Receive

So it happened for the second time in a row. I went to CVS and I was able to get EVERYTHING I actually wanted! Its amazing, it's a miracle!!!! They were out of the L'Oreal antiwrinkle stuff but I asked a CVS worker and she scanned it and found they had 10 more boxes and she went and found it in the back. Glad she had that scanner in her hand! So next time you think they are out of something... ask, you just might receive as well!

So supportiveheels was talked into doing a deal for me, it actually ended up I should have done it the other way around to keep the OOP lower but oh well. It all went on a gift card anyways, and I have about $20 in ECB's for next week so instead of having a higher giftcard balance I just have a higher ECB.... really no difference.

So supportiveheels went and bought the L'Oreal for $11.99, and used $1/1 coupon and then $5.49 in ECB's from last transaction the other day.... and spent just under $6 on the GC and got $11.99 in ECB.

My transaction went like this:

2 boxes Kellog Cereal $2/4 (minus 2 $1/1 coupons) = $1 per box

2 St. Ives Body Washes @ $3.99 each (minus 2 $2/1 coupons AND a $1 any body wash CVS coupon) = $3 for 2 body washes, get $6 ECB....profit of $3

1 Glcu Smart Water @ 1.59 get $1.59 ECB back

So minus $7 in coupons

OOP: $7.23- on a GC (I couldnt use the ECB because it was for $11.99)- should have planned this better with some other deals but was trying to get out the door quickly. GOT $7.59 in ECB's.

So total OOP (on giftcard) was $13.16

ECB's gained for next week: $19.58!!!!!!!

So thinking totals.. everything in that picture was FREE....and actually I made ONE DOLLAR to buy it. When you add my OOP plus the ECB's used it is $18.65 and I got $19.58 back.... so I made money this week!

He's on to me....

So I am definitely a regular now at my local CVS and the cashier is on to my game. But, he in fact helped me with it this week. So the Crest toothpaste and Oral B floss picks were on a good deal last week. I had done this deal once already and had $3.49 ECB from the Crest and $2 ECB from the Oral B. I got 2 papers last week since the coupons were so awesome, so I could do this good deal again.

Deal:

1 crest toothpaste $3.49 (minus .75/1 coupon)

1 Oral B floss pics $3.49 (minus $1/1 coupon)

1 caramel by register $0.33 (was 2 cents negative to use my ECB's and the cashier suggested this would get me my total and keep OOP low)

Used 3.49 ECB and 2 ECB (from Crest ad Oral B from a couple days ago)

OOP: $0.19 (thanks supportiveheels for supplying me with a quarter... I was going to put it on a giftcard haha!)

ECB's earned: $3.49 for Crest and $2.00 for Oral B

When my receipt was printing out, the cashier went to say "...and here are some EC...oh wait, I'm sure you already know your ECB's coming out" and he had big smile on his face. He knows......he surely know.... :)

Harris Teeter Triple Coupons Take 1

It was triple coupon week at Harris Teeter and I could not have been more excited! I missed the triple coupon week at Lowes back in October due to being out of town, so I was very glad to catch this deal. Not only that, but I actually love Harris Teeter and miss shopping there ever since I started couponing I have found a new love in Lowes Food's, so it was a welcome trip back.

I got the above items for a killer deal. Most of the items pictured were under a $1.

Total before coupons and VIC savings: $60.59

TOTAL AFTER COUPONS and VIC savings: $25.34

Savings of more than 50% and over $27 in coupons alone!!!!

I would say I think I did pretty dang well and saved a whole bunch of money! My pantry is getting very stocked!

Free Coffee Break for Voters

Here's another hot frugal coffee deal AND a way to get rewarded just for practicing your freedom to vote! On Tuesday stop by any Starbucks location and show your "I Voted" sticker and receive a FREE tall cup of Starbucks brew coffee. I already voted a week ago, but I sure did save my sticker and will be claiming my free cup of voter's coffee!

It's all about the coupons

As a fairly passive observer in this whole frugal living process, there are some observations that I make that just crack me up. Several months ago I would have been shocked to see Thriftynester up before 10 on a Sunday. Now I'm shocked if she isn't up by eight. Her motivation? The Sunday paper.

No, she's not a current events or news hound, she's a coupon addict. The Sunday addition of the local paper is like a drug, she's got to have her fix. Inside it's teeming with glossy pages full of colorful dollar signs to lure her in -- akin to an X addict and their brightly colored light sticks.

She steals for it, too. If she doesn't have $1.50 in quarters, she runs around the house, searching high and low for my coin stash, tipping up sofa cushions and even begging the cat. "I only need one more!" I hear her yell as she's frantically dashing from room to room.

When she finally gets her fix, when she's sitting on the once up-turned sofa cushion, she's calm and collected. The shakes start to subside as she opens the pages to reveal this week's must have deals. Order is restored, the coffee's brewing, and Sunday can finally begin.

Indulge your Pumkpin Spice addiction... frugally!

So for all my pumpkin spice latte' lovers out there, here is a way to indulge your addiction while keeping frugal minded... is Starbucks Pumpkin lattes draining your bank account? While I love Starbucks and it will always be my #1.. Dunkin Donuts is running their happy hour promotion and this season includes the pumpkin latte's.

Here's the deal. Monday through Friday between the hours of 2pm and 5pm, head over to Dunkin Donuts for a small latte for only $0.99! That's right.....a buck will indulge the addiction. For the non pumpkin lovers (if there could ever be any!) you can also get the other flavors like caramel, mocha or a plain latte. Hot or cold, your choice. Check it out, and enjoy!

Free Joe

Ok, we're not talking about another distressed whale here, but rather a great frugal find for teachers. Since the two main contributors of this site happen to be teachers, this certainly applies to them. Starbucks is offering a tall size cup of Pike's Place Roast coffee every Monday in September, from the 8th through the 28th, for free. Just show your district badge and you'll be caffeinated for free. (And who doesn't need that on a Monday?)


Nothing's more frugal then free. Take advantage before the offer ends. Only two Monday's left! For more info, go here.

Beware of the coupons

So I finally decided I just couldn't be a passive bystander in this whole money saving scheme and wanted some of the action for myself. With my eight ECBs I had earned on a previous purchase, an Aleve $1 off coupon and a CVS $2 off $10 coupon, I was set. I walked in proud to make my first attempt at CVSing solo, sans Thriftynester, that is, but quickly learned I wasn't quite ready to pull it off.

I purchased Purex laundry detergent, Excendrin pain reliever and Aleve-D Cold and Sinus. The deal, with my coupons, should have cost me just under a $1 as I was going to have to add a 99 cent filler to use my eight ECBs. I was also going to earn about nine ECBs with this transaction.

The deal should have looked like this:

Aleve-D 10 ct.: $3.99 less $1 off coupon = $2.99 (earn three ECB)
Excedrin: $3.99 (earn 3.99 ECB)
Purex: $2.99 (earn one ECB)
Glade air freshener: 99 cents
- CVS $2 off $10 coupon
- eight ECBs from before
For a grand total of 96 cents.

Here's where I went wrong -- the Aleve coupon. There are two different coupons available from Bayer (the maker of Aleve) right now. One is for a dollar off any Aleve product 20 count or larger, and another for a dollar of a Aleve-D Cold and Sinus or Aleve Cold and Headache 10 count. The 10 count Aleve-D was on sale, plus you could earn 3.99 ECB, so, in the end, the Aleve-D would have been free. I printed the wrong coupon, the 20 count or larger one, and not knowing I arrived at the store and purchased the 20 count package. No ECBs, no sale. All I saved was a buck from the dollar coupon, and I ended up paying nearly three times what I would have paid for the 10 pack w/o earning ECBs. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

This is how the deal really went down, or should I say, failed:

Aleve-D 20 ct.: $10.99 less $1 off coupon
Excedrin: $3.99 (earn 3.99 ECB)
Purex: $2.99 (earn one ECB)
Glade air freshener: 99 cents
- CVS $2 off $10 coupon
- eight ECBs from before
Grand total of $6.96. Not what I was planning.

I still saved about $10 on the entire transaction and earned 4.99 ECBs, but instead of walking away with a super deal under a buck, I ended up spending just under seven. It was a lesson learned to be careful of the coupons I print, and to not let the 20 people in line behind me intimidate me and rush the deal. I still walked away saving money, but it could have been oh so better.

Tonight, however, Thriftynester crafted a deal for me at CVS for another package of Aleve-D, this time with the right coupon, and a bottle of Tylenol PM. With the Aleve coupon, a Tylenol PM coupon, CVS $2 off $10 coupon and my 4.99 in ECBs, I spent a whopping 73 cents. It felt good -- like I had been slightly avenged for my gaffe last night. Great savings and another five ECBs... yes, I think I can get into this!

Tonight's deal:
Aleve-D 10 ct.: $3.99 less $1 off coupon (earn three ECB)
Tylenol PM: $6.49 less $2 off coupon (earn two ECB)
- $2 off $10 coupon
- 4.99 ECB
For a grand total of 73 cents! Now that's more like it!

Walgreen's Keeps Paying Me...

I am starting to get addicted to that feeling of watching the coupons go in, the total go down, and then walking out the door with bags full of stuff for literally pennies to nothing. It's an amazing feeling! Here is my great deal at Walgreen's tonight.

4 boxes Kraft Mac'n'cheese @1.49/box (for the nights supportiveheels has to feed herself)

2 Glade Scented Gel Plug In's @ 1.99 each

1 Glade scented gel refills @ 1.99

1 Glade 2 in 1 candle @ 1.99

2 Colgate Total Maxfresh toothpaste @ 2.99 each

3 Pantene products (shampoo, condition, hairspray) @ $4 each

Coupons Used:

*Wagreens mac'n'cheese for .69 so -2.58

*Walgreens Colgate coupon -4.00

*2 Colgate manf. coupons .75 each -1.50

*used 2 BOGO Glade plug in coupons (i think this will be based on your cashier!)- so got BOTH free! -3.98

*-1.00 glade candle manf. coupon

*-0.55 glade refills manf. coupon

*Used a $10RR from last week

Total OOP: $5.45, received $2 RR for next purchase and will get $4 back in rebates.... to make this deal a money maker of $0.65. *EDIT* I now realized after filling out the rebates online, that the Pantene qualifies for $5 rebate, so I actually made $5.65 on that deal!

ALL of that stuff in that picture was free and they paid me almost a dollar to take it! WOW..... I am kinda loving Walgreen's right now!

I save $34.28 today! I would have paid to record the cashier's face when she kept watching it drop down from almost $40... she was shocked, and very impressed!

Another Wags Success!

I got all this for $5.48 plus a $10 RR! Profit of almost $5.

This week was a bit crazy, and I lost my motivation for the deals. I knew they were out there and knew they were good, but a busy schedule, tiredness, and lack of motivation kept me from pursuing. I am left with $6 ECB's from my last CVS transaction on Monday night and am happy with that to start for next week. My last trip to Walgreen's granted me $10 in RR's (Register Rewards-- good towards your next purchase) and with all the good deals and some good coupons, I drug myself there today and refound my motivation! I scored really well!

Transaction #1

3 Progresso Light Soups (used wagreens 3/$4, -1.10 on 3 manf. and a -.50 manf.)
1 Visine (used -2.00 manf. and -1.00 sept. easy saver coupon)
2 Walgreens chapsticks BOGO
2 Butterball chicken broths (used walgreens 2/1.00)
1 Jiff Peanut Butter (used walgreens 1.99 coupon and -.55 manf.)
1 pk Bottled Water (used walgreens 2.99 coupon)

Total After Coupons: $11.61
Used -$10 RR from last trip
OOP: $1.61

Transaction #2

3 Robitussin CF @3.99 each
Used 3 -3.00 manf. coupons
OOP: $3.78, Gained $10 in RR for my next trip!

Chaos Becomes Organization

This is what my kitchen table looked like last night. I was considering going to bed and decided I would have nightmares about coupons eating me so I stayed up to organize them.

I browsed several different blogs and googled the phrase "organize coupons." I am sad to say that I didn't note where I got all my good ideas, but most of them confirmed that I would stick with my accordian file I keep in my car. However, after reading, I changed the tabs in it and I think the new tabs will be much more useful!

The new tabs are:

dairy aisle, snacks, breakfast, canned, freezer, pantry foods, baking needs, laundry,medicine, oral hygiene, makeup/toiletries, household, and cleaning products

I have another smaller accordian that I use for coupons and deals to restaurants and retail shops I go to.
Check out my kitchen table now!

Fruit of Their Labors

Our gal pals are at it again. For those that don’t know ThriftyNester and SavvyTeacher- they are passionate about their shopping. QQ and I are the goofy people in CVS stores and parking lots, hence our cartoon-ish picture, who entertain each other while our girls participate in deal or no deal.

As supportive tailgaters, we walk around the store and use the blood pressure machine, read the latest magazines from the shelf, check on our two girls from time to time, and annoy the staff when our girls have a deal question. We often talk loudly about products in the store, and at times share personal stories with other shoppers— if it is risqué or funny, we talk about it to anyone who will listen. We will also sample products in the store and inform customers if it is worth the buy. For example, we had the girls buy some patio chairs, and we sat in them at the front entrance and greeted people who walked in the store while eating Pringles and drinking Mt. Dew, as we’re sampling the latest in chewing gum, and hand lotion. When we eventually get asked to leave the store, and our girls are still working on their deals, we head to the parking lot.

In the lot, we open up the back of QQ’s SUV and blast Spanish music and talk about marketing and advertising. We wave at the cars that drive by and honk at us. Once we’re bored with that, we pick up trash in the parking lot. From time to time, we’ll update this blog with the tailgaters next adventures.

In the meantime, get anyone you can interested in coupon-ing, CVSing, and in general, frugal living, because it saves your family money and sparks something new to do.

A Frugal Dinner for Two

So after a very successful and cheap grocery shopping this weekend, I made my first meal of the week with my money saving meal plan. Read about how I made dinner for two with enough left over for lunch the next day and a side for tomorrow's dinner, all for just $3.62 along with the ingrediants and recipe for you to create it yourself!

They know!

Savvyteacher and I are a bit trepedatious about doing several transactions at one time. As I walked into CVS today, it sort of freaked me out that I knew the clerk at the register and he knew me instantly. (After all, it has only been about a week that I have been doing this.) Last weekend when I did several transactions, I wasn't stressed about it as I had my cheerleaders behind me. I am referring to savvyteacher at my side and qqflyboy with supportiveheels sitting comfortably in 2 CVS chairs (that are for sale) eating Pringles that we purchased earlier.

I was there to get 1 Revlon nail polish and a much needed impulse hygiene product. I feel the need to say that 2 weeks ago I would have driven to CVS to spend $10 on my hygiene product and been annoyed at how much toiletries cost. Today was very different. I was excited by my transaction because I paid pennies for something that I really needed and I still have 2 ECB from a purchase last week, and I earned 3 ECB today. Now I can get other things with no problem this week. Was it really just 2 weeks ago that I didn't understand what an ECB was? WOW!

My transaction:
1 Revlon nail polish @ 3.99
1 Hygeine product @ 7.99

Coupons Used
2/10 CVS coupon
$8 ECB

OOP: $2.11
Earned $3 ECB for Revlon nail polish

As I completed my purchase the clerk laughed and called me a big spender when I gave him my $2.11. I smiled and he laughed again as I checked my register tape to ensure that my ECBs were indeed there. We talked about how many transactions similar to my own that he had done that day. He thought it was a bit crazy. He did mention that he is new to working at CVS and blown away by what walks out of the store for free! Then he pointed out all the 90% off summer sale stuff and mentioned that I could probably walk out with at least four more bags of stuff and spend no money as I had 3 ECBs to burn. I checked it over, but I decided that I don't need anymore flipflops (24 cents) and I don't need beach toys, so I was on my way. I don't think the clerk will forget me now and I am sure he will remember the hygiene product I bought! I am sure I will see him at least one more time this week as there are other deals to be had. :)

CVSing Week Two

It's amazing how quickly you can catch on to something once you understand the process. Two weeks ago I was reading all these blogs about CVSing and was totally confused and never thought I too could walk away with bags full of goods for literally pennies. I am now one of those people, and hopefully I can help you become one too!

Here are my transactions for today. I messed up on the first one with coupons, so my OOP (out of pocket cost) was higher than I planned for, but not bad considering I had gone with one plan and had to go to a quick backup plan because they were sold out of Excedrin.

Transaction One:

2 Chex Mixes @ .99 each

Renuzit Tri Scents @ $7.99

1 Johnson Easy Grip soap @ 1.19

Coupons Used

-2/10 CVS

-3.00 Renuzit

-1.00 on Chex Mix

-2 ECB from last week

*I needed a couple filler items here to make the deal better-- I also had another chex coupon and the Johnson coupon but too many coupons for the items**

OOP: $3.57

ECB Earned: $3 for Renuzit

Transaction #2:

2 Chex Mixes @ .99 each

2 Aussie Hair products @ $2.49 each

1 Revlon Nail color @ $3.99

Coupons Used:

-2/10 CVS

-2.00 in Chex coupons

-2.00 Aussie coupon

-$3 ECB from last transaction

OOP: $2.28

ECB's Earned: $2 for Aussie products ($1 for each) and $3 for Revlon

Total OOP today was $5.85, Total ECB earned: $8, have $5 left

Who Doesn't Like Getting Paid to Drink Coffee?

So I am thinking that maybe since I am being extra frugal latey, that deals must be just waiting to fall into my lap. I literally made money today from McDonalds, and still ended up with coffee for me and supportiveheels. Are you dying to know how I did this? Let me tell you.

So I had this coupon for a BOGO (buy one get one) coffee from the McCafe. The plan was to get 2 medium vanilla latte's and bring them home for us to drink. So I order, pull up to the window and they tell me my total is $1.78 after the coupon. I was thinking that was too low, but figured oh well and pulled forward.

I get to the window and instead of two hot latte's, there are two iced regular coffees. I told them that this was not what I ordered. She told me that the person to work the cafe' didn't show up for work so they have no one to make specialty drinks (lattes and the such). I asked why they didn't tell me this when I ordered and paid, instead of replacing my order with something completely different. I was firm but polite, acknowledging I know this isn't her fault. So basically she offers to give me back my coupon and refund my money but also give me free coffee drinks. So she gives me 2 free black coffee's and gives me my coupon back. Then she hands me $3.50 and says this is the amount for 2 coffees (but remember I only paid for ONE) and says can I be satisfied with this? I thank her and drive off..... smiling that not only did I get 2 free coffees, still have my BOGO coupon, AND ended up driving away with $1.72 MORE than I started with. When you are frugal minded, deals just start coming to you!

So today, I got paid to drink coffee at McDonald's.

Better than a Blue Light Special

A few days ago savvyteacher pointed out a deal that I didn't notice. I was about to pass off a Pantene coupon and she mentioned that I might want to reconsider. She was right. Today qqflyboy and I stopped by CVS on the way home from running many errands. I am so glad we did. I was pretty excited about my deal!

CVS Deal:

Pantene Expressions Shampoo @ 4.50

Pantene Conditioner @ 3.33

Pantene Hairspray @ 3.33

Colgate Total Advanced Clean toothpaste 2.99

Coupons:

$2 off $10 CVS purchase

$2 off Pantene Expressions

FREE Pantene styling product w/purchase of Pantene shampoo & conditioner

$1.50 off Colgate

$3 ECB

OOP: $1.28

Earned 2 ECB

CVSing Week One = Success!

Tonight I met up with thriftynester and qqflyboy for 1.99 sushi rolls and another night of CVSing. One of our favorite Asian places has daily specials and we couldn't pass up the deal to meet for a frugal dinner out and take another stab at CVSing. It's my third day of CVSing and I think I finally am starting to get the hang of this. I calculated my final OOP for 3 days worth (and 8 transactions worth!) of CVSing. It is $40.66! Not too shabby. It should have been about $30 if I had made a few smoother moves but hey its my first time so I am pretty happy!

Here is the breakdown for tonight:

Transaction #1:
2 Kashi Bars @ $2.00
1 Suave deodorant @ $2.00
1 Neutrogena Moisture skin @ $9.69

Use $2/10, -2.00 kashi coupon, -$8 ECB's
OOP: $1.84, No ECB (but I still have another from last night)

Transaction #2
2 Kashi Bars @ $2.00
1 Suave deodorant @ $2.00
1 Arnicare Pain @ $9.49

Use $2/10, -2.00 kashi coupon, -$2 Arnicare coupon, -$6.45 ECB's
OOP: $1.29, get $2 ECB from Suave and $8ECB from Arnicare = $10ECB total!

Transaction #3
2 Kashi Bars @ $2.00
1 CVS lotion (filler, thanks K)
1 Neutrogena Moisture skin @ $9.69

Use $2/10, -2.00 kashi coupon, -$8 ECB's
OOP: $.79, earm $5 ECB

Transaction #4:

2 CoverGirl Aquasmooth foundation BOGO 9.99
1 CVS toothbrush

Use $2/10, -CVS free toothbrush coupon, -$5.00 ECB's
OOP: $3.19

Total Spent OOP: $7.11, and still have $2 ECB for next week's deals! Not bad, this was my best night and I got a ton of stuff that I actually needed (and a few items I didn't!). Week one was very successful!

No, I'm Not an Addict

Ok so after basically dreaming of deals and ECB's last night, I just had to rush to the nearest CVS store (or two...) and check out some more deals. Today browsing through some things I realized I may be able to snag an amazing deal, and make money out of it. I was right.... well, I was, but it took me 2 transactions to get there but I ended up making more extra ECB's than I thought! Success!

CVS Store 1:

2 Kashi Bas for 2.00
1 Suave body wash for 2.00
5 Goody Pain relivers 1.29 each

Coupons:
-2/10 CVS
-2 Kashi coupon
-2 ECB's from yesterday

OOP: $4.79, ECB's earned $6.45!! WOW PROFIT! This was a deal on a "WHIM" and I mean whim. I had a plan all mapped out, they didnt have the Arnicare and most of the coupons were in the car. So......being a new to frugal but oh so clever, I pulled this deal out of nowhere! So off in the car I went to store #2, since I was embarrassed so far to try 2 transactions on my own in the same store! And, by the way, it was on the way home so it wasnt out of the way.

CVS Store 2: (0riginal deal planned)

1 Arnicare Pain 9.49
1 Kashi bar at 1.00
1 Kashi bar at .82 (extra sale)

Coupons:
-2/10 CVS
-$2 Kashi (they wouldnt let me use 2 kashi coupons, so beware!)
-$2 Arnicare coupon printable (beware- this didnt ring up but the cashier said she would just put it on...whew).

Total OOP $5.86 and earned $8 ECB from the Arnicare! PROFIT AGAIN.. and no I didnt use the ECB because I had more then it was worth, so I am saving them for tomorrows transactions!

I'm a Believer!

After some reflection on the many money saving conversations me and thrifynester have had, I decided she actually wasn't crazy and that CVSing might actually work! I'm very competetive and have to say I love a challenge, so this is like a game to me. I attempted my first try at this once thought crazy idea and became a believer! After some planning, I met up with thriftynester and we began our first adventure. Did I mention we also have our very own CVS cheerleaders that tailgate with us? Yes, noneother than supportiveheels and qqflyboy, who brought a special aspect to our new hobby.

Here is the breakdown from my first experience :

Transaction #1:

1 Dawn dishsoap .99 (regular 1.99)
2 Colgate Total Avance toothpaste 2.99 each (regular 3.95)
1 CoverGirl Wetslicks 5.99
2 CG outlast lipstick 9.99 BOGO
1 FF Pringles 2.99

-.50 dawn coupon
-1.00 colgate coupon
-1.50 colgate coupon
-5.99 CG BOGO coupon (here is where I went wrong...and did all the CG lip stuff in one and should have done in 2)

Total Before Coupons: $25.94 + tax
OOP Spent: $18. 56
ECB's earned: $10.99 (5.99 for CG, $4 for colgate, $1 for Pringles)

Transaction #2:

3 Suave products $6
2 CG Aquasmooth foundation 9.99 each BOGO
-1.00 CG coupon
-10.99 in ECB's

OOP: $4.34 and earned $2 ECB for Suave

TOTAL OOP today: $22.90
Total Savings: $45.83
ECB's total earned: $12.99, used 10.99 so have $2ECB plus a free toothbrush to use for next transaction. Pretty good for my first adventure!

Frugal Friends Come Together

Savvyteacher and I have been talking for quite some time about ways to save money. She is looking for more ideas, as she is a third year teacher and I am always looking for the best bargain. She is fairly organized and able to complete a project. I like to start things, but I struggle with perseverance.
This makes us a good match.
My friend, mitwife mentioned that I should check out this thing called "CVSing" a few weeks ago. I didn't know how amazing this could be. I quickly shared with savvyteacher. She loves freebies! We agreed to try it out. Mitwife referred me to Money Saving Mom to learn how.
We read.
We thought.
We bought the Sunday paper.
We clipped coupons.
We met at CVS...and had a ball.

Saving for Stilettos

We are two gals who are trying to gain financial freedom in a difficult economy. Thriftynester is baby nesting and always loves a good deal! Savvyteacher is a third year teacher trying to move from surviving to thriving financially. Both want to be financially savvy! This is their journey.