Neat Reward

I just got done eating a yummy parfait for breakfast. It was made of Stonyfield Vanilla Yogurt, fresh strawberries, and Bear Naked Granola - Fruit and Nut. It was so yummy!!

As I was about to throw the bag away, as any normal person would, I noticed a Terracycle logo on the bottom. Interestingly, you can save your Bear Naked granola bags and then send them in to be recycled into umbrellas or shower curtains...that type of thing.

Also, if you have enough bags, you earn points towards gear! Currently, they offer a reusable bag or T-shirts.

For an 18 oz bag, you get 5 points per bag. For a 12-16 oz bag, you get 3 points per bag and for a 5 oz bag or smaller, you get 1 point.

30 points are required for a reusable bag.
36 points are required for a T-shirt.

The only drawback is that you have to pay $5 S&H. So, if you're going to do it, you might want to save a bunch and make it worth it! It doesn't say that your request is limited to 1 item.

They also have a cool sweepstakes on their website.

Walgreens Deals 3/28

I usually don't like shopping at Walgreens, but some of these MM deals are hard to pass up! I might take a stab at it again and see how I can do. If I don't need anything there, I can always use the remaining RR at Publix.

$4 RR wyb Dove Shampoo or Conditioner or Styling Products 7 or 9.25 oz at $4 ea
-$1.50 off Dove Hair Care Treatment RP 3/28
-$2.50/2 off Dove Hair Care Products RP 3/28
-$2 off Dove Hair Care printable (you make $2 profit!)

$7 RR wyb Simply Saline Allergy and Sinus Relief Nasal Mist 4.25oz at $7 ea
-$1 off Simply Saline Nasal SS 1/24, 11/15/09, 10/18/09 (you make $1!)

$10 RR wyb Dulcolax Balance 14 Day 8.3 oz at $10
-$4 off Dulcolax Balance printable (you make $4!)
Free Bottled Water Free (up to $2) wyb any Dulcolax Balance SS 3/7
-$3 off Dulcolax SS 12/13
-$2 off Dulcolax Balance SS 1/24

There are a few more great deals. Go here to see the whole ad.

(Thanks Southern Savers for the matchups!)

CVS Deals 3/28

If you haven't seen the deals for CVS starting tomorrow, here are a few of the highlights which are probably what I'll be working on this week. Full listing here.

There is a $2/$10 baby care coupon printing at the coupon scanners and bottom of receipts. If you have a coupon scanner, before you go to checkout, make sure you scan your card and see if you get this great coupon! This will change the totals a little bit if you have the coupon.

$2 ECB wyb Stayfree or Carefree Pads or Liners $3.99

Free Carefree 22 ct product wyb Carefree product 38 ct + RP 3/28
B1G1 Carefree Ultra Protection product 14-16 ct RP 3/28
-$1/2 Carefree products RP 1/03 (exp 3/31)
-$2 off Stayfree product RP 3/28
B1G1 Stayfree products RP 1/03 (exp 3/31)

**Deal Idea**
Buy: (2) Stayfree Pads $3.99
Use:
B1G1 Stayfree
-$2 off Stayfree
Total Due: $1.99
Get Back: $4 ECB, you make $2 profit!

$2 ECB wyb Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste 4oz or Oral-B Advantage Toothbrush 1ct $2.99 Limit 1
-.75/1 off Crest Toothpaste, 4 oz+ or Liquid Gel, PG 3/07, 2/07 (exp 3/31)
B1G1 Oral B Advantage Toothbrush, PG 3/07
-$1 off Oral B Pulsar, CrossAction or Advantage Toothbrush, PG 2/21, 2/07 (makes it FREE)

$5 ECB wyb (2) Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pull-Ups $8.99 Limit 1
(excludes Overnites)
-$1.50 off Huggies Pullups Training Pants, any jumbo pack+, SS 2/28
-$1.50 off Huggies Diapers, SS 3/21
-$2 off Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers diapers, SS 3/21
-$3 off any Huggies Diapers, printable or printable or printable
-$4 off Huggies Diapers AND Huggies Wipes, CVS coupon printing on receipts
-$2 off Pull Ups SS 3/28 or printable
-$1.50 off Pull Ups SS 2/28

**Deal Idea**

Buy: (2) Huggies Diapers $8.99
Use: (2) - $3 off Huggies printable coupons
Total Due: $11.98
Get Back: $5 ECB, makes it $3.49 ea

(Thanks to Southern Savers for the matchups!)

Savings Saturday - Too Busy To Shop

This week has been so busy. I did a coupon workshop for some friends and was focused on that all week. Once that was over Thursday, I didn't do anything Friday.

I was thinking about going to RA and CVS to get some diapers and some free toothpaste, but my child has been throwing up today. He is 27 months and this is the first time he's ever gotten sick like this. We've been very blessed to not have to deal with all the other issues most people go through. I contribute that to regular chiropractic care and eating a mostly healthful diet. So, needless to say, I most likely won't be going out.

The only thing I have spent money on this week was at Publix and all I know is I spent $26 and didn't save much...maybe $8. It was mostly milk, fruit and some things for my workshop. I wasn't even in the frame of mind to take coupons with me. Sometimes you just don't care.

So, stay tuned next week. I'll have to go shopping next week and will definitely have to use some CVS coupons and ECB before they expire!

Organic Coupons

I know some of you are trying to go the organic route. I have just found a few sites that are organic/natural products, that have coupon offerings. If you know of more, please share!

Organic Valley - Milk, Cheese, Eggs, etc.

Organic Prairy - Organic Meats

Seventh Generation - Household, Baby, etc (Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway!)

Coleman Natural Foods - Meat coupons - Take survey for $5 in coupons

Applegate Farms - Organic and Natural Meats

Horizon Organic - Milk and Dairy

Stonyfield Farms - Dairy Products - Also a rewards program

SC Johnson - Natural Cleaning Products

At The Top Of The Credit Mountain

Since the beginning of the year, it has been my extreme priority to pay off our credit cards and other loans, in order to ease our monthly budget. Yes, we got stuck in that rut and it is a huge burden to pay those blasted cards off each month. Well, not even pay them off, just to get by with the minimum or a little more than the minimum payment. I have allotted a set amount of money in our budget each month to pay off credit cards. Thankfully, I have paid off 4 cards since January, and closed them!

In paying them off, I started with the smallest balanced card. Paying that amount sometimes left me the rest of my budget money to pay towards another card. So, that is how it has been progressing each month, so easily honestly.

I have also taken the cards that we have a balance on out of my wallet to avoid the temptation of using them. The only thing with that is if you forget another form of payment when you are in the grocery store. This happened to me yesterday. I had cash enough for a certain amount and couldn't find my bank card to pay the difference, and of course since there was no credit card. I had the lovely, somewhat embarrassing task of taking items out of bags and giving them back. It wasn't too bad, because it wasn't necessities, but it did take time and I hate feeling like I'm holding others up. Oddly enough, when I took out those 4 items that I didn't have to have, the total was exactly the amount of cash I had....an even dollar amount! Of course, I didn't charge anything that didn't need to be charged, so that is good too!

As April begins, we have 2 cards left which of course are the highest amounts. The tax return will be paying a portion of one for something we purchased designated towards buying with that money anyway.

I feel like I have finally reached the peak of the credit mountain and it will be downhill from here. We of course still have two loans to pay off, but the credit budget will then become the loan payment budget, in addition to what we are required to pay on those each month.

I strongly encourage you to not even fall into the lure that you have to have a credit card for good credit or even that it is necessary for spending. It is just an endless cycle of charging and paying, charging and paying. Your mortgage, utilities and other bills are enough that you can have good credit without using credit cards. Really, why do you need credit if you are able to pay with your bank account or cash anyway?! If it is something you can't afford, you probably don't need it anyway!

More Upcoming Diaper Deals

If you haven't printed the Huggies coupons yet, for $3 off, you need to go do that now! They are here, here or here. Remember to hit your back button after it prints and refresh the page to get 2 copies of each.

Starting Sunday, there is another Huggies diaper deal. This one will be at CVS. **Don't forget you can get some at Rite Aid through Saturday night!

$5 ECB wyb (2) Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pull-Ups $8.99 Limit 1 (excludes Overnites)

$1.50 off Huggies Pullups Training Pants, any jumbo pack+, SS 2/2

-$1.50 off Huggies Diapers, SS 3/21

-$2 off Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers diapers, SS 3/21\

-$3 off any Huggies Diapers, printable or printable or printable

-$4 off Huggies Diapers AND Huggies Wipes, CVS coupon printing on receipts

-$2 off Pull Ups SS 3/28 or printable

-$1.50 off Pull Ups SS 2/28

**Deal Idea**

Buy: (2) Huggies Diapers $8.99

Use: (2) - $3 off Huggies printable coupons

Total Due: $11.98

Get Back: $5 ECB, makes it $3.49 ea

You can see all the other deals for next week, here.

(Thanks to Jenny, from Southern Savers for the deal idea and matchups.)

Coupon Preview

This Sunday, there are some decent coupons! If you only get it for the glucose meter coupons, it might pay you back! There are also some Pull Ups, Green Giant veggies and some great Unilever coupons! Unfortunately, they moved PG to next week, so we won't have a week off of getting a paper...boo.

Check out the list here.

Infant Sling Recall

Infantino has recalled their Infantino Sling Rider and Wendy Bellisimo slings due to suffocation risks.

These are sold at Walmart, Target, Burlington, Babies R Us, and various other stores from January 03-March 10.

Contact Infantino or visit their website for free replacement. More information on this recall here.

Restaurant.com 80% off Code!

My lovely husband and his friends have a great deal to share with the rest of us!

If you purchase a gift card from Restaurants.com right now, you can use the code COOK to apply 80% off! This is allowing some $25 gift cards to be purchased for $2!

This is an amazing deal and there is no telling how long this code will last, so go now and see what you can find! This will make for some cheap meals out!

He bought 2/$25 GC for a local restaurant they like to eat lunch at, for $4! Way to go honey!

(Thanks, David and SlickDeals.)

Toy Story 1 and 2 Deal

Starting tomorrow at Target, Toy Story 1 and 2 are on sale. These are COMBO Blu Ray and DVD sets. Quantities limited, and no rain checks!

They are $22.99 each

-$10 off instantly, wyb both in one transaction

-$5 Toy Story Combo printable

-$5 Toy Story 2 Combo printable

= $25.98 for 2 Blu Ray and 2 DVDs!

Select packages have codes for Toy Story 3 tickets in them.

I think this is a great deal and will be buying this for us, because we do not have these!

Savings Saturday - Best Ever Publix and MM at Rite Aid

This week I really didn't need a lot of groceries, so I took advantage of stock up prices at Publix. Kashi cereal, Prego Sauce, Perdue nuggets, Stonyfield yogurt, and Right Guard deodorant (2/$5). Some items I got because I had FREE coupons that were expiring on 3/31, so I wanted to make sure I used them up! Oh, see that roll of paper towels? That was the penny item, however, I did not get a paper, so I didn't have the coupon. If you don't have the coupon and want the item, tell them at checkout that you want the item, but don't have the coupon - they may let you get it. I was at Vaughn Rd. This information was kindly given by a fellow shopper. I also met 2 other Southern Savers and an Iheartpublix shopper! It was neat how we all had our lists and knew exactly where we were going and what we were getting! I also went to Sam's for some things such as bread, fruit and fish, since I had money left over.

Publix:

Spent $43.07 OOP

Saved $83.91 - 66% (Cashier missed my $2/2 Right Guard coupon - I had a huge stack!)

Rite Aid:

Spent $22.29

Saved $62.11 - 73%

Get back $25.00 - $2.01 MM!

CVS:

Spent $24.89 (Eye Solution ECB Deal & Gas Drops - no deal, but coupon and had to get)

Saved $8.99 - 27%

Got $3 ECB

Sam's:

Spent $39.51

Weekly Total:

Spent $135.46

Saved $155.01 - 54%

Get back $25

Two *HOT* Deals! HURRY!

These will go quickly, so hurry!

Print a $3 off Huggies diaper coupon right now. A good deal to save this for would be 3/28 at CVS, you can get 2 packs for $6.98 total after ECB and these coupons! Use ECB to pay and get them up to free OOP!

(Thanks, Southern Savers!)

Also, there is a deal for a free Febreeze Reed Diffused coupon, here.

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom.)

Wow! Office Max Update

I ordered the paper and some Sharpies and envelopes yesterday. I just answered the door to my 10 reams of paper and Sharpies! THAT IS CRAZY! Less than 24 hours since I ordered! I guess I can print some coupons with all my paper and the ink I received yesterday!

I Told You!

I was just reading a sneak peek of Publix's weekly ad for this coming Wednesday. Guess what is on sale?! KASHI! Well, I'll have to wait and see if it really is or not, but it looks like I'll be taking the cereal back to Target so I can use some of the other coupons I have to get the boxes for $1 at Publix!

Lots of Giveaways

My favorite blogger celebrated her birthday yesterday! In honor of it, Jenny is hosting giveaways throughout the week, to allow 30 people chances to win great things! Make sure you follow along!

Right now, she is hosting an Amazon gift card giveaway for 5 winners.

Free Office Supplies

If you haven't joined Office Max Maxperks, you should. You can earn *free* office supplies. When you purchase select products, you earn points towards your max depending on your perk account, which add up towards a reward card. At times, like this week, they offer Bonus Rewards, which you will receive the following month.

Make sure you go through Ebates to get 3% cash back!

So, go here and find out how you can get paper, Sharpies and other supplies for free! Hurry though because it is WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

I got some paper and Sharpies, plus envelopes to make my total more than $50 so I could get free shipping. All I will end up paying is the tax.

Thanks, Southern Savers!

Little Taste of Summer House Party

Little Taste of Summer House Party

NABISCO 100 Calorie Delicious Living House Party

NABISCO 100 Calorie Delicious Living House Party

GreenEarth™ Green Up House Party

GreenEarth™ Green Up House Party

CVS Today

I went to get some last minute sale items. It was so confusing because they were putting sale signs up for tomorrow! I just realized she didn't scan my bag tag, bummer.

#1

Pantene Nature's Fusion Shampoo and Conditioner @ 2/$6.97

-2/$2 off coupons from Vocalpoint - Received today! How convenient!

Gillette Fusion @ $8.99

-$4 Gillette

Secret Flawless @ $2.50

Secret w/ Olay @ $3.99

-.50 Secret

-12, 1.95 ECB

= 0

$1.05 OOP

Saved $30.45

Got back 2, 4, 1 ECB

#2

Nivea Lip @ $2.99

Bounty Basic @ $5.97

-$1.00 Bounty

-4, 2, 1 ECB

=.96

$1.76 OOP

Saved $11.02

Got back 2.99, 1 ECB

Target - Better than Free Items

I went to Target today. There were a lot of good deals for me. I think I did pretty well! I could have waited for the cereal, but I haven't had any for a while, so I was tired of waiting. It was a little more than my usual stock up price, but I had the coupons and couldn't wait. Watch it go on sale at Publix this week! Also, they have a TON of makeup on clearance at the local store. This was Loreal, Almay and some other brands. Overages are not money in my pocket, it becomes extra 'coupons' off my bill - totaled $1.07 today. Not much, but it's a little extra off.

Transaction 1:

2 - 35lb Tidy Cat Litter @ 11.99 each

=$23.98

-$3 printable

-$3 printable

-$5 GC (used to roll)

= $14.88 OOP

Saved $11.40 - 43% (Almost like getting 1 FREE!)

Got $5 GC

Transaction 2:

Scrubbies - $3.49

Clorox Toilet Wand - $9.69

-$3 Coupon on Pack (Thank you Lord! Put it in the cart and saw the lovely pink coupon!)

Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal x 4 @ 2.96 Each (Warm Cinnamon on Clearance)

-$1.50

-$1.50

-$1.50

-$2.96 - Free Cereal printable

Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal x 3 @ 3.29 Each (I thought $3.09 - Going to have to recheck)

-$1.50

-$1.50

-$1.50

Kashi Crackers @ $2.59

-$2.59 - Free Cracker printable

Kashi TLC Bars @ $2.59

-$2.59 - Free TLC Bar printable

2 Gillette Body Wash @ $1.79 each

-$4/2 - .20 MM

Suave Kids Body Wash $1.50

Crest Kids Toothpaste $1.49

-$1 off

-$1 off Store printable - .51 MM

Loreal Double Extend Mascara $2.24 - Clearance Find

2 Loreal Voluminous @ $5 each

-$2 Loreal

-$2 Loreal (makes it $3 each!)

Bandaids $1.77

-$1 Bandaid Coupon

-$1 Bandaid Store Coupon - .33 MM

First Aid To Go .97

-$1 First Aid -.03 MM

Tampax 54 ct $6.99

-$1 Tampax

Tampax $7.14

-$1 Tampax

-$5 Gift Card (rolled)

$43.19 OOP

-$5 MIR Clorox Wand

Saved $47.34 - 55%

Got $5 GC

Savings Saturday

I really didn't do much shopping this week, until today! I made a quick stop last Saturday to get milk and necessities to get us through til last Monday. I did get groceries this week, but am trying an experiment of paying with cash to see if it helps me keep my budget in check. Let me tell you, when you're calculating and getting things, you put back the unnecessary items! Since we were on our cruise the week before, I hadn't gotten groceries, so it was two weeks without.

I did go to CVS and Target today, as posted.

Publix:

Spent $78.48

Saved $44.40 - 37% - Ugh...so aggravating.

CVS:

Spent $2.81

Saved $41.47 - 94%

Target:

Spent $53.07

Saved $58.74 - 53%

B1G1 Kashi Coupons

I just came across some AWESOME Kashi coupons!! They are on Target's website, and have the logo, by they ARE manufacturer coupons! They expire 4/10.

B2 Kashi Cereal Get 1 4ct Kashi GoLean Bars Free

B2 Kashi Cereal, Get 1 Kashi Cereal Free

B2 Kashi Cereal, Get 1 Kashi TLC Bars Free

B2 kashi Cereal, Get 1 Kashi Crackers Free

These are great to combine with the $1.50 Kashi coupons from Vocalpoint or printable.

CVS Deals 3/14

There are some pretty decent deals of things I need. Not sure how the week will be for you, hopefully you can make it work! Here are the items I am most interested in. I have a ton of Kashi coupons to hopefully use up. Thankfully deodorant is on sale, so I can stock up for cheap for the hubby. I also will be needing eye stuff and I have found that it is cheaper for me to use ECB and get the size at CVS. I end up paying less OOP. Who knew?! I just wish I could find coupons for Clear Care...

Kashi TLC Bars or Crackers $2.50
-$1.50 off Kashi Crackers printable or Vocal Point Home mailer (makes it $1)

Kashi Smart Start, Go Lean or Heart to Heart Cereal $2.50
Free Kashi Heart to Heart Vocal Point home mailer
-$1.50 off Kashi Heart to Heart printable or Vocal Point Home mailer (makes it $1)

$3 ECB wyb Genteal Twin Pack, Zaditor 5ml, Clear Care or Aquify Twin Pack $14.99 Limit 3
-$1.50 off Genteal product, SS 1/10
-$2 off Zaditor Eye Drops, printable (register)

$3 ECB wyb CoverGirl Outlast or Shineblast Lip Color $8 Limit 2
-$1 off CoverGirl Product, PG 3/07 or PG 2/07
-$2.50/2 CoverGirl Product, PG 2/07
B1G1 CoverGirl Face Product, PG 2/07

$5 ECB wyb $15 Dove, Degree, Caress or Lever products Limit 1

Degree or Dove Deodorant 2.6-3 oz $2.50
-$1.25 off Degree Men Deodorant printable
-$3/2 Degree Men Deodorants printable
-$1.25 off Degree Girl Deodorant or Body Mist printable
-$3/2 Degree Girl Deodorant or Body Mist printable

$2 ECB wyb (2) Right Guard Sport, Xtreme or Dry Idea $2.50 Limit 1
-$2/2 any Right Guard Deodorant, printable
(buy 2, use $2 off, makes it 50¢ ea)

Scott Paper Towels Mega Roll 6pk $4.99
-$1 off Scott Towels March All You Magazine or printable

*For all the matchups for the coming week, go here.

Thanks, Southern Savers!