A Simple Home

Oct. 28, 2006

Shopping to make money

Posted in Frugal Living

Thought I'd share today's CVS and Walgreen deals:

CVS

Bought 20 dollars worth of Revlon (B1G1-1/2 off) used 8 dollars in coupons - will get 10 in extra bucks

2 Carefree pantyliners 3 dollars minus 1 dollar coupon = 2 dollars -- will get back 5

2 Kotex compact pads for 7.54 - 2 dollar off = 5.54 -- will get back 7.54

Bought 4 HIP L'Oreal makeups (to donate) for 26.00 - 4.00 in coupons = 22, will receive 39.96!

Colgate toothpaste 2.77-.75=2.07 -- will make 2.77

Spent approximately 45 dollars (in extra bucks) will make about 70 in extra bucks!

Walgreen deals weren't as good -- but still got free stuff. I had 40 dollars in gift cards from last month's rebates. (I had to pay out of pocket for the initial rebate, now I will just continue using them for the new rebates each month)

I got a Glade pumpkin candle, 2 glade sprays, 1 Glade infusion spray, 2 Glade scented oil refills, 2 bags of ziplocks for 21 dollars minus 5 in coupons = 16 and will get 11 back on a giftcard -- so paid 5 bucks for all that stuff.

I got a huge bottle of Fructis conditioner for 6.99 - 1 dollar coupon, will get back 7.68 rebate

Spent 15 on Dr. Scholl's products and will get back 10 (I needed these anyway)

So I paid w/ my rebate cards and will get another 28.68 next month.

Another way to tame the shopping monster w/o paying a lot of money!

Sherry

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Oct. 20, 2006

Frugal Friday

Posted in Frugal Living

I am about to head out and do my grocery shopping. I really have to watch the money I spend this week, as I need to get our savings back INTO our savings. (dh pretty much spent our entire savings last week getting a dehumidifier and other things to make the basement livable)

I am armed with a list which I made while looking through two different sales papers. I then made up our menu based on what was on sale and what we have in the freezer. I also have coupons for several things i will be buying.

My expenses this week are:

A potluck. I will be making a huge pan of baked penne pasta. I will also be making two batches of brownies and bringing a couple of loaves of french bread.

My husband. He's leaving a trail in the kitchen every night of cans (which he has eated DIRECTLY out of with a fork) boxes, plates, forks, etc. That man can EAT! He has requested that I do some baking. His lunches for work are also expensive, as he wants the most expensive bread (nearly 3 dollars a loaf ) and hard salami and deli cheese.

My dinner menu for the next week is as follows:

Friday: Potluck Baked Penne pasta, bread, brownies

Saturday: Taco salad w/ black beans and corn

Sunday: Garlic Lime chicken w/ rice, green beans, and salad

Monday: Crockpot pepper steak over rice

Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad

Wednesday: Crockpot chili with cornbread

Thursday: Chicken penne pasta w/ salad

I'll post the Garlic Lime chicken recipe, as it is AWESOME!

Wish me luck on not spending!

Sherry

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Oct. 8, 2006

More CVS shopping deals!

Posted in Frugal Living

Today I got 54 dollars worth of makeup for:

FOUR DOLLARS!

I got Loreal Cashmere Perfect foundation with free Line Minimizing (shhhh dont' tell) powder. I had a 2 dollar off coupon for the first one.

I bought 1 color riche lipstick, had a 1 dollar coupon, and got one free.

I bought a volumizing mascara w/ a 1 dollar off coupon and got the second for 50% off.

Then I had a 5 dollar off a 20 dollar purchase coupon and extra CVS "bucks" for 5.00, 7.00, and 4.77 (approximately)

I don't wear makeup much, but I do wear it to church functions (never a lot, just a little bit, but I have splotchy skin and like to cover the redness, wear a tiny bit of lipstick and mascara) and to other meetings and such.

I also got a 13 dollar Burt's Bee's kit for 3.24! Yay me! And a gorgeous 2 piece valet and jewelry roll to add to a friend's birthday gift, regularly 15, on clearance for 3.74! Woohoo!

There's more, but I won't bore you with all the details. LOL Those were my best deals.

For the rest of the month I have to seriously cut back on my CVS spending addiction! I need to only use my CVS bucks to generate MORE CVS bucks. Free stuff! Gotta love that.

Sherry

• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Sep. 13, 2006

Free Samples

Posted in Frugal Living

Dove_Body_Lotion Free sample. Just take a 30-second survey.

Free_RAchel_Ray_Cookbook You have to tell about your biggest travel discovery in 50 words or less and they will send you a free cookbook!

Dog/Cat_sample_food Short survey about your pet -- you will get a coupon for free dog and/or cat food.

7_free_samples) from Walmart! Always, Olay, Advil PM, etc.

I'll try to post at least a few free samples every week! And anything else that looks good.

Hope you enjoy!

Sherry

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Sep. 3, 2006

Awesome frugal website!

Posted in Frugal Living

I am totally in love with this website. Totally_Frugal Check it out!

Since I am just a "beginning frugalite" -- I am reading their site from one end to the other! I came across this post and wanted to share it with you all. I am going to start doing several of the things on this list! I hope you enjoy it!

10 Tips for Saving Money in Your Kitchen,
While Implementing the Three R's
By Catherine Pulsifer
Can implementing the three R's - reduce, recycle, reuse, save you money?
If you only implemented the three R's in your kitchen, you would save money. Here are 10 tips that implements the three R's and helps your pocketbook:
1. Recycle margarine containers, and other plastic containers rather than buying new plastic containers. Margarine containers are great for storing leftover food, or for freezing foods.
2. Reuse plastic bags rather than buying more plastic bags. Everywhere we go we get plastic bags! Grocery bags can be used for liners in small garbage cans. Bread bags can be used for covering items such as cookies, baked bread and so on.
3. Reduce your electricity by buying larger roasts or turkeys. Cook your meat and then freeze the leftovers. This not only can save you money in electric bills, but also save you time and frustration when you forget to take something out for supper.
4. Reduce the need for paper napkins by making your own napkins out of old material. Cloth napkins are easy to make, and can be used many times!
5. Recycle tin cans. Tin cans once washed, and sharp edges removed, have many uses. They can be painted and used to put Christmas gifts in; they can be used as scoops for dog food. The smaller cans can be used as cookie cutters, or as candleholders.
6. Reuse your empty egg cartons. These can be used for storing small items, such as buttons, safety pins, etc. They are lightweight, so when tore up, they make great packing material when shipping items in the mail. They make a great item for children to collect rocks in!
7. Recycle empty cereal boxes. If you have younger children, have them cut out the letters and pictures on the boxes; then on a rainy day have them make cards, do a scrapbook, make a poster for a friend or loved one. We also use the cardboard for putting between something we are mailing so that it doesn't get bent.
8. Reuse those Popsicle sticks. They make great markers for your garden; they are great for stirring small amounts of paint, and children can make wonderful things from them.
9. Reuse glass bottles. They are great for storing nails, smaller items. Also the smaller bottles are good for mixing your flour and water for gravy. They make great ornaments for outside. Fill the bottle with water and float a tea light in it; they look wonderful against the snow.
10. Reduce your need for plastic wrap. When covering items in the fridge, use a small plate or bowl to cover the item. Use some of those plastic bags that we all get for free! Next time you reach for the plastic wrap, use what you already have!
Just by implementing these few tips for reducing, recycling and reusing in your kitchen, you will end up saving money over the run of the year. And, in addition, to saving money, you are also helping the environment! About the Author:
Catherine Pulsifer is one of the authors of A Simple Life - A journey to a simple life, and, a frugal lifestyle. http://www.stresslesscountry.com

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link