My computer

woke-up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I am having a hard time with connecting to Internet sites and such. I am in the process of trying to get that fixed, but it may take a while. I am actually typing this from one of my other computers that I try not to use as much. It is a A LOT slower than my cranky one right now. Wish me luck! :( I will let you know when I am up and running though.

Thanks for your patience.

Cheryl

New Shortcuts.com Coupons

There are some new shortcuts.com coupons ready to be loaded to your cards too! Just go on over here to get your cards loaded up.

Thanks!

Cheryl

New Cellfire Coupons

Did you all get your "new" Cellfire coupons? There are a few more loaded. Not very many, but go ahead and go on over here to see if you want them and get them loaded.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Today is

my "couponer" buddy's (Tammy) birthday. So, I just wanted to give a quick shout out to her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL birthday, make sure those boys (yes, all three) pamper you!

Cheryl

New Safeway Coupon Policy

We all know that they updated their policy a month or so ago and it has really been beneficial to us consumers. I have had heard rumors here and there about issues that people have been having when trying to use their coupons there. I had NOT come into any of those issues, until last night. I thought I was armed and ready, but my coupons let me down. :( It is official and I have their policy right in front of me (yeah, they let me have a copy of the store's policy, which I thought was VERY nice of them). And it is on the one available on-line. Go here to grab it if you want.

Okay, so anyway, under the section of "Internet Printed Coupons," number "17," it says, "INTERNET COUPONS MUST SCAN AT CHECKOUT."

My pizza coupon, you know the $1/5 would not scan. I had been hearing of this issue of them not taking it if it didn't scan, so I took multiple pizza coupons with me from different sites and NOT ONE of them would scan. So, I left with paying my extra $1. :( Oh well, I guess you win some and you lose some. She was willing to take it off my transaction, but I opted to be the big spender and pay the extra buck. ;) They will, however, push it through if it is a coupon that you get from products, from inserts and all those kind of coupons, just not the ones we print out from the Internet that do not scan. They have had too many people passing counterfeit coupons, and this way they don't have to worry as much. :(

I would like to add that they were very apologetic about it, which I truly appreciate, even the lady that HATES taking my coupons (coupons really intimidate her). They took the time to explain things to me at the customer service and gave me their copy of the policy too (they didn't have to do that). I go in there all the time and chat with them and ask questions and stuff, and they have been REALLY good to me thus far. I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to them at the Argonne Safeway.

Well, I just thought I would share with you the update that I have, so you can be prepared next time you shop at Safeway. What I did was I put my order together and then I paperclipped extra coupons of the same ones that I had together just in case I needed to try them instead, but like I said NONE of my pizza coupons would scan. I could have used two from a recent insert for $0.50 or $0.55 off of three, but I didn't clip them.

So, if you are going to get the pizza, you might want to clip yours before you go. Although, I think Albertsons has them cheaper if you buy 10. I just wanted to use up my E-coupons for these, which came off. Oh, the price on the pizza was $1.29. I think the price at Albertsons is something like $0.79 when you buy 10.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Rite Aid Shopping Trip

Well, before I hit Safeway last night, I headed on over to Riteaid to see what I could score. This is what I did.....

Yes, that is MORE candy you see in my picture. I like to have this stuff on hand for the school year. I use it a lot for teacher gifts. Faith LOVES to shower her teachers with gifts, so this is what I use it for, and whatever else comes to mind. Okay, enough with my excuses.

So, here is "low down."

M&M Pretzel Candies $2.50 X3
-B2G1 free X1
-$1/1 X1 (used on the buy two part)
-$1/1 X1 (used on the buy two part)
= $3 for all THREE, making them $1 each!

Reeses Pieces $0.50 X1
No coupon. I needed this for a filler, to get up to $25

Rembrant Toothpaste $5.49 X1
-$3.00/1 printable (I can't find it anymore)
-$1/1 Riteaid Video Value coupon
=$1.49

Ziploc Bags BOGO (Buy one get one free) $2.99 X8
-$1.50/2 X4
= $5.96, making them $0.75 A BOX!!

I also used $5/25 and a total of $5 in Up Rewards from previous purchases, and I got back $1 from buying two M&Ms.

Before coupons and Wellness Savings I would have paid $46.31. Ready for this?...... Before tax I PAID........$0.45 (with tax my total came to $2.32).

Not too shabby.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Our Safeway Trips Yesterday (8/12/10)

Wow! We did REALLY good yesterday. I do have to say this was a combination of three different trips. I had my husband go before work (he had to set his alarm early so he could go before work, isn't that sweet?)and after work. Then, I went later in the evening. I was really unsure of my big purchase, as I REALLY don't like to make big purchases, but I wanted to see if my E-coupons were going to work AND I have never been able to load my card with the P&G E-coupons, but IT WORKED! I was REALLY excited about that too! Okay, here is my picture. I don't know why, but I just noticed that is it kinda blurry, so sorry about that. Anyway.....here is my trip......

I didn't have a coupon for the pudding, but needed it for my Kitty Liter Cake. If you can see, right there, way in the back, we got four boxes of the Sweet Moments, three boxes of Glad storage bags, 10 of those pizzas (I would spell name, but I never get it right). AND, I got MORE meat! Oh, I also got the Tide tablets.

Okay, so this shop would have cost us, without coupons $172.50, but with our coupons and savings WE PAID $29.41!!!

Any questions, please e-mail me frugal mom 1 at live dot com.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Recipe=Yogurt Cheese

I just found the most easiest and yummiest sounding cheese EVER! I got this from A Thrifty Mom. Many thanks to them for getting this posted. I will be able to use this in MANY of my WW recipes! Wahoooooo, I'M SO EXCITED!  I think they got this from one of their readers. Anyway, here is their posting....

Recipe – Using Yogurt Cheese

Monica sent us these great tips for using yogurt cheese:

Looking for new recipes I ran across ways to use Yogurt cheese. Since we make our own yogurt most of the time, I was excited to find a new way to use it.

Yogurt Cheese is simply the soft cheese that is left when the liquid is drained from yogurt.

You can use it in place of cream cheese, whipped cream, and vanilla frosting. I’ve tried the whipped cream and it was yummy.

Here is what you do:

First you have to drain the yogurt. Line a strainer or colander with a double layer of cheese cloth or coffee filters. Place the strainer or colander over a bowl to collect the liquid. Pour yogurt in the strainer or colander. Then let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning you’ll have yogurt cheese. You can use plain or vanilla yogurt

To make the whipped cream topping – add 1/2 tsp vanilla and sugar to taste, mix together or whip with a mixer. This would be great on crepes with fresh fruit.

To make the vanilla frosting – add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla to 1 cup of yogurt cheese, mix together. Refrigerate. Spread on cake just before serving. I haven’t tried this but we have a birthday coming up and I am going to try it – sounds yummy.

Thanks A Thrifty Mom!

Cheryl

Going to be in the Tri-Cities this weekend?

Are you looking for a way to give back? Well, I have just the thing for you.  There is going to be a benefit yard/bake sale there. This will be put on by some of my family members as a couple of my other family members lost their home last weekend to a fire. Luckily, everyone is safe! Anyway, there is going to be a yard/bake sale and they could really use the help.

They will be collecting some personal hygiene items, paper products, and some non perishable foods for the family. So if you have lots of extra of these types of items (as many of us couponer’s do..) your donations would be greatly appreciated.

When: Saturday, August 14

Time: 8am -2 pm

Address: 9125 S. Argent, Pasco

At the yard/bake sale there will be Furniture, yummy goodies, household items, clothes, ski equipment, lots of misc. Thanks for your help!

Thanks!

Cheryl

My Target Trip Today......

Well, off to Target we went this morning and boy I am sure glad we went. Although, my little Blakey was not very well behaved today. Yep, he managed to get himself grounded from the WII for THREE DAYS!!! Boy, that is sure torture for him. We started out the shopping trip with him being able to play the WII today and, well, then we left the store with him being grounded for the next three days. Anyway, this is what we got today........

Okay, so this is how it was laid out....

Merona Flip Flops $3.24 X1

-$3/1 Merona Footwear

=$0.24

Snyders Pretzels $2.59 X1
-$1/1 Synders Pretzels Target Coupon
-$1/1 Synders Prezel Bites from recent insert
=$0.59

Market Pantry Cookies $1.37
(I didn't have a coupon for these, but need them for making a Kitty Litter cake).

Sobe $1.00 X2
-$0.50/1 Target Coupon (I don't know if this is still available) X1
-B1G1 Free from playing the Sobe game X1
=$0.50 for TWO, making them $0.25 each!

Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer $1.64 X4
-$2/1 from last coupon booklet at Safeway (the one with $13 in savings) X4
=FREE

Purell Hand Sanitizer $1.37 X1
-$1/1 Purell (I'm not sure this is still available, but this is where I got it from) X1
=$0.37

Aquafresh Toothpaste $2.64 X1
-$1.25/1 Catalina coupon (Target coupon) X1
-1/1 Aquafresh Advanced X1
=$0.39

Towell Ring $4.99 X1
-$5/1 Room Essentials bath furniture item X1
=FREE

Wall Shelf $13.49 X1
-$10/1 Target Home bath furniture item X1
= $3.49!

My total without coupons would have been....$40.04, but with coupons I ONLY SPENT $7.19 (before tax). THAT IS A TOTAL SAVINGS OF $32.85!

I would have gotten more stuff with my Target coupons, but they now have that limit of one "same Target" coupon per transaction and I really didn't want to have to do multiple transactions. So, I will be going back later.

Thanks!

Cheryl

$1/3 Rice-a-Roni or Pasta Roni

Just go on over here and use zip code 90210, if you can't find it with yours.

Thanks Totally Target!

Cheryl

High Value Coffee-Mate Coupon

Just go on over here to get $0.75/1 Liquid or Powder creamer product.

Thanks Clippin' With Carie!

Cheryl

Tight Wad in Utah

Thanks to Tight Wad in Utah for this awesome recipe post. Go check it out. It looks real fun, easy, and yummy too!

Tight Wad in Utah

Cheryl

Spokane's Groupon Deal of The Day

Wow, today's Groupon deal of the day for Spokane is for, ummmmm, CHOCOLATE!!! YUM!!! Okay, here is the deal.....$12 for an 18-Count Box of Luscious Chocolates from The French Quarter ($25 Value)

Wow! It looks like the deal is on. They already have 151 bought! Here is the info that is on their website....

At first, the Aztecs punished their enemies by pouring hot chocolate down their throats, until the proud warriors found out their foes actually liked it and promptly switched to molten gold. Relive the pleasure of those lucky few conquistadors with today's deal: for $12, you get one 18-count box of chocolates from The French Quarter (a $25 value, includes tax), located downtown in Carnegie Square.

When topological surveys uncovered a richly flowing chocolate vein under Spokane, a sure-footed band of chocolatiers set to work building a premium confectionarium on site. That passionate team of gastronomes and sweet tooths synthesize the succulent sustenance at The French Quarter, their products lovingly infused with locally sourced and handcrafted ingredients wherever possible. Rich Guittard chocolate populates each of the hand-rolled and hand-mixed truffles, which are made in small batches and trained in aikido fortnightly. Each chocolate comes energized by its natural beginnings from genuine plants, herbs, and fruits, while also being happily sheltered from the meddling influence of artificial flavors. Choose from a variety of confections for your 18-piece package, with flavors including burnt-caramel truffle, the citrus smooch of cloved orange, and the coffee kick of Vietnamese moka bean espresso. Purchasers can keep the 18-count container of The French Quarter's chocolate concoctions all to themselves, or gift them to the chocoholic in their life, further feeding a tragic dependency on candy bars and cereal box vampires.
The French Quarter is closed Sunday and Monday.

Thanks!

Cheryl

My Shopping Trip Today

Well, I got a few of my coupons together as well as my kiddos and we went on our way this morning. I went to two different Safeways and this is what I came home with.....

Without coupons, this would have cost me a whopping $197.20. With all of my coupons and savings, it only cost $56.86. I saved $140.34! Plus I got back another $5.50 in Catalinas to spend on my next purchase. All of the meat was 50%. That is a lot of meat that I bought. Most of my total is from the meat. Just my meat alone was $48.28. So, the total cost for all the others was $5.42. WOW! So, with my Catalina I would have made a profit of $0.08. Awesome!

Okay, so here is where I got all of my coupons from......

Box Tops Insert from last Sunday.

Target manufacturer (Nut Clusters, BC fruit snacks)

Smart Source (lots of coupons for this promo) 

Coupons.com

Betty Crocker

Cellfire (loaded to my card)

Shortcuts.com (loaded to my card)

Okay, so I noticed that, once again, my e-coupon did not come off for my Almond Breeze Milk. So, you might want to watch that kind of stuff. I am hearing rumors that people are having a hard time with all of their e-coupons coming off. I didn't have much of a problem, just the one. I tried it once before and it didn't come off then either. So, maybe it is just a glitch with that coupon or something.

So, have any of you tried the Sweet Moments products? Well, let me tell you, I just couldn't resist. Ummm, I think I made a mistake. Now, let me just say "I ONLY TOOK ONE BITE," but I am kinda wishing that I took more, but I have been really really good on plan lately and I want to keep up the good work, although this is making it quite hard. Don't know why I do this to myself. Anyway, my point is, is you haven't tried them, you just GOTTA! THEY ARE SOOOOOOO GOOD!!! :) You will LOVE them!

Okay, I have to get back to work now. I just wanted to share with you my goodies that I came away with.

Thanks!

P.S.~I could not find those new Nature Valley Granola Thins at either the Safeway on Argonne or the Safeway on Sprague. Have you seen them?

Cheryl

I have been working a lot

already this morning (oh, since 2:45) and right now I hear my kiddos upstairs, sounds like "getting something for breakfast." Well, that really scares me as it is just my 6-year-old and my 4-year-old. Anyway, I have got to put together some deals that I am going to try to score this morning and get them breakfast. So, I am going to be out for the morning. Just thought I would let you all know. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO SHOPPING THIS MORNING!!! :)

Thanks!

Cheryl

Grocery Store Deal Of The Week

Wow, there are soooo many deals to choose from, but I will try to only keep it down to one or two to keep it simple for all you beginners (I know too many good deals can be overwhelming).

Okay, so I am going to choose my deal from Safeway....

They have the Buy 4 Save $4 promo going on right now.

Buy 4 Betty Crocker Gushers/Fruit Snacks at $0.99 each=$3.96
Use this, this, this, or this coupon for $0.50/2 X2 (print this twice, so you have two)=-$1.00
=$2.96 for four fruit snacks, making each box $0.74 each
PLUS, you will get back a $2 Catalina at the end of your order to use on your next order.
That's like paying $0.96 total for all four fruit snacks, making them $0.24 a box.

WOW!!

Thanks!

Cheryl

Target coupons

I was just clipping some of my Target coupons this morning, while I was waiting for my computer to boot up. Anyway, have any of you noticed that the manufacturer's coupons, that you print from Target's website, do NOT have the Target logo on them anymore? Well guess what? They don't have that logo. Yay! I was so excited to see this. I know it is a manufacturer coupon and most store should take it, even with the logo, but I have chosen not to fight that fight. So, I am really excited about this, 'cause now I can take my Target "manufacturer" coupons ANYWHERE, REALLY! :)

Goooood mornin'!

Cheryl

How To Make Liquid Soap Out of Bar Soap

Thanks to Couponers United for this AWESOME post!! It is so "frugal" and sounds SUPER EASY too!

How To Make Liquid Soap out of Bar Soap

Supplies needed: 1 bar of soap, pan, grater, 2 cups of water

Grate the bar of soap into pan

Add 2 cups of water and melt over medium heat

allow to cool..you can fill two to three handsoap dispensers

Wow, doesn't that look easy peasy! Thanks so much for sharing Couponers United!

Cheryl

$1/1 Hot Pockets Side Shots

There is a $1/1 Hot Pockets Side Shots coupon over here. You will have to "like" them first, as this is a coupon through their Facebook page.

Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl