Monday, November 30, 2009

More Cyber Monday Deals - CRAZY deals - 50%+ off, FREE shipping, $3 in FREE Amazon MP3s,and MUCH MORE!

OK: I thought that my inbox and Google Reader looked overflowingly silly the past few days. (Pretty sure there was smoke pouring out of my hard drive by the time I was done scrolling through.)

This morning both were overloaded with Cyber Monday deals. I've parsed out some of the hottest online shopping deals here:

New York and Company is doing 50% off and FREE shipping (use code 3953 - no minimum!) today only! Plus, get a whopping 8% cash back by clicking to the NY&C website through ebates! Translation: you could get a $20 item for $10, shipped free, and eventually see $0.80 of that back in an ebates check, meaning the item is $9.20.

Today only, use the code MONDAY to get 20% off your entire purchase and FREE SHIPPING (no minimum!) at Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic. Click through to the site via ebates to get an amazing 10% cash back for Old Navy and Gap purchases today as well! Translation: Your $20 item is $16 after 20% discount, shipped free. Eventually you'd see $1.60 of that back in an ebates check, so the $20 item is $13.40 plus tax!

For those of you shopping to accessorize an American Girl doll or American Girl sized doll, check out the Cyber Monday Deals today - big discounts on American Girl accessories and other items! Thanks to Christy for the headsup on that one.

Borders has a Buy One, Get One 60% off deal going on when you use code BCM1219B. Today is 7% cash back on ebates. SO: Buy two $10 items. After 60% discount, you'll have a $14 total, which will ship free (limited time $10 minimum on shipping). You'll also get that 7% back as $0.98, so that $20 worth of stuff will run you $13.02 plus tax. There is also a deal on Dr. Seuss books - Buy two, get one free (cheapest one is free). I'm not sure if this BOGO60% code is usable for this, but you could get some serious discounts on Dr. Seuss if so!

Get $10 off a $25 order at origins.com (this deal good through 11/30 with code TENOFF09), and it ships free (this deal good through 12/17)! 10% cash back when you click to the Origins site through ebates - woo! This means a $25 item will cost you a net of $13.50 plus tax. Thanks, Lea Ann, for the tip!

Go here today (last day!) and use code MP34FREE to get a $3 credit at the Amazon.com MP3 store. Great for when that one single has been stuck in your head, but you don't want the whole album!

Through tomorrow, December 1, get free shipping (no minimum!) on any philosophy.com order. Orders of $75 or more will also get a LARGE bonus containing: limited-edition philosophy messenger bag, hope in a tube .25 oz., purity 2 oz., unconditional love lotion 1 oz., eye hope .2 ml, inner grace perfume roll-on, inner grace lotion 4 oz., amazing grace gel 8 oz., and the gingerbread man shower gel sample. the messenger bag features our logo on the front and an exclusive philosophy on the back. it measures 15x12x5" (sufficient for most laptops) and includes a front zipper pocket, mesh water bottle holder and side gusset cell phone pocket. Clicking to philosophy.com through ebates will earn you 5% back on your purchase today, too!

Shopping on Ann Taylor today pays off - if ever you needed dress clothes (work suits, party or church dresses, etc.), this is the time to pounce. Get 40% off your entire online purchase, plus FREE shipping on orders of $100 or more. 6% cash back from clicking to the Ann Taylor site through ebates makes the deal even sweeter. If you bought $100 worth of stuff, you'd pay a net of $56.40 - a 43.6% discount!

Disclosure: If you join ebates using any of our referral links, you'll get a $5 bonus to start, and so (thanks!) will we..
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Fair Oaks Mall deal: Photos with Santa

Fair Oaks Mall is offering a good package on their photos with Santa this year. In addition to the reasonable pricing on photo packages, some including a free calendar and photo cards, they're including Chick-fil-a coupons and other kid-friendly store coupons.

The theme this year is the Polar Express. Go here for more details.

Thanks, Andi!
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Menu Plan Monday

Ooooof. Still here, and definitely carbo-loaded from the last few days. Keeping things basic yet again owing to less and less desire to cook. Check out other post-Thanksgiving menu plans at OrgJunkie!

Monday: General buffet o' leftovers (last day of these, probably). My sister-in-law made and shared a delectable lobster bisque that simply must not be allowed to go to waste. :o)

Tuesday: Grapes and tangerines, sauteed shrimp and green beans.

Wednesday: PB&J, baby carrots with ranch dressing.

Thursday: Fruit and yoghurt smoothies, cheeses, crackers (trust me, we can eat enough cheese to make a meal with no problem ;-p).

Friday: Apple slices, romaine Cobb salad with whatever's handy (veggies, bacon, shredded cheese, etc.)
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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Some Cyber Monday Deals to Browse - Amazon $5 Music Albums and Magazine Subsccriptions, 50% of Snapfish photo books, and BIG e.l.f. discounts!

Here are some Cyber Monday deals that we've seen that are already generating buzz!

Amazon.com's Cyber Monday deals have already kicked off! Many music albums for $5, $5 magazine subscriptions on top magazines like Real Simple and Southern Living, Cyber Monday deals in toys and games, and on and on. The deals go on and on!

Using the code RRBOOK on Snapfish.com (through 12/2) will get you photo books at 50% off! Check out the listings of prices (starting at $2.49!) - a lot of good grandparent gifts in this realm. Thanks to Frugal Coupon Mom for the heads up. Clicking through eBates to Snapfish.com to make your purchase will net you 18% cash back (unless percentages change between today and tomorrow). If you're a new Snapfish customer, you can also go to this link before you first register your new account to get a $10 credit (Frugal Coupon Mom reports that this cannot be used on the 50% discounted photo books, but it's still free credit for another Snapfish purchase! Thanks, FCM!). THEN go to the Snapfish site through ebates to get your cash back.

Through 11/30, you can get 70% off e.l.f. mineral makeup using the code CM70MIN on eyeslipsface.com. Click through to elf.com via eBates to get 6% cash back. Code EH75CE will get you 75% off the current stock of metalic makeup bags.

Disclosure: If you join ebates using any of our referral links, you'll get a $5 bonus to start, and so (thanks!) will we.
Some Cyber Monday Deals to Browse - Amazon $5 Music Albums and Magazine Subsccriptions, 50% of Snapfish photo books, and BIG e.l.f. discounts!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Friday, November 27, 2009

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 11/27-12/03

Is it just me, or are the deals pretty subdued this week? I'm typing these through the ether of pumpkin pie and mingling with relatives, so let us know with a comment if there are any deals we're missing! :)

Five Reasons to Visit Giant This Week:
  1. Giant European Salads (9 Varieties) or Dole Salad Blends, 2/$4
    Note:
    Page 2 of the ad says: "Save $1 instantly on your produce purchase. Use your Giant card and purchase 2 Dole Salad Blends or Complete Salads in one transaction, and $1 will be deducted instantly from your produce purchase at the register when you check out. Limit 1 offer per transaction."
    This might make the Dole Salad Blends 2 for $3 (?)

  2. Post Cereal , 3/$4, or $1.33 each
    Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles, Honey Comb, Raisin Bran, or Golden Crisp
    Must buy 3
    I couldn't find evidence of any related coupons on AFullCup - anybody else have luck?

  3. Sargento Shredded Cheese, 2/$5
    $0.55/1, November All You
    $0.50/1, 11/15 SS
    $1/2, 08/30 SS (exp. 11/30)
    Lowest possible price: $1.40/each

  4. Deal: 5 Free Redbox Rentals when you purchase $20 worth of Proctor and Gamble brand health and beauty care products.

    Herbal Essences Hair Care or Aussie Hair Care, 3/$10
    BOGO Herbal Essences, 10/11 P&G, final price: $1.66/bottle
    $1/1 Aussie, 10/11 P&G or October Marie Claire, final price: $2.33 bottle

    Sample deal: Buy 6 Herbal Essences items (totals $20), use 3 BOGO coupons, pay $10, get $5 in free Redbox rentals. (Net: 6 for $5...sort of, assuming you'd rent movies anyway.)

  5. Flap Deal: This week save an extra $0.10/gallon of gas when you purchase any 4 participating items with your Giant card!
    Deal idea: Buy 4 Nature's Promise yoghurts for $3. If you are filling up at least 30 gallons this week, this could be worthwhile, depending on the prices of gas in your area.
Front Page

Top Round, Bottom Round, or Boneless Chuck Roast, half price (Save at least $1.75/lb.)

Lean Cuisine Entrees, 5/$10
$2/3, September All You
$1/5 or $1/3, 09/13 RP
Lowest possible price: 3/$4, or $1.33 each

Fresh Pork Tenderloin, $2.99/lb. (Save at least $3/lb.)

Tropicana Pure Premium, 2/$5
$1/2 Trop50, 11/15 RP
Final price: $2/carton

Extra Jumbo Raw Gulf Shrimp, $6.99/lb.

Tomatoes on the Vine, $1.88/lb. (Save at least $0.61/lb.)

BOGO deals:
Perdue Boneless Chicken Breast, Small Pack
Utz Potato Chips
SoBe Lifewater, $0.25/1 printable, use two since you'd be buying two
Orchard Perfect Ripe Avocados
Thomas' English Muffins 6-pack
Mott's Apple Sauce

Second Page

Cucumbers, 4/$3

Giant Sliced Bacon, BOGO

Oscar Mayer Bologna, BOGO

Nature's Promise 94% Lean Fresh Ground Turkey, $3.59

Third Page

California Pizza Kitchen Pizzas, 2/$10

Aunt Jemima Great Starts Breakfast Entrees, 4/$5
$1/2 frozen pancake, 10/04 SS
Final price: $0.75/each

Breyers Ice Cream, 2/$6
$0.75/1, 10/18 RP (may be regional)
Final price: $1.50/carton

Yoplait Yoghurt, 10/$6
$0.40/6, 11/08 SS
Final price: 6/$2.80 (~$0.47)

Giant Egg Nog, $3.49

Giant Yoghurt, $1.88

Nature's Promise Baked Whole Wheat Crackers, $1.89

VitaMuffin, 4-pack, $3.99

Fourth Page


Tostitos Tortilla Chips, 2/$6

Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna 4-pack, $2.99

Nature's Promise Canned Organic Vegetables, 10/$10

Entenmann's Little Bites, BOGO

Sunbeam or Schmidt White Sandwich Bread, BOGO
$0.25/1, 10/11 RP, use two!

Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread, 2/$5

Toiletries

Ricola Natural Cough Drops , 2/$3

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have a wonderful, relaxing, recuperative Thanksgiving today!
(And good luck to those of you with enough energy and fortitude to conquer Black Friday...) ;)


Psalm 34:8-10

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.



With thanks for photo to flickr's Cameron Nordholm,
under creative commons license.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Works for Me Wednesday: Buying in Bulk


I have friends who make fun of me for buying 25-pound bags of flour. True confession!

I do find it prudent for our family to buy certain things in bulk. We have a Costco membership, and I make 1-3 runs to Costco per month. It's true: I buy 25-pound bags of flour! I also buy these items:
eggs (7 dozen at a time!)
confectionary sugar (5 lbs.)
brown sugar (5 lbs.)
shredded mozzarella cheese (5 lbs.)
shredded cheddar cheese (5 lbs.)
ground beef (6 lbs.)
deli meat

I have a whole shelf of canisters in one of my kitchen cupboards for the dry baking goods. For anything that doesn't fit there I put the item in Ziploc bags and store them on shelves in our basement.

I buy several other items regularly at Costco, like milk, bread, salad, etc., but on today's post I'd like to highlight the items that require dividing up and storing. We don't have a lot of storage space, so I'm judicious about what I'm willing to divide into smaller bags and store. It's worth it on our budget, and this practice saves me from making extra runs to the grocery store for staple items.

I do bake a lot, and I try to keep myself on the Zone diet as much as possible. A Costco membership really helps in both areas.




What do you buy in bulk? If you buy in bulk, where do you purchase your items? Leave us a comment and let us know.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cottontails Diapers at Giant, 50% Off Large Boxes! $0.16 or less per diaper.

I did another Giant run today (I'll sheepishly admit that we were already almost out of Clementines, a huge craving of mine.).

As I came to the milk/butter/eggs stretch, I noticed in one end-of-aisle markdown shelf that there were three boxes of size 6 Cottontails diapers - my daughter's size! - marked down from $17.98 to $8.99, for each large box of 58! That's ~$0.16/diaper. I'm sure willing to give'em a shot at that price, especially daytimes!

Not sure exactly why they were marked down, but often packs of diapers will be marked down for no other reason than to make shelf space for different "denominations" - for instance, could be stocking a new box containing 52 diapers for $17.98, an unfortunately common occurrence in the past couple of years.

If you're at Giant in the coming days and have any kiddos in diapers, check out the markdowns section! You might be able to snag them even cheaper since the largest sizes are the highest cost per diaper.

Other deals I snagged:

Stacy's Pita Chips, $1/bag
Sunkist and Diet Sunkist, $1 for a 12-pack
Philly cream cheese, $0.58/block
Land O Lakes butter, normally ~$3.79/lb., $1.24/lb. after doubled $0.75/2 coupon
Clementines, $4.44/box
Tangerines, $4.44/box

See the Giant deals for this week here.

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Cottontails Diapers at Giant, 50% Off Large Boxes! $0.16 or less per diaper.SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Monday, November 23, 2009

Tuesday Deals Roundup: Bath & Body Works Freebie, Chick-Fil-A "Cow"lendars, New Printable Kraft Coupons, Black Friday Buzz, and FREE ATMs Nationwide!

The deals keep a' comin'! Check out some of these pre-holiday coupons.

Bath & Body Works has a great coupon out for teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts or just to update your personal stash! The coupon will get you a free item of your choice ($13 limit) with any $10 purchase. Some exclusions apply, so check the fine print. Click here to link to the coupon. Thanks, Coupon Cravings!

Don't forget that Chick-Fil-A is running a special for a free Chick-Fil-A calendar with the purchase of a $20 gift card. When this deal advertised a few weeks ago, I ran to my local Chick-Fil-A, and I'm close to buying a 2nd gift card. I know I'll spend the money in the next few months, and the 12 coupons on the calendar are worth it to me! These calendars do sell out, so think about stopping by before the holiday rush.

Go HERE to see a new release of printable Kraft dairy products coupons - INCLUDING a $0.55/2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese coupon. (Yes, this is the week of obsession with cream cheese...) If you use this printable $0.55/2 at Giant during this week's BOGO Philly Cream Cheese sale, you can get two blocks for $0.90, or a new low stockup price of $0.45/block. Other hot coupons available at the link are $1/2 Cracker Barrel or Kraft shredded or chunks, $0.55/1 Velveeta, and $0.55/1 Breakstone's Sour Cream (could make the Breakstone's very cheap!).

If the prospect of Black Friday shopping makes you dance with glee, check out Black-Friday.net for updates on the latest Black Friday sales buzz on the net.

Since you're out and about more with holiday obligations and travel, check out Mommy's Wish List's post on how to find fee-free ATMs nationwide. Thanks, Lea Ann!
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Tuesday Deals Roundup: Bath & Body Works Freebie, Chick-Fil-A "Cow"lendars, New Printable Kraft Coupons, Black Friday Buzz, and FREE ATMs Nationwide!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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NEW Redbox Freebie Rental Code - Use ASAP!

Inside Redbox just reported that the code DLLNS26 will get you a free rental, and while so far it seems to be working everywhere, the expiration on it is unknown. Suggestion? If you're out running errands today, stop by the nearest Redbox and give it a shot. You have nothing to lose but about 30 seconds of your time. Find your local Redbox locations here.
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Check out Amazon Wish List!

In contrast to A's post last week on using Froogle for tracking wish list and gift items, I recently discovered the new Amazon Wish List feature. I, too, have used Froogle in the past, but I now believe Amazon.com has a better setup. Hooray!

As you may know, Amazon sells pretty much everything, and at great prices. But sometimes you can't find something you'd like on Amazon; their wish list in the past was incomplete without the new "wish list button." To set up a wish list with Amazon, go here. Then go here to grab the button and put it on your toolbar at the top of your internet browser. It couldn't be easier to track wish list purchases now!

Amazon offers the capability to set up your own personal wish list and any number of other wish lists. So you can set them up for other family members or even set up a "shopping list" like I did to track the items I think I'll buy for others as I see them throughout the year.

Again, hooray for Amazon! I'm really excited about how easy this feature has made my gift planning.
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Menu Plan Monday

Whew! I spent the weekend filling my freezer with recipes from Don't Panic! - Dinner's in the Freezer based largely on what was already in my pantry, and a little bit on what was on sale at Giant this week.

I made some cheesy spinach dip (with that cheap Philly cream cheese, of course!), some sour cream muffins, some mushroom palmiers (these were for Thanksgiving), and a couple of chicken pot pies. Hardly a mountainous tribute to Money Saving Mom's ever-productive Baking Day/Freezer Cooking Day, but in my current state, it was an achievement for me to crank these out.

Now the hard part will be for me to resist raiding my freezer supply until after my baby is born, which could theoretically be pretty much be any day now.

As for the start of this week, I initially was kind of stumped. (After cooking all weekend, you kind of lose steam for the week ahead, you know?) I've decided that as with last week, I'll be doing simple dinners, to keep my kitchen clean and my brain less cluttered, since Thanksgiving pretty much grabs the rest of the week by the horns. :-)

Monday: Tilapia, brown rice, cubed papaya

Tuesday: Three-cheese tortellini with sauce, Clementines

Wednesday: Travel to my relatives' house (yay!)

Thursday: Gobble gobble gobble!

Friday: Leftovers, presumably.
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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Toys (and Other Gifts) with Staying Power: Books Edition

A soon-to-be-well-loved book can be one of the greatest gifts that you can give a child. While a standard list of classics and award-winners is undoubtedly a great place to start, we thought that we'd add a few inexpensive suggestions (perhaps unfamiliar to you) to spice things up. The recipients' parents will thank you in the long-run, too, because to fit this "Staying Power" series, the books must:
  1. Be a good value - No $100 easily-destroyed treasuries here
  2. Be long-lasting/resilient - The story does not lose its appeal after just a few readings
  3. Inspire creativity - The story sparks conversation and interaction
  4. Span age groups - Any age group reading the book will enjoy it
So here we go:

Cinder Edna
$6.99 paperback, $12.23 hardcover
This take on the Cinderella story reveals the parallel life of Cinderella's next-door neighbor, Cinder Edna: a take-charge kind of girl who cleans parrot cages in her spare time in order to afford to put a dress on layaway so that she, too, can go to the ball. Those familiar with the traditional Cinderella tale will also delight in meeting studly Prince Randolph's younger, more pragmatic brother Rupert.

Anything by Mo Willems, like...

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
$10.19 hardcover, 2003 Caldecott award-winner
Even very young toddlers who are just learning the meaning of, "No!" themselves will get a huge kick out of this book, in which a crafty pigeon tries every trick in the book to get behind the wheels of a nearby bus. His lines ("Let's play 'Drive the Bus'! I'll go first.") will have the older readers laughing out loud. Just one of many in the hilarious pigeon series.

Anything by Graeme Base, like...

The Eleventh Hour
$7.99 paperback, $9.32 hardcover
As with all Graeme Base creations, The Eleventh Hour is a visual feast that readers of all ages will enjoy. Horace the Elephant throws himself an 11th birthday party, and invites all of his animal friends. But the party takes an ugly turn when it emerges that the birthday feast prepared for the occasion has been secretly gobbled up by one or more in attendance. Now the questions are: who has an alibi? Will less-obvious clues from the pages exonerate other party guests? From the lush, intricately detailed illustrations, to the hidden clues and puzzles, to the overarching whodunnit mystery (with an officially sealed answer section at the back), The Eleventh Hour could easily become a family favorite, even for older children.

What authors/books do you enjoy giving children for Christmas?
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Friday, November 20, 2009

Run to Giant: Lifetime Supply of Clementines, and Enough $0.58/block Philly Cream Cheese to Feed a Small Army

It was a very good run to Giant today. Other than maxing the limit on the cheap Clementines, I bought a whole bunch of frozen spinach, shredded cheese, and 18 blocks (no joke) of Philly Cream Cheese.

To his credit, my husband did not question my sanity when I asked him to load 18 blocks of the cream cheese into the cart. He simply counted them out, and then patiently asked, "Wait, how are these going to be $0.58 a block?"

I had six coupons from a Kraft dessert booklet (collected over a couple of different trips) that has been on dessert displays at Giant and Shopper's Food Warehouse - for $1.25 off 3 of Jell-O, dessert baking chocolate, and/or Philadelphia Cream cheese.

So here's how I ran the scenario:
18 blocks of cream cheese, BOGO (regularly $2/block): $18
6 x $1.25/3 coupons = -$7.50
=======================
Final price: $10.50 for 18 blocks, or $0.58/block!
(You can also use two of these $1.25 coupons to get 6 for $3.50)

There was also a $1/3 in the 11/15 Red Plum. Here's how a similar scenario would work:
18 blocks of cream cheese, BOGO (regularly $2/block): $18
6 x $1/3 coupons = -$6
=======================
Final price: $12 for 18 blocks, or $0.66/block. Still CHEAP!
(You can also use a couple of the $1/3 coupons to get 6 blocks for $4.)

Tonight, I will be making a few batches of freezable and oven-ready warm cheesy spinach dip - and also freezing the remainder of the cream cheese. If you use cream cheese, this is a stocking up opportunity for sure, so keep an eye out for that Kraft dessert booklet!

With a lot of cream cheese around, you could make:

Mexican Hot Dip (only 5 ingredients!)
White Chocolate Cheesecake (*drool*)
Cream Cheese Frosting (so useful this time of year!)
Italian Cream Layer Cake (intriguing)

And a personal favorite I've made many times (a company-pleaser!):

Garlic-Lemon Double Stuffed Chicken
"Not your everyday chicken dish! Stuffed with Cheddar and cream cheeses, then drenched with a garlic-lemon-butter sauce, your friends and family will be begging you to make this recipe - believe me, I know!"

What are you waiting for? Go pounce on this cheap staple! :) Check out all of this week's deals at Giant here.
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Reader Comment - $2 Catalinas for every $20 Spent on Kraft Dairy?

Ooooo we just got a hot comment from reader Lynn, as follows:

I got a Cat today telling me about a Kraft cheese/dairy promotion at Giant for a $2 OYNO Cat every time you spend $20.

1. Buy any Kraft cheese or dairy product using your card now through 5/8/10 (yes, a 6 MONTH promo!!)

2. Earn a $2 grocery coupon every time you spend $20 on Kraft cheese or dairy products (purchases can be made over multiple shopping trips)

3. Save by redeeming your grocery coupon on your next shopping trip.

Lynn, THANKS so much for taking the time to type out these details! This could turn out to be a very sweet deal indeed.

Has anybody else gotten this Catalina deal? If it's truly a "multiple shopping trip" Catalina, then it must be tied to your BonusCard, so be sure to use your Giant BonusCard when you shop! I am wondering if the cream cheese deal going on this week (which, even without the Catalina deal, would bring the price from $2/block down to $0.58/block, potentially) would count toward this Catalina...?
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FREE 24-7 Christmas Tunes, Beginning Today on 97.1 WASH FM, and on the WASH FM Website!

This post is a part of the Frugal Fridays carnival, hosted by Life as Mom.

Starting today, 97.1 WASH FM has kicked off its "Washington's Home for the Holidays" tradition. That's right: 24-7 holiday tunes, and you can listen on your radio or listen live from 97.1 WASH FM's website. (Click the "Listen Live" button in the upper left hand corner...)

Now that's one freebie I won't forget to enjoy in the coming weeks. I love the variety of songs, and it meets my desire for Christmas tunes pretty much anywhere without having to buy new music.
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Food Bank Challenge: Ideas for This Week on How to Stretch $10 to Donate

Gina of Moneywise Moms has started a Food Bank Challenge in the past week! She's challenging us (that would be couponers and generous-hearted folks in general) to see how far $10 of our monthly food budget can go for donation to a local food bank or charity. (Check out our post on finding your local food bank!) Gina has a fabulous Mr. Linky to get us in the collaborative spirit, too, where you can share your blog's Food Bank Challenge entry.

When I saw this challenge, my first thought was, "Ack, I just donated a couple of boxes' worth of stuff last week!" I wish that I had taken pictures. :) But that shouldn't stop me from getting another box started.

If you're up for the challenge, but aren't sure where to begin, check out this pretty painless scenario, with a Thanksgiving theme.

Head to Target, and spend:
Then make one other trip, to Giant:
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Subtotal pre-tax: $10.01
Value of items to be donated: ~$18

OK, so I went a penny over on the spending - but I think we're going for the spirit of the law here. :)

This isn't the result of a gung-ho shopping excursion - it's a stripped down sample run to show you how easy donating $10 spent on food can be. You don't have to do extra trips to Shopper's triple coupons to make a sizeable donation set (that might have been last week's aforementioned donation, heh) - and you don't need a huge supply of inserts, either. So are you up for it? See the latest on the Food Bank Challenge here!
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Now through 11/25, get $10 from Bing cashback via PayPal on a $25 purchase!

A new deal in hot off the presses!!

PayPal users can now get $10 from the new Bing cashback service by making a $25 purchase through Bing cashback, now through 11/25. Only those with an email invitation from PayPal who are new to Bing may participate, so if you have a PayPal account, check your email (and perhaps your spam?) for the invite.

Details and sign-up link found here.


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Now through 11/25, get $10 from Bing cashback via PayPal on a $25 purchase!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Ebates and Swagbucks are both easy ways to earn rewards while doing what you normally do - web-searching through Google and shopping for bargains online!

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 11/20-11/26

I am irrationally excited about the "holiday pricing" of Clementines! Whenever these go below $5 for a 5 lb. box, I end up like a kid in a candy store. Here are five great reasons to stop by Giant this coming week:
  1. 5 lb. box Sweet Seedless Clementines, $4.44, save at least $1.55. (Note that during summer months these are around $10 for a box!) Limit 2.

  2. Land O Lakes Butter, $1.99/lb., save $1.50 each, limit 3
    $0.55/1 printable for registering, likely to double.
    Final price: $0.89/lb. Not too shabby!

  3. Green Giant Boxed Vegetables (frozen), or Prepared Vegetables, Simply Steam Seasoned Vegetables, or Rices, 10/$10
    $0.50/1 Just for One, 11/15 GM
    $0.40/1 Fresh Steamers, 10/04 GM and 11/15 GM
    $0.60/3 Boxed Veggies, 10/04 GM and 11/15 GM
    Final price: Ranges from potentially FREE to $0.60/package
    Note: There were also many Green Giant printable coupons on coupons.com earlier this month; I don't see any now, so they may have run through their campaign print limit for the month. But the AFC listed values of these would make for some FREE Green Giant if you have'em!

  4. Philly Cream Cheese, BOGO
    Check out our BOGO/coupon deal here which shows how to drive the price down to $0.58/8 oz. block!

  5. Heinz HomeStyle Gravy, 4/$5 (normally $2 each)
    $1/3 printable available here
    Final price: $0.92/jar
Here are other Giant coupon matchups and deals that we spotted for the week of November 20-26.

Front Page:

Louisiana Yams or Carolina Sweet Potatoes, 3 lbs. for $1.

Edy's Ice Cream, 2/$5

Beef Rib Roast or Semi-Boneless Rib Steak, $5.99/lb. (Save at least $4/lb.)

7-Up, A&W, or Sunkist 12-packs, 5/$10, must buy 5.
$1/1 Sunkist 12-pack (or $1/2 2-liters), 11/15 SS
Final price: $1/12 pack!

Super G Spiral Honey Glazed Sliced Ham, $1.79/lb. (Save at least $1.40/lb.)

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Drinks, 64 oz., 2/$4

Snow Crab Clusters, $4.99/lb. (Save at least $4/lb.)

Deer Park Spring Water 24-pack, $3.99 (Save at least $1.50)

Smithfield Sliced Bacon, BOGO
$0.55/1, 10/25 RP, use two since you're buying two
Final price: $2.79 for two, or ~$1.40/pack, compared with $4.99/pack retail

Third Page:

Several listings of turkey prices, starting from $0.47/lb.

Giant said in an ad two weeks ago that it won't be undersold on turkeys. Since that proclamation, I've seen turkeys priced at $0.40/lb. at Wal-Mart, and this coming week's Shoppers Food Warehouse ad says again that it is selling turkeys for $0.38/lb.

Also see our writeup of last week's ad for the summary of Giant's available fully-cooked full-scale Thanksgiving dinners made to go!

Fourth Page:

Sabra Hummus, BOGO, gets you two for around $4.39, or ~$2.19/each

Reddi Wip Instant Whipped Cream, 2/$5
$0.50/1 printable, must choose Reddi Wip man after playing game
$0.50/1, 11/15 SS
Final price: $1.50/can

Stacy's Pita Chips, 2/$4
$1/1, 11/15 SS
Final price: $1/bag!

Fifth Page


Orville Redenbacher's Double Features Popcorn, 2/$4
$1/2 here, after you play the game chose the Redenbacher character
Final price: $1.50/box

Canada Dry, 7-Up, A&W, or Sunkist 2-liters, 10/$10

Newman's Own Salad Dressing, $2.99
$0.50/1, 10/25 RP
Final price: $1.99/bottle

Swanson Broth Cartons, 2/$4
Either $0.50/2 or $0.40/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $1.20-$1.50 per carton

Back Flap

This week save an extra $0.10/gallon of gas when you purchase any 4 participating items with your Giant card!


I don't normally profile these deals because buying whatever's required usually exceeds the value of the gas money to be saved.

But, this week, if you buy four cans of the Campbell's cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup and use the coupon listed below (09/20 SS), you'll pay $3.50 for the privilege of filling up at $0.10/gallon less for the week. If you can fill up two large vehicles' tanks in the during the week, your discount on gas will probably exceed the value spent on the Campbell's soup.

Back Page:


Coke 2-liters, 10/$10

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, 10/$10

Pillsbury Pie Crusts, 2/$5
$0.50/2, 11/15 SS2, or also from coupons.com
Final price: 2/$4

Campbell's Cream Soups, 10/$10
$0.25/4, 09/20 SS
Final price: $0.87/each

French's French Fried Onions, 6 oz. can, $2.99
$0.75/1, September and November editions of All You magazine
$0.50/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: as low as $1.50/can

Pillsbury Quick Bread Mix, 2/$4
$0.40/1, 11/08 RP
Final price: $1.20/each

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!
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Works for Me Wednesday: Using Froogle for Christmas Wish Lists

It's Wednesday - time for another "Works for Me!" tip, inspired by the blog carnival/series at We are THAT Family. Check out this week's tip carnival here.

If you have a Google or Gmail account, then Froogle is worth checking out! Our family (and extended family!) has used Froogle for the last few years as a way of composing Christmas wish lists. For hard-to-shop-for people, like my tech-oriented brother, or my "I have everything I need!" husband, it is a wonderful way to avoid giving them, "I'm clueless..." items year after year.

Froogle is an especially useful tool for a number of reasons:
  1. It has the searching "reach" of the Google search engine.
  2. It offers you the chance to filter your results by relevance, price, store, and other categories.
  3. You can add an item to your private Froogle "Shopping List", and share it as part of your public "Wish List" at will. This way you can track items of interest without everything being listed on your "Wish List".
  4. Froogle lets you send a link to family and friends for purposes of sharing your wish list.
  5. Froogle covers the inventory of almost all major retailers online, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, J.Crew, L.L. Bean, Lands' End, Nordstrom, Zappos, etc.
I love Froogle because, as items occur to me year-round, I can add them to my Froogle list, preventing last minute "What do you want for Christmas?" scrambles. In my case, it is often music or books that spark my interest - but I make it plain to my family that in most cases, used copies are more than fine. Froogle also gives folks the chance to surf your wish list far in advance of a birthday or Christmas, so they can also bargain-hunt on particular items instead of being tied to paying retail on December 19th.

As for my young daughter, I keep a very book-heavy Froogle wish list in her name, so that family members can see a list of classics, old favorites, and relatively new titles that aren't yet in her collection. If a book at another child's house catches my daughter's attention, I also can try to add the title to the Froogle list later.

Have you tried using Froogle? What wish-list strategies work for you?
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Works for Me Wednesday: Using Froogle for Christmas Wish ListsSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday Deals Roundup: Freebies, Toys R Us and Babies R Us Black Friday Scoops, and Free Organic Coupons by Mail!

This time of year, the deals and freebies just come at you like a firehose on full blast. But there are still some jaw-dropping standouts. Check'em out:

Jamba Juice is giving away free flatbreads
(Tomo Artichoki, Four Cheesy, Smokehouse Chicken or MediterraneYUM) to the first 150 customers TODAY, Tuesday November17, 2-5 p.m. Thanks, Lea Ann!

Baby Cheapskate has the scoop on the Toys R Us Black Friday Ad and the Babies R Us Black Friday Ad. Thanks, BC!

Frugal in Virginia rounded up all FREEBIES at SeeHere. Get 100 free photo prints for joining (you pay shipping on these), plus up to 100 free photo cards with envelopes (both sets ship to you free!) via two 50 photo card freebie deals. Thanks, Dana!

If you're doing a lot of Amazon shipping this year, check out FillerItem.com, where you can search for minimally priced fillers to get your order eked over $25 for FREE Super Saver shipping. The lowest I saw today was a $0.15 item! Paying $0.15 extra to avoid $6+ in shipping charges is so worthwhile.

FREE Dunkin' Donuts coffee sample - just read Bargain Briana's post. Thanks, Briana!

Crystal Paine told readers how to get a FREE booklet with $10 in coupons from Organic Valley. Thanks, Crystal!
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Tuesday Deals Roundup: Freebies, Toys R Us and Babies R Us Black Friday Scoops, and Free Organic Coupons by Mail!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Ebates and Swagbucks are both easy ways to earn rewards while doing what you normally do - web-searching through Google and shopping for bargains online!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Menu Plan Monday - "Once More, with Fiber!"

Anybody else feel like keeping things simple this week, what with Turkey Day around the corner? Also, maybe a little extra fiber in anticipation of the deluge of carbs and gravy? (Mmmm....carbs....gravy....)

Monday: Miso-flavored shrimp with brown rice, romaine salad, fruit salad

Tuesday: Frozen pizza, romaine salad, fruit salad

Wednesday: Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, fruit salad

Thursday: PB&J on biscuits, apple slices, baby carrots w/ranch dressing

Friday: Fruit smoothies, pumpkin pie pancakes (adapted based on what's in my fridge/pantry), maybe bacon
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Menu Plan Monday - "Once More, with Fiber!"SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Target Clearance Shopping: A Bridesmaid's Dream, Shoes + Dresses Totalling Less than $25!

You've heard a lot from us and other bloggers lately on the importance of shopping year-round for Christmas gifts and decorations to keep expenses lower. But as we head into the heart of the Christmas season, what constitutes "out of season" in terms of sales? I was browsing the Target website tonight, and found some hot deals on summery styles.

If you're a bride and looking for outfits for bridesmaids (or maybe a bridesmaid hoping to influence the bride?), check some of these out. The deals don't get much cheaper on dress shoes and semiformal short dresses! Could you imagine outfitting each bridesmaid with dress and shoes for under $25?

And bonus: you can probably wear much of these to holiday parties now if you accessorize appropriately for the weather (as with hosiery, jackets, etc.). Almost every single item qualifies for free shipping on orders over $50, and if you click through ebates to make your purchase, you'll get 3% cash back.

These are only the beginning of what's available! See all Target Women's Clearance here.

Dress shoes on clearance:
Semi-formal dresses on clearance, $13.98 down from $39.99:
Sleeveless little black dress (also in navy!)
Sleeveless scoopneck cream satin dress with sash
Sleeveless V-neck front/back black party dress

Sleeveless lavender crossover/surplice V-neck dress (Very Easter-y!)
Strapless turquoise dress (also in lavender)
Halter reddish-pink knee-length dress

Disclosure: If you join ebates using our referral link, you'll get a $5 bonus to start, and so (thanks!) will we.
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Friday, November 13, 2009

Holiday Series: Toys (and Other Gifts) With Staying Power

Some toys last approximately 3 nanoseconds - or less - after Christmas. You know the ones I'm talking about: they have teeny tiny, breakable, and/or irreplaceable pieces that are lost before that second cup of coffee on Christmas morning. Or they don't match your child for age-appropriateness or size. Buying Christmas toys for today's marketing-savvy kids only adds to the challenge. We are a million light years away from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmases featuring a single penny, and orange, and a tin cup.

With this post, we're kicking off a holiday series on toys (and other gifts) with staying power. Generally speaking, the items will:
  1. Be a good value
  2. Be long-lasting/resilient
  3. Inspire creativity
  4. Span age groups
Without further adieu, here are some toys with staying power:

Makit's Make a Plate Kit
$12.24

My brother and I made a few of these back in the day, and they are still in their original format today on Amazon.com: "Each Make A Plate® Kit contains 5 drawing sheets and markers, plus one pre-paid certificate for processing artwork into one (1) 10 inch melamine plate at the Magic Factory™."

The recipient can send one sheet they have colored with the kit's markers in to the Magic Factory, and after about 10 days, their design comes back in the mail emblazoned on a melamine plate that they can use again and again! These plates are oh-so dishwasher safe, and I am proud to say, still hold their colorfast properties decades (eek!) later - remaining bright and enduring (not to mention useful) tributes to the child's artwork. (My mom still treasures the ones she has at home that we colored for Christmas way back when.)

At just over $12 for one Make a Plate kit, this could be a stocking stuffer or part of the gifts under the tree - OR you could collude with the kids to color and process their own plates as a Christmas gift to their parents.

IKEA Lillabo train sets
$14.99 for the biggest basic set (found in the Woodbridge IKEA)
$9.99 for 12-piece train/track set

$6.99 for 10-piece supplemental track set
$3.99 for the basic 3-piece train with engine and cars

Let's face it: shopping for train sets for your kids can be like shopping for cars - there is a basic A to B function, and if the set delivers on that, most kids will be deliriously happy to build, rebuild, and choo-choo away for at least long enough for you to grab a shower or rustle up some dinner. Train sets that go beyond this A to B function with extra options and characters are cool, sure, but the costs can run away quickly, as any parent whose child owns an entire complement of Brio or Thomas the Tank engine sets will attest.

Word on the street (and on the IKEA website's Lillabo page) is that the IKEA train track sets, including the main Lillabo set, are compatible with higher end toy train engines, like Thomas the Train engines. So if the little one on your Christmas list is nuts about Thomas, consider buying some Thomas engines, and one or more of the extra track sets from IKEA.

And: Shhhh...it's OK...we won't tell if you're buying the train sets for the kiddos so that you can choo-choo on Christmas morning. Find your local IKEA here.

Note: We have not been paid or asked to endorse the gifts in these series; we just plain like the gifts!
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 11/13-11/19

Turkey Wars! Giant said in last week's ad that it won't be undersold on turkeys. Since that proclamation, I've seen turkeys priced at $0.40/lb. at Wal-Mart, and this coming week's Shoppers Food Warehouse ad says that it is selling turkeys for $0.38/lb.

Here are the top five reasons to visit Giant this week:
  1. Tic Tac Chill Mints, 10/$10
    Either $0.75/1 or $1/1, 09/20 RP
    Final price: FREE!

  2. Dannon Yoghurt, 20/$8
    $1/10, 10/25 SS, or 09/13 insert
    Final price: $0.30/cup

  3. Turkey Hill Ice Cream, $1.99/48 oz. tub (Save at least $1.50/each)
    $1/1, 11/08 RP
    Final price: $0.99/each

  4. Weight Watchers Smart Ones, 6/$10
    $2/8
    $3/10
    $1/3
    Final price: as low as 3 for $4, or $1.33/each

  5. General Mills Cereal, 4/$6, Must Buy 4
    Depending on your store's doubling policies and the coupon, MultiGrain Cheerios could potentially be free!
    $1/2 Cheerios coupon in 11/01 SS
    Honey Nut Cheerios
    MultiGrain Cheerios - $0.75/1 on Coupons.com
    Banana Nut Cheerios
    Cheerios - $0.55/1 on Coupons.com
    Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs
    Cookie Crisp
Here are other Giant coupon matchups and deals that we spotted for the week of November 13-19:

Front Page


Shady Brook Farms Frozen Turkey, $0.47/lb.

Shady Brook Farms Fresh Turkey, $0.89/lb.

Butterball Frozen Turkey, $0.89/lb.

Butterball Fresh Turkey, $1.39/lb.

Blueberries, Blackberries, or Raspberries, 2/$4 (Save at least $0.99/each)

Certified Angus Beef Top Round, Bottom Round, or Boneless Beef Chuck Roast, Half Price (Save at least $2.50/lb.)

Bounty Paper Towels, $9.99

New York Strip Steak, $5.99/lb. (Save at least $4/lb.)

Barilla Pasta, 10/$10 (Save $0.50/box)

Del Monte Canned Vegetables, 3/$2
$1/5, 09/20 RP
Final price: $0.46/can

Oscar Mayer Sliced Bacon, BOGO (Save $4.59)

Drinks at $1.88/half gallon:
Minute Maid Orange Juice
Simply Lemonade or Simply Limeade
Gold Peak Iced Tea
Minute Maid Enhanced Pomegranate Lemonade or Tea

Extra Large Raw Easy Peel Shrimp or
Extra Large Cooked Shrimp
$6.99/lb. (Save at least $3/lb.)

Front Interior Flap

Complete Butterball Turkey Dinner, fully cooked, serves 6-8, $39.99
10-12 lb. Butterball Turkey
3 lb. Giant Mashed Potatoes
1.5 lb. Giant Homestyle Stuffing
1.5 lb. Giant Turkey Gravy
14 oz. Giant Fresh Cranberry Relish
12 Dinner Rolls
Choice of one 8" Pie:
Apple
Pumpkin
Sweet Potato

Plus, add a "Meal Extras" package to round out your holiday dinner, serves 4-6, $24.99:
Your choice of two 1.5 lb. Giant Side Dishes and two 24 oz. Giant Fresh Cold Soups.
Plus one 8" Apple, Pumpkin, and Sweet Potato Pie and 12 Dinner Rolls

Turkey Dinner for Two, Fully Cooked, $19.99
Includes:
Rotisserie Turkey Breast
14 oz. Giant Homestyle Mashed Potatoes
14 oz. Giant Homestyle Stuffing
11 oz. Giant Poultry Gravy
14 oz. Giant Butternut Squash
Choice of one 8" Pie:
Apple
Pumpkin
Sweet Potato

Complete SUPER G Spiral Ham Dinner, $49.99

All dinners available for pickup starting November 14.
Order these meals in-store at the deli counter, online at giantfood.com, or call 1-888-4MY-GIANT.

Second Page


Bob Evans Rolls Sausage, 2/$5
$0.35/1 here, likely to double
Final price: $1.80/roll

Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes, $1.99
$0.50/1 side dishes, likely to double
Final price: $0.99

Third Page

Boston Market Dinners, Entrees, or Side Dishes, 4/$10
$1/3 here
Final price: 3 for $6.50, or $2.17/each

Hot Pockets or Lean Pockets, 2/$4
$0.75/1, 09/27 RP, breakfast varieties (contain "egg" or "breakfast" in the title)
Final price: $0.50/each

Birds Eye Vegetables, 10/$10
$1/3, 10/18 SS
Final price: $0.66/each

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, 3/$5
$0.40/1, 10/04 General Mills insert
Final price: $0.86/bag

Sargento Shredded Cheese, 2/$5
$0.55/1, November All You magazine
Final price: $1.40/bag

Newman's Own Salsa, 2/$5
$0.50/1, 10/25 RP
Final price: $1.50/jar

Swanson Broth, 4 cans/$3
$0.25/4 cans, 11/08 SS
Final price: $0.63/can

Swanson Broth Cartons, 2/$4
Either $0.50/2 or $0.40/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $1.20-$1.50 per carton

Toiletries

Dial hand soap, $1
$0.35/1, 10/04
Final price: $0.30

Back Page

Meal Deal: Get FREE Giant 2-Liter Soda, and Giant Homestyle or Garlic Mashed Potatoes when you purchase a 12-piece of fried chicken.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!
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Happy Veterans Day!


It's Veterans Day!


Please consider taking some time today to visit or phone a veteran in your life to say some thanks for what he or she has done to secure the freedom of Americans. The sacrifices made by veterans and their families are staggering, and as such their patriotism and commitment are a fine example to us all.

For the scoop on all of today's sweet Veterans Day deals, check out the Veterans Day Specials and Freebies at Moneywise Moms and also at Frugal in Virginia.
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Works for Me Wednesday: Scouring Budget Nooks and Crannies for Christmas Gifting

It's Wednesday - time for another "Works for Me!" tip, inspired by the blog carnival/series at We are THAT Family. Check out this week's carnival here.

November and December take a bite out of almost everybody's budget. The great thing that I am discovering this year, though, is how to scour the nooks and crannies of my budget for little ways that the discounts can add up. It's the product of continuously honed awareness of sales, bulk discounts, rewards systems, couponing, and elbow grease that add up to free or heavily discounted Christmas gifting.

Here's one example: My parents use a Keurig K-Cup machine. They also happen to really like Gloria Jean's Hazelnut coffee.

***

Watch the nooks and crannies add up through four stacked discounts:

1. For select products, Amazon has a new frustration-free packaging that is more earth-friendly, and cheaper, too! The Gloria Jean's Hazelnut K-Cups in the frustration-free packaging are much cheaper per unit ($0.42/cup) than the regular retail-style-packaged Gloria Jean's Hazelnut K-Cups that Amazon sells ($0.47/cup).

2. Subscribe and Save on the frustration-free package makes the deal sweeter, bringing the per-cup price down from $0.42/cup to $0.36/cup. The great part about Subscribe and Save is that it can be cancelled at any time.

3. I recently redeemed some Swagbucks for a couple of $5 Amazon.com gift cards that will go to this. I just went from paying $17.85 for the Subscribe and Save package to $7.85 out of pocket. Find out how to get started searching via Swagbucks as your search engine - and earning rewards like Amazon gift cards!*

4. I took a jar full of pennies that we've long collected to my Giant's Coinstar machine, where I redeemed them for a Amazon.com gift certificate number printed on the receipt. If you trade change for cash back, you are charged a fee, but if you trade change for a gift certificate from any number of popular retailers, you will receive all of your money back on the certificate. Gina also highlighted a Coinstar deal, through December 6, where you can get $10 extra sent to you by gift card when you trade in $40 or more in coins for a gift certificate.

In my case, a spaghetti sauce jar full of pennies (and just one each of a rogue nickel, quarter, and dime) came to $10.03 Amazon.com credit total! That just more than paid for the rest of the 50 K-Cups. Locate your local Coinstar machines here.

***

I'm sure that you can see where I'm going here. K-Cups normally retail around $10 for a 16-18 ct. in many stores ($0.55/cup or more), so assuming that I had bought three packs retail, I would have spent $30 to get my parents around 50 Gloria Jean's Hazelnut K-Cups. Using my above "budget scouring" shopping tactics, I covered 50 K-cups - one of their main presents - for free!

I'm going to add some other special treats to these K-Cups - like a couple of tins of the Petite Pirouette Pepperidge Farm cookies that I bought for $1.35/tin at Shopper's triple coupons - to create an overflowing "party hosting" package. For the parents who have everything, a package of yummy consumables makes a pretty practical Christmas gift - for just a few dollars out of pocket.

How are you scouring the nooks and crannies of your budget to pay for Christmas gifts this year? How many discounts can you stack on just one deal?
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*Disclosure: if you start a Swagbucks account through our referral link, we will receive Swagbucks rewards matching yours, up to 100 Swagbucks (Thanks!) - and so will you for any swagging friends whom you've referred.
Works for Me Wednesday: Scouring Budget Nooks and Crannies for Christmas GiftingSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tuesday Deals Roundup - 30% off Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic Purchases Coupon, LeapFrog Tag System at $19.99, 50 Photocards FREE that SHIP FREE!

Here are some smoking hot deals that we've spied lately:

LeapFrog's Tag System - normally around $50 retail, available this week at Target using coupons to bring the price to $19.99. Rumor has it this toy is a lifesaver on roadtrips! Thanks, Baby Cheapskate!

Chief Family Officer has the goods on how you can pay just $3.93 plus tax for 7 classic board games at Toys 'R Us. Woo! That could cover a lot of nieces and nephews for Christmas. Thanks, CFO!

Get 30% off your entire purchase at the Gap using this coupon
. It's usable again and again Thursday through Sunday, and the best part? Outlet/factory stores are included for Gap and Banana Republic! Last year I scored a TON of quality Christmas gifts at the Gap outlet using this coupon. Thanks, Christy!

50 free photo cards, shipped free too! Yes, that's right, $39.95 worth of photo cards shipped to you FREE! Get those family portraits together, because you have until 11/30 to make the order as described by Freebies 4 Mom. Thanks so much for this super sweet deal, Heather! Freebies 4 Mom also describes here how to get 60 free Shutterfly prints by making your own Shutterfly share site (ends 11/18).

Build a Bear Workshop has a $5/$25 coupon out (expires 11/30). I noticed recently that there are $20 Build a Bear gift cards available on the Pampers Gifts to Grow rewards listing, so if you have just over 200 points, you could combine this coupon plus the gift card for a free or nearly-free bear! Thanks, Frugal Coupon Mom, for the link to this coupon!

Mommy's Wish List shared with readers how to get a $40 credit at 1-800-FLOWERS for FREE just by creating an event reminder list. Think of Thanksgiving hostesses, moms and mother-in-laws...possibilities are endless. Thanks so much, Lea Ann!

Are there any other big deals out this week? Post a comment to let everybody know!
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Tuesday Deals Roundup - 30% off Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic Purchases Coupon, LeapFrog Tag System at $19.99, 50 Photocards FREE that SHIP FREE!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Ebates and Swagbucks are both easy ways to earn rewards while doing what you normally do - web-searching through Google and shopping for bargains online!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Shopper's Food Warehouse Triple Coupons FREEBIES and CHEAPIES!

Since we've gotten a lot of great feedback that has helped to build our master list of Shopper's Triple Coupon matchups, we thought it would also be nice to have a post that consolidates a list of all freebies and cheapies (cheapies are $0.50 or less). Even if you don't want an item, if you have the coupon, consider picking it up and donating it at your local food bank anyway!

Remember that the last day of this sweet, sweet triples action ends is Wednesday 11/11, so you have until then to snag these deals.

Mueller's Pasta, 10/$10
$0.55/1 whole wheat printable
, though whole wheat isn't listed in the ad, so check the price in store
$0.55/2, 10/04 SS
Final price with insert coupon: $0.35 for two boxes, or $0.17/box

Hamburger Helper or Chicken Helper, $1.25/each
$0.75/3, 09/13 General Mills insert
Final price: $1.50 for three, or $0.50/each


Tony's Crispy Crust Pizza, 10/$10 (assuming this is single-serve because of price)
$0.50/1, 10/04 SS
Final price: FREE!

Tyson Any'Tizers, 10-13.25 oz., $2.49
$0.75/1 coupon, September All You magazine
Final price $0.24!
$0.55/1, 08/02 SS
Final price: $0.84

Duncan Hines Fudge Brownie Mix, $1.25
$0.55/2, 10/11 SS
Final price: $0.85 for two boxes, or ~$0.42/box

Nestle Toll House Morsels, 2/$4
$0.50/1, 11/01 RP (Though this seems to vary regionally; mine was a $1/2. Drat!)
Final price: $0.50/bag!

Carnation Evaporated Milk, $1.25/can
$0.50/2, 09/27 SS, or $0.50/1, 11/01 RP
Final price: FREE to $0.50/can
~or~(with thanks to Frugal Friends:)
Carnation Evaporated Milk (smaller can, 5 fl. oz.) @ $0.78
$0.50/2, 09/27 SS
= $0.06 for 2 ($0.03 each)

Nesquick Chocolate Milk, $1.49
$0.50/1, 11/01 RP (also varies regionally - I had $1/2)
Final price: FREE!

Heinz Tomato Ketchup, $2.59
$0.75/1, 10/04 SS (a regional coupon found in southern states)
Final price: $0.34

Mahatma Yellow Rice (saffron package), $0.99
$0.75/2, 08/30 RP
Final price: FREE!

Musselman's Applesauce, Key Lime flavor marked down to $1.55 to clear
$0.50/1, July All You
Final price: $0.05 per four-pack!

Tyson Honey BBQ Any'Tizers, $2.49
$0.75/1, September All You
Final price: $0.24!

Yakisoba instant noodles, 10/$10
$0.50/1, 10/18 SS
Final price: FREE!

Many thanks to Frugal Friends for the next six:

Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.) @ $2
$0.55/1, 11/01 insert
Final price = $0.35

French's Worcestershire Sauce, Classic (10 fl. oz.) @ $1.49
$0.50 green hang tag on bottle in-store (about 1/4 of the bottles had them) OR $0.50/1, 10/04 SS
Final price = FREE!

Heinz EZ Squeeze Tomato Ketchup (20 oz.) @ $2.09
$0.75/1, 10/04 SS (regional/southern states coupon)
Final price = FREE!

Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix packet (1.25 oz.) @ $0.88
$0.75/2, 09/13 SS
Final price for 2 = FREE!

No Yolks Noodles (12 oz.) @ $2.19
$0.75/1 Internet Printable (you have to provide name, email and state in order to print this Bricks Coupon)
Final price = FREE

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (2 pack) @ $2.50
$0.75/1 from Home Made Simple Mailer
Final price = $0.25

Betty Crocker Frosting $1.50-$1.69
$0.50/1, 10/25 insert or this printable.
Final price: FREE to $0.19 each! (Thanks to Gina on this one!)

Uncle Ben's Long Grain Wild Rice, various flavors, $2.19
$0.75/1, 11/08 RP
Final price: FREE! (+ Catalina, as mentioned in the original 11/9 trip post!)

Argo Baking Powder, $1.59
$0.40/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $0.39

Halls Cough Drops, 30 ct., 2/$3
$0.50/1 any 20 ct. +, recent insert
Final price: FREE!

Also be sure to check out our master list of Shopper's Food Warehouse triple coupon matchups for lots of other great deals! If you have any freebies or cheapies that you didn't see here, feel free to post a comment! :)
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Shopper's Food Warehouse Triple Coupons FREEBIES and CHEAPIES!SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
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Shopper's Triple Coupons Run #2

This morning I did run #2 at Shopper's Food Warehouse's Triple Coupons. I saved 66%, lower than my usual discount when working Shopper's deals, but was also because I'm focusing more than ususal on buying some convenience and frozen foods because of my baby being due in a few weeks. I could have easily left the store with a cartful of only freebies - and in fact, many of the freebies I pick up in these sales are donated. Click here for resources on finding your local food bank to make a difference to families in need this holiday season.

I received a $1 Catalina for having bought Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice - I picked up 4 boxes FREE after $0.75 coupon, but I'm not sure what the Catalina terms were. Either way I have $1 to spend on my next Shopper's trip. :)

Here are some fun matchups I used that I haven't already typed up from last Thursday's trip or that readers and fellow bloggers haven't already added to the master list of Shopper's Food Warehouse triple coupon matchups:

Minute Rice microwavable 2-packs brown rice, $2.39
I love these for quick and healthy lunch additions.
(Note: you can also pick up the smaller-sized box of Minute Rice for $2.29 retail)
$0.50/1, 10/04 SS
Final price: $0.89 for a two-pack

Kellogg's Cinnabon bars, $2.99
$0.55/1, 11/08 RP
Final price: $1.34 for a 6-ct. box

Uncle Ben's Long Grain Wild Rice, various flavors, $2.19
$0.75/1, 11/08 RP
Final price: FREE! (+ Catalina, as mentioned above!)

Chock Full'o'Nuts Coffee, $3.69
$0.75/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $1.44

Argo Baking Powder, $1.59
$0.40/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $0.39

Alouette Cheese Spread, $6.29
(This is a splurge - I am a sucker for Alouette)
$0.75/1, 11/08 SS
Final price: $4.04

Dole Mango Chunks, frozen, $3.45
$0.75/1, 11/01 SS
Final price: $1.20/bag
(So much less work and waste than cutting a mango yourself! I will be smoothie-ing these in the near future)

Breyer's Yoghurt Inspirations, $2.69
$0.50/1, 09/13 SS
Final price: $1.19/four pack, around $0.30/cup

Halls Cough Drops, 30 ct., 2/$3
$0.50/1 any 20 ct. +, recent insert
Final price: FREE!

Got any coupon matchups of your own to share? Submit a comment at our original post of all the Shopper's triple matchups!
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Shopper's Triple Coupons Run #2SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Ebates and Swagbucks are both easy ways to earn rewards while doing what you normally do - web-searching through Google and shopping for bargains online!