Awesome Magazine for Recipes

I don't know about you, but we had an awesome Thanksgiving dinner! We do not go the traditional route completely though. Some don't like ham and others don't like turkey. Some don't like stuffing and some don't like brussel sprouts. So, we have to come up with a menu that makes everybody happy.

This year, both my mom and I have been getting a Cooking Light magazine subscription. We love this magazine and use it for our weekly menu planning. There are lots of good recipes. Some are easy and others are a little more involved, but we haven't had a bad one yet. I highly recommend this magazine if you ever see it on sale for a good price.

Actually, if you go through Ebates to Magazines.com, today, you can get 42% cash back on the $15/yr subscription. Normally, it is 21%. Plus, use code MEAL and get $5 off! It ends up being $5.80 for a year subscription, today ($7.90 any other time)! An awesome deal!

The purpose of this post is not that deal though, although I found it in the middle of writing this!

Our Thanksgiving menu had several recipes from this magazine. You can also find them on myrecipes.com. We had a precooked, deep fried turkey breast, chuck roast cooked in the crock pot all day, Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Apples, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole (Everyday Food by Martha Stewart), butternut squash, Cranberry Upside Down Cake, and Pumpkin Ice Cream Torte.

The great thing about the recipes in this magazine is that they are fairly low in saturated fat (not all) and calories, something that a lot of magazines disregard. So, if you're looking for a change up to your menu planning and maybe opting for some healthier selections, this is a good magazine to start with!

$3.19 Christmas Cards

I just took advantage of an awesome deal that Money Saving Mom has posted about. I purchased 50 photo cards (4x8) for $3.19! They were totally free, no tax, and I only paid the shipping! You cannot beat this deal. It ends TOMORROW, 11/30 though, so hurry and find some good pictures and create your card! You can actually get 100 if you need them, in two separate orders. For more info on the second code, go here.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!!!

Huge Giveaway

Reading a blog I frequent, I noticed an advertisement on the side for 12 Days of Giveaways hosted by The Frugal Girls. There are some great prizes to be had, so I suggest keeping tabs on this site and checking back often to get in on the action! Prizes include Chickfila calendars, Bath and Body gift cards, Wii games and several other gift cards and prizes. Check it out!

Drugstore Black Friday Deals

I did my shopping this week for CVS and Rite Aid, on Thanksgiving. I know this is not how people usually do things, but my family wasn't getting together until Friday, which gave me the chance to shop before all the chaos on Friday. Unfortunately, my $5/$20 coupons at CVS would not work, so I had to shell out more ECB than planned, but it worked out fine in the end.

Based on the pictures below, how much do you think I spent?? Just wait for the totals at the end!

CVS:


Rite Aid:


CVS:
#1
Bliss Chocolate Bar $.89
Schick Quattro Razor $9.99
Snickers King Size $1.59
Vaseline Sheer Infusions $7.99
Degree Ultra $4.00
Local Paper $1.50

Used Green Bag Tag
-$1 Degree
-$1.50 Vaseline
-$2.00 Schick
-10, 10 ECB

1.46 + tax
$2.74 on gift card

Got back .89, 1.59, 4, 7.99, 8, 1 (bag time 4th scan) ECB

#2
Herbal Essences Shampoo $2.99
Herbal Essences Cond. $4.29 (just realized this was not right - didn't print ECB either)
Herbal Essences Styler $4.29 (not right either)
Colgate Total x 2 $2.88 ea
Colgate 360 $2.99
St Ives Wash $3.99
Dyna Prep Shots $4.99

-$.75 Colgate Total
-$.75 Colgate Total
-$1.00 Herbal Essences
-$1.00 360
-$2.99 Free shampoo
-$4.29 Free Styler
- 3.53 (3.89 brought down), 7, 7.99 ECB

=0.00 + tax
$1.78 on Gift Card

Got back 2, 3, 4 (Toothpaste), 2, 4.99 ECB

#3
Tums 150 Ct $3.99
Just for Men $8.29
Phillips Ear Buds $6.99

-$1 Tums
-$2 Just for Men
-2, 4.99, 8.99 ECB

=$.29 + tax
$1.83 on gift card

Got back 1, 6.99, 8.29 ECB

#4
Complete Multipurpose $8.99
Colgate 360 $2.99
Dyna Prep Shots $4.99

-$1 Complete
-$1 Colgate
-.89, 2, 4, 7.99 ECB

=.09 + tax
$1.45 on gift card

Got back 8.99, 2, 4.99 ECB

#5
2 Huggies Diapers 2/$18.99
1 Huggies Wipes $6.99

-$2 Diaper
-$2 Diaper
-$1.50 Wipes
-1.49 (1.59 adjusted), 4, 6.99, 8 ECB

=$0.00 + tax
$2.08 on gift card

Got back 5 ECB

Grand Total $9.88
Saved $134.94
20.28 ECB left

___________________________________________________

Rite Aid

No wipes on sale here. Really stunk, because I needed some, but thankfully, I got the ones at CVS. Also, the Dulcolax did not have an in ad coupon here. The cashier helped me pick razors that had a coupon on them, because I wasn't aware of this and the razors were in a bin at checkout. I didn't see it, but it was $1. We only found one box with a coupon.

2 Wet Ones $1.88 ea
Phillips Ear Buds $4.99
Gillette Shave Gel $1.99
Schick Disp. $.99
Schick Disp. $.99
Secret Deod. $2.49
Herbal Essences $2.99
Oral B Toothbrush $2.99
Scope Outlast $3.99
Tampax Pearl $3.99
Benevia $7.99

-$5/$25
-$.55 Gillette
-$.50 Secret
-$.75 Oral B Toothbrush
-$1.00 Scope
-2/$1.50 Wet Ones
-$1.00 Tampax
-$5.00 Benevia
-$1.00 Schick Disp.
-$20 Fall Gift of Savings

=-$.64 + tax
$1.08 on Gift Card

Get back rebates:
$7.99 Benevia
$1.50 Secret
$1.00 Gillette
$4.99 Ear Buds
$3.00 Tampax
$2.00 Oral B Toothbrush
$3.00 Scope

$37.16 Towards Winter Gift of Savings (spend $25-50 get $5,
spend $51-100 get $10, spend $100+ get $20 Gift Certificate, runs thru 12/24.)

$31.28 Money Maker!

Restaurant.com 80% Off

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving. We actually haven't done our meal yet, as we are waiting for my sister to come home tonight. We had a good day yesterday spending time with family though. I actually did my CVS and Rite Aid trip for the week, which I will be posting later. I saved quite a lot!

I just got word of some deals that Restaurant.com is doing right now, through the 30th. If you use code SAVE at checkout, you get 80%, yes you read that right, off your certificate. A $10 gift certificate ends up being $2, and a $25 as low as $2.50! This is a great way to save money on dining out and save some money on a special dinner you might have in your future. Unfortunately for me, there are not any restaurants worth it in my local area.

Please be sure to read the fine print, there are limitations!

I hope you can use this to find some good deals and save some money on your dining out expenses!

Good Housekeeping Panel

Sign up here to join the Good Housekeeping panel. You get to try products and potentially win prizes.

Photo Sites Cash Back Deals

Ebates currently has awesome cash back deals on photo sites. If you have seen some deals I have posted, now would be a good time to order your holiday Christmas cards, get great deals and cash back!

Some of the following deals end TODAY!

Snapfish is currently 16% cash back and they have 30% off calendars with code 30CAL2009 and 25% off photo cards with code 25CARD2009.

Shutterfly has 15% cash back, free shipping on $30+ purchases and 50 free prints for first time sign ups. They also have photo books and other things on sale right now.

See Here by Fujifilm has 12% cash back going on right now, plus 25%-30% off specific items AND free shipping. To see about getting 50% off photo books, 50 holiday photo cards for free and 100 free prints, go here, here and here.

Thanks Money Saving Mom and Southern Savers!

Remember, you MUST sign up through Ebates to get the cash back. You have to click on the site through their website in order to get credit. So, just write down the codes for the deals you see, go sign up at Ebates and click on the photo site you want to purchase from.

There are some great deals to be had!

Free Snapfish Prints

If you haven't started using online photo printing sites, there are lots of great deals for new signups. Snapfish is one of my favorite sites. If you sign up for a new account, you can get 50 free prints. The quality from this site is excellent. They have quick shipping too. Sign up here. Right now, they are offering free shipping on orders of $30 or more. If you need some Christmas cards, now would be a good time to get some prints and some cards, with free shipping!

Also, The Picture People at Target are offering a free set of 15 portrait gift tags. No purchase necessary, but you do have to do a session. Go here for more details.

Huggies Rewards

I have posted several times about Huggies' rewards program. Tonight, I opened up a brand new pack of diapers and found a sticker with a code on it! Guess how many points??! 13!!! I was so excited. There are some really awesome prizes on there right now, including a Subway gift card, $25 Visa card, gas cash, movie cash, a chance to win a free diaper coupon and they also have the interactive game, which is kinda hard to me, so I don't use my points for that. If you haven't signed up, now is the time! They are expanding products that they have points attached to, so it is worth it.

Read more on this topic here and here. The first link has a link where previous codes have been posted that may still be active.

My Interests for the Week

Here are the things that I will probably work scenarios up for this week. I'm not sure I'll be doing any Black Friday stuff, but we're delaying our Thanksgiving meal to Friday evening, so I may go out on Thanksgiving Day while nobody is around?? It just depends on if the deals start Thursday or not!

CVS:

$8.99 ECB wyb Complete Contact Solution 12oz., $8.99 Limit 2 free
-$1 off Complete Multi-purpose Solution, 12oz +, RP 10/25

$5 ECB wyb $20 Huggies Products Limit 1
Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pull-Ups (excludes Overnights) $9.49
Huggies Mega pk. wipes 184-216 ct. $6.99
-.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, 64ct+, SS 10/25, 11/15
-$1 off Huggies Diapers, SS 10/25
-$1.50 off Huggies SS 11/15
-$2 off any Huggies Diapering products, any printable (IE) or printable (FF) (works for wipes)
-$3 off Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers, SS 10/25, 11/15 or printable
-$2 off Huggies Pull-Ups, printable

**Deal Idea**
Buy:
(2) Huggies $9.49
(1) Huggies Wipes $6.99
Use:
(3) -$2 off Huggies products printable
Total Due: $19.97
Get Back: $5 ECB, makes it $4.99 ea

CVS BF:

I will probably do Jenny's scenarios here, if I do anything. I have lots of ECB to start out with and there are lots of items that are free or money makers after ECB and coupon, so I'd just be rolling ECB.

Walgreens: probably won't do unless there are some free items I am interested in. If I do, here are the items I would get:

Scenario at the bottom.

Rite Aid: Inclined to do this over Walgreens because I have a gift card and Savings certificate from Fall Gift of Savings to use. This is the one I'd shop on T Day for, because I am making some major profit (future purchase money)!

Free tampons, razors, and mouthwash. Dirt cheap deodorant, shaving cream, toothbrush, etc.

I would do the scenario Jenny lists. Also, we have NO wipes, so I'd be doing this:
Huggies Baby Wipes 64-72 ct. $2 ea
-.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, 64ct+, SS 10/25, 11/15
-$2 off any Huggies Diapering product, printable (IE) or printable (FF) (works for wipes)

Thanks Jenny for all your hard work in putting these fabulous ads together!!

Fresh Fruit Coupons! HURRY!!

Money Saving Mom posted a link to get coupons for Driscoll's fruit. Hurry and print HERE, while you can! You are limited to 2 coupons. If you click the arrow next to your back button, skip two pages back to reprint. These don't expire til April!! It is rare to see these type of coupons.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

CVS 11/22 and Black Friday Deals Posted

Are you up for shopping CVS on Black Friday? I'm not sure if they are open on Thanksgiving around here, but rumor is the deals may start that day. If you have a 24 hour CVS, you can get the deals starting at midnight Friday. There are loads of free items to choose from. Paired with coupons, you can get some awesome deals.

If you don't want to do BF, there are only a few deals. If you are in need of diapers, there is a deal for you, that would be good for your stashed high dollar Huggies coupons!

Jenny has the postings for both here.

Thanks, Southern Savers!

Chex Cereal $2 @ Walmart

Various Chex cereals are on sale for $2 at Walmart. Pair this with the $1/2 coupon from 10/25 or 11/15 Smart Source or printable coupons here and here, and you can get them for $1.50 per box. Some of these were the small box and some were the family size.

We like the Honey Nut variety. I also like these products because they are Gluten Free and have no High Fructose Corn Syrup or hydrogenated oils. These of course would be good for making any Chex Mix snacks for your holiday parties.

Huggies Rewards

If you haven't signed up for Huggies rewards program, you should! They have recently updated the instant win prizes to include gas cards, movie cash and subway gift cards. Also, the interactive game is back, with the chance to win up to $50,000!! It's a little difficult to me, but who knows, you could win a little or a lot. Also, they now have a catalog of rewards. If you don't like to chance it, save up those point for some cool prizes! You earn points by buying specially marked wipes, as well as siging up for the emails and voting on polls, and watching short videos.

To get you started, or to find the latest codes, go here or here. You can search the archive for past codes, but they expire, so going back to the beginning may not help.

Thanks, Freebies4mom and More Than Cents!

Been Away

I promise I'm here! We went away to Gatlinburg for the weekend. We had a blast and Ian loved the aquarium. I'm hoping to get some pictures up sometime. I have a busy week ahead, so I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging this week. If you don't see me around, it's because I'm doing other things!

I'll post when I can.

Time For A New Game Plan

Tuesday night, I attended Extreme Couponing 101, hosted by Jenny of Southern Savers. Yes, even I need help! I did learn a few things I never knew and got a few hints from Jenny as well as others in the group. I also realized how I can better save more than I do now.

The biggest problem I'm having now is keeping up my coupon binder and coupon cutting. I have piles of coupons in several rooms. It is ridiculous. First off, I think I'm going to downsize the number of papers I get. Since I can see sales for Publix the night before they start, I have enough time to order them online and receive them, if there is a super sale that I need to take advantage of that week. If I don't have enough of the coupons I need, I can get them from The Coupon Clippers.

I have also determined that I am going to ditch my binder when the coupons in it expire, for the most part. Maybe not ditch it completely, but at least try an easier method. I'm going to get a Pendaflex file and keep the inserts whole (Jenny's choice). Since most sites that show you deals also tell you the source and date, there is no need to cut them ALL out. Just Sharpie the date on the front and file the sets together. This will not only save TIME, it will save SPACE! Space in the sense of not cluttering up my house!

Jenny mentioned that she uses her own lists, which is so cool to know that not only is she doing it for us, but she uses them herself! She refers to the source of the coupons needed for the deal listed that week, flips through her large file, cuts those specific ones out and puts them in a baggy or a cancelled check file to take in with her. I think this is good for two reasons. One, again, it saves you the time of cutting them out, but second, it keeps you from spending UNECESSARY MONEY. With my coupon binder, since everything is so neat and organized, if I see clearance for Glade or Tide, etc., I just flip to where the coupon is and pruchase that item. In a sense, I'm getting a good deal, but I'm also spending that amount more than might be part of my budget that week, etc. I have a problem with clearance finds and impulse buys on them. I don't think it's a problem if you really NEED the item, but if you don't and you've got a ton stocked up already, what's the point?

So, in the next month or two, when all the current coupons expire, I'll be switching to hopefully, a better strategy, which in turn keeps me from spending on stuff I don't really need.

If you've not begun couponing and want to, Jenny has some great information available here. If you do coupon, and need more information, it is a great source as well.

Reminder: Extreme Couponing 101

Tomorrow night, Jenny of Southern Savers will be at Trinity teaching about couponing! If you haven't registered and want to, go here. It is 7-9, rain or shine. Hopefully the rain will let up some, so we can make it! I am hoping to be there! The cost is $10 at the door, but you need to register.

Awesome $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway

The Thrifty Mama is hosting a $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway. Go visit here for more information. This ends the 13th, so hurry! There are multiple ways to enter. Who wouldn't love a Target gift card?!

You do have to be a member of Shop at Home, a cash back site, to win. Registration is free. I registerd in 2008 and don't even remember doing so! :-) The site has some really good cash back deals as well as referral bonuses.

Done the Walgreen Money Maker?

There are several different scenarios for an awesome Walgreens money maker on Almay makeup. This of course is taking into consideration that your Walgreens is actually ringing the Almay up B1G1. You can see the scenarios HERE, in the comments, HERE and HERE.

You will need the little pamphlet for November that is usually when you walk in the store. This is not what is advertised, but you will see the FREE come up across the computer if it is going this way. Even if it isn't B1G1, it's still a really good deal!

This was done at the Atlanta Hwy Walgreens near Walmart/Post Office. Here is what I did for a $13 MM:

Trans. #1:
.49 Crackers (filler item, was worried about being negative)
Glade Soy Candle @ 3.99(sale)
Almay Pure Blends Foundation @ 9.99
Almay Pure Blends Mascara @ 6.99
2 Almay One Coat Mascara @ 13.98

- 8.00 Almay Mascara Coupon in Walgreens November Pamphlet (took off $4 twice)
- 3.50 Glade Coupon (was expiring today, couldn't let it waste!!)
- 7.00 RR from last week
- 1.00 RR from last week
- 1.00 RR from last week
- 6.99 Mascara B1G1 Deal
- 6.99 Pure Blends Mascara B1G1 Deal
=.96 + 2.15 tax
= 3.11 OOP
Rcvd 10, 5, 1 RR for a 12.89 MM!

Trans. # 2:
Glade Soy Candle @ 3.99

- 3.50 MQ (expiring today)
= .49 + .40 tax
= .89 OOP (spare change!)
Rcvd $1 RR for a .11 MM!

Even if you don't have any RR to apply to the first transaction, you could still get a Pure Blends Foundation and a Pure Blends Mascara B1G1 (if your store is ringing this way) for 9.99 plus tax with 15 RR back. Or you could do the One Coat Mascara x 2, B1G1, use the in store coupon, find a filler item for $1.01 and pay mostly tax. Nearly free makeup is ALWAYS good!

Sunday Coupon Preview

Jenny posted the coupons for this coming weekend! I see a few coupons that really stand out. There are some other good ones too.

To see what you can use, go HERE.

Always get the biggest paper available. For variations in your area, check here. This may help you determine which paper is best.

Cereal and Chocolate Chip Stock up Day

I went to Publix today, because I had some great coupons to use. Sorry, no picture today.

This week, Nestle Toll House Morsels are 2/2.50 (1.25 ea). I got 4 of the .50 coupons from Sunday's paper, plus some $1/2 coupons. Want to know how many bags I got???

10 bags = $4.50! 64% savings! That is awesome considering 1 of the big bags or 2 of these small bags equals more than that! Plus, I got some savings for college by using my Upromise card.

Some other good deals:

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta 2/$1.39
Kashi Cereal 2/$5 - $1.50 coupon = 2/$3.50
Chex Cereal 2/$3.49 - $1.00 coupon = 2/$2.49 (1 was the largest box)
Greenworks Detergent $7.99(sale) -$2 Publix coupon -.50 coupon doubled to $1 = $4.99

I got some other Kashi products, but didn't have coupons. They were all on sale though and this is when I stock up. I also got apples and grapes. We go through this so fast. The apples weren't on sale.

Total OOP 55.05

Store Coupon 4.50
Vendor Coupon 10.00
Advertised Savings 34.08!!!!
Saved 48.58 - 47%

It Has Arrived!!

I went into Target today. The shopping center where it is located is all decked out in Christmas lights, wreaths, etc. Target was covered in snowflakes at the front windows, and inside, snowflakes and bells were hanging from the ceiling!

We haven't even gotten to Thanksgiving yet!!!!

Cool Website

I am an avid Christian fiction reader. I love Amish fiction. For some reason I am drawn to the stories. It might have to do with my family living close to PA and having been there several times. It could also just be the fact that the stories are so interesting and you get right into them.

I stumbled across the AmishReader website and book giveaway, oddly enough, through Facebook. The website features several authors and their Amish titles, all of which look interesting to me!

Here is the link to the giveaway, in which you could receive an autographed copy of Where Grace Abides by BJ Hoff.

CVS Printable Coupons

CVS is feeling generous!!! I'm sure they want your holiday business. There are currently 2 printable coupons available.

$5/$30 Here - Expires in 2 weeks - (Thanks The Thrifty Mama and Abundant Food Savings)

$5/$20 Here - Expires 12/31! You can print more than one...they all print different bar codes. - (Thanks Southern Savers and iheartcvs)

Tuesday Freebies

Two complimentary issues of Family Circle - HERE (Thanks, Money Saving Mom and The Frugal Girls)

Kirkland's Signature Diapers sample - HERE

Garniere Nutritioniste Skin Renew - HERE

Swiss Army Fragrance - HERE

Weekly Carmex Giveaway - HERE

Aquafresh Extreme Clean - HERE

Handmade Soap Sample - HERE

Join Start Sampling for many great offers.

Free $100 Gift Card Chance

Right at Home is offering $100 Gift Cards to the first 200 people to respond here.

Also, starting Dec 6, they will be giving away gift baskets of SC Johnson products (Glade, Ziploc, etc).

Sign up today!!

There are also many Glade and other product coupons here.

140 Holiday Address Labels for $3

Currently, VistaPrint is offering their free samples. Included in this are address labels. I don't know about you, but the amount of Christmas cards we send out, I'd much rather stick a return label than hand write all of them out! You can get 140 customizable address labels for $3 shipped (that's just shipping cost)! You are saving 7.99!

I'm getting some that are a little more neutral so I can use them all year!

Go here for details on how to get in on this great offer!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!!

Target Toy Coupons

Yesterday, I posted about the Christmas shop at Target.com. Southern Savers found a load of toy coupons here. I'm thinking these are what we were supposed to be seeing, according to the mail booklet, but I couldn't find them! You can print one at a time by highlighting from bottom right to top left and right clicking, selecting print, but also selecting "selection" on the print tool bar.

Thanks, Jenny!

Some Target Coupons

Along with the usual list of grocery coupons here, Target has some product information pages that contain coupons. They are store coupons and you can get them here. Just hit "Get Coupons" on the top right.

$1 off Vaseline Sheer Infusions exp 12/26

$1/2 Purina Beggin Dog Snacks exp 3/30/10

B1G1 2 oz Fancy Feast Cat Appetizer exp 11/21

Be sure to print them while you can!!

The Christmas shop is up and supposed to have coupons according to the mail brochure, but doesn't yet. I'd keep watching closer to the holidays as discounts might come available. They currently offer free shipping with a $50+ purchase.

Chickfila Kicking Off the Holiday!

Chickfila is welcoming the holiday season already!!

Starting tomorrow, they are doing the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake. I have tried this, but it sounds yummy and festive!

Sign up to receive emails about news, events, promotions, etc here.