5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 10/01-10/07

1. Porterhouse or T-Bone Steak, $4.99/lb. (Save $5/lb.)
   
   
2. 2/$3 Deals:
   All Purpose Potatoes, 5 lb.
   Yellow Onions, 2 lb.
   Zeigler's Apple Cider (half gallons)
   
   
3. Progresso Traditional Soup, 10/$10
   Check the Betty Crocker website starting Friday 10/01 - there may be a freshly renewed $1/4 Progresso coupon, or $1/4 Progresso at coupons.com
   $1/4, 09/12 GM
   Final price: $0.75/can
   
   
4. StarKist Solid White Tuna in water or oil, 10/$10 (Save $0.59/can)
   
   
5. Fresh Pork Shoulder Picnic, $0.99/lb. (Save at least $0.70/lb.)

Other Reasons to Visit Giant This Week:

Giant European Salads or Dole Salad Blends, 2/$5

Eastern Apples in tote bags, $0.88/lb.

Tropicana Pure Premium, $3.99 (Save at least $0.80)

Yoplait yoghurts, 20/$10
$0.40/6, coupons.com, $1/8, Betty Crocker website, $1/8 Pillsbury website

$0.40/6 or $0.50/8 (varies regionally), 09/12 GM
Final price: varies

Turkey Hill Ice Cream, 2/$5 (Save at least $0.98 on 2)
$1/2, 08/29 RP

San Giorgio Pasta, 10/$10

Coke 12-packs, 2/$11 (Must buy 4, and one must be a Nestea)

Hersheys' Snack Size Candy, 9-22 oz. packages, 5/$10 (Must buy 5)
$1/2 or $1/3, 09/26 SS
Final price: As low as $1.50/bag

Cottonelle 12 Double Roll Bath Tissue or Scott Bath Tissue 12-pack, $5.99
$1/1 Scott
$1/1 Scott, 08/29 SS
Final price: $4.99

All 2X Liquid Laundry Detergent, $2.99 (Save at least $2.50)
$1/1, 09/26 RP
Final price: $1.99

***

Meal Deal: Enjoy FREE Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese when you buy Chi-Chi's Salsa AND Chi-Chi's Tortillas.
$5/5 Kraft Dairy Products
$1/2 Kraft Cheeses, 09/26 SS

***
Deal: Purchase $7 worth of gluten-free products listed on the third page in ONE transaction, and receive a 1 year subscription to Every Day with Rachel Ray Magazine (a $6.99 value).
Larabars are 10/$10 under this header, and if you printed out the $0.75/3 coupon from coupons.com earlier this month (I believe it's gone now), then you can get three for $1.50. Since there is no star indicating that the threshold must be met after coupons or discounts, maybe if you buy 7 Larabars and use two coupons, you can get 7 Larabars and the subscription for $4!

***

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Did we make any deal-calculating hiccups? Post a comment to let us know!

5 Reasons to Visit Safeway this week 9/29 - 10/5

Sorry I fell off the Safeway post bandwagon last week, gentle readers! I'm(Mel) back from another trip, and I shopped at Safeway today. There are some deals to be had with a page & a half of super coupons in this week's ad!

Here are 5 Reasons to Visit Safeway this week:
1. Produce sale!
Sweet Strawberries or Red Raspberries, $1.88
*add this $.50 coupon for raspberries to your Club Card before shopping
Broccoli Crowns, $.99/lb.
Fresh Cauliflower, 2 for $5

2. Meat sale!
Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey, 20.8 oz., $1.99
Boneless Pork Loin, sold whole in the bag, $1.99/lb.

3. DiGiorno Pizza, 12.6 to 32.7 oz, $4.49
*Use $1.00/1 DiGiorno Pizza, 12 inch or larger, MFC from 09/12/2010 RP

4. Juicy Juice, 64 oz., $1.99
*Use $1.00/2 Nestle Juicy Juice MFC from 08/01/2010 RP2 to get 2 containers for $2.98!

5. 3-Day Sale (Saturday, Sunday & Monday only) items:
Safeway Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, sold frozen in a 4-lb. bag, $1.79/lb.
Red Seedless Grapes, $.97/lb.
Lucerne Shredded or Chunk Cheese, 3 for $5
12-pack Coca-Cola Fridge Packs, Buy 2, Get 2 Free


Here are the best Super Coupon deals this week through 10/5/10:
Imperial Spread, 16 oz., $.50, Limit 4 *perfect for upcoming holiday baking!
Betty Crocker Cake Mix, $.89, Limit 6
Jell-o Pudding Mix, $.89, Limit 6
Wonder Bread, $1.49, Limit 2
Safeway Disinfecting or Glass Wipes, 25 or 35-count, $1.69, Limit 4
Sorrento String Cheese, 13.3 to 16 oz., $2.49, Limit 3
*Use $1.oo MFC to get this for $1.49!
Yoplait Go-Gurt or Trix Yogurt, 6 to 8-pack, $1.99, Limit 3
*Use $1.00/2 packs MFC to get 2 packs for $2.98

Works for Me Wednesday: Laptop Lunches Bento Lunchbox

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for another "Works for Me Wednesday" tip, as hosted by the blog carnival at We Are THAT Family. See this week's Works for Me Wednesday here.

I love my preschooler's Laptop Lunches Bento-style lunchbox. Laptop Lunches did not contact us to ask to be mentioned, nor did they give me a lunchbox - I bought one for my daughter of my own initiative this past spring, and I am just telling you about how much I adore this lunchbox system.



The system is American-made, and the pieces are BPA-free and lead-free. The features (two lidded containers - large and medium, two unlidded containers - large and medium, one tiny lidded "dip" container, plus a slot for silverware and room in the carrying case for the included water bottle) all add up to a very lunch-packing-friendly setup that encourages fresh ingredients.

Some things that you could put in the dip container:

• Almond butter or peanut butter (to go with sliced fruit)
• Creamy dips (I usually make with yoghurt or sour cream plus some other seasonings)
• Raisins or other trail-mixy stuff
• Nutella
• Cream cheese dips

The whole set cleans like a dream in the dishwasher, and you can also buy additional container sets so that you don't feel pressure to get the items clean every night.

I also (of course!) love that I don't need to spend additional money on plastic baggies or other items to make lunches.

Using a Laptop Lunches bento-style lunchbox works for us!

What do you use to increase the love for packing lunches?

We are Amazon.com affiliates, and this post contains our affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Redemption Unlimited!
All opinions in this blog post are honest and my own, and I was not asked to provide any reviews, favorable or otherwise, by Laptop Lunches

Look in Your Mail for a $10/$10 Purchase Kohl's Gift Card

I LOVE it when this happens - once or twice a year, I receive a Kohl's flyer in the mail with a coupon good for $10 off of a $10 purchase! I use this to score some clearanced clothes or on-sale toys for my daughter free or near-free, though one time last summer I did get something just for me: free K-cups! My Kohl's flyer + $10/$10 coupon (no Kohl's credit card required to spend, no limitations on what to buy) arrived yesterday in the mail.

Like with the JCPenney $10/$10 purchase deal last week, this is another great example of how you can use the little deals that pop by a couple of times a month to stock up on stocking stuffers, other Christmas gifts, and birthday gifts throughout the year. It's never to early to snag a deal in advance of a gift-giving occasion!

So check your mail this weekend and pay extra close attention to see if you have any Kohl's flyers - they just might snag you some freebies. :)

BOGO Drinks at Caribou Coffee This Weekend, Saturday and Sunday!

Caribou Coffee Drinks are BOGO this weekend - get in some good coffee with a friend! Click the above to enlarge and print to take in to your local Caribou Coffee. :)

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 09/24-09/30

1. Fresh strawberries, 1 lb., 2/$4
   
   
2. New York Strip, $5.99/lb. (Save $4/lb.)
   
   
3. Bunched Broccoli or Broccoli Crowns, $0.99/lb. (Save at least $0.50/lb.)
   
   
4. Super G Chicken Quarters, $0.79/lb. (Definitely a stock-up price!)
   
   
5. Fresh Green Beans, $0.99/lb. (Save at least $0.50)
   

Other Reasons to Visit Giant:

Campbell's Condensed Soup (excludes Chicken Noodle or Tomato), 10/$10
See 08/29 and 09/19 SS
$0.50/2 = final price of $0.50/can

Celeste Pizza-for-One, 10/$10

Giant White Bread, 10/$10

Gatorade, 10/$10

Breyers Ice Cream, 2/$5

Birds Eye Vegetables, 10/$10

Kellogg's Cereal, 3/$5, must buy 3
Rice Krispies, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Cocoa Krispies, Frosted Flakes
$1.50/2 Corn Pops, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks
$1/2 Rice Krispies, 09/26
Final price: As low as $0.91/box

Goya Beans, 3/$2

***

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Did we make any deal-calculating hiccups? Post a comment to let us know!

Frugal Friday: Cutting Our Own Hair

It's time for Frugal Friday!

For the last five years, I have been cutting my own hair. At first I was very tentative and cut it in a simple long cut. But over time, I grew more adventurous. Yes, I have made a couple of mistakes, but nothing that couldn't be amended with a couple of bobby pins or some hot rollers for a few weeks. And I have learned from my haircutting mistakes to where I now give myself a decent layered long cut in the bathroom mirror in about 5 minutes.

Now for some caveats: My hair is thick and straight and fairly manageable. If it were a texture requiring a bit of extra care or shaping, then I would probably invest in professional haircuts. But since my hair is straightforward and my days are spent at home with my young daughters (and not, say, as a newsanchor), I save around $288 annually in haircutting, if you assume $40 cuts every 8 weeks with a 20% tip.

I also cut my 3-year-old daughter's hair. Her texture is even more forgiving as it has just a bit of wave, and I am not about to spend money sending her to a salon when the haircutting practice I've earned on my own head can be put to use on hers! Even if I would instead take her to a budget haircutting place every 8 weeks at $20/cut, with 20% tips, that's still $144 saved annually.

Since I'll be regularly cutting my baby's hair soon, that's a total of $576 + tax saved annually for the three of us just for me being willing to experiment with a pair of haircutting scissors at home. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? The one place I do invest is in the scissors - I spent over $13 on scissors specifically made to cut hair which have serrated edges. :)

What grooming tasks have you turned into DIY efforts to save money?

Works for Me Wednesday: Lunches and Clothes the Night Before

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for another "Works for Me Wednesday" tip, as hosted by the blog carnival at We Are THAT Family. See this week's Works for Me Wednesday here.

I realize that for many of you organizistas, this is a total "duh" Works for Me Wednesday tip. For me, though, it's been a huge boon to our mornings. I pack lunches and lay out my daughter's preschool outfit and accesories the night before.

Most nights I'm packing lunches for both my older daughter (for preschool) and for my husband to eat at work. I try to do this right after dinner, but before the girls' bedtime. This enables me to give my preschooler a sneak preview of what she'll be taking - sometimes sampling bites so that she's familiar with what will be in the lunchbox. It also saves me the hassle of packing leftovers in a large container, only to unpack them and repack them into the lunch containers later.

As for the outfits, after I manage to get a few loads of laundry done, I usually hang together 3-4 coordinated outfits as I can, and after my preschooler's bath we look through the assembled outfits to pick one for her to wear the next day. (I also check the weather for the next day during this process to make sure that the outfit is temperature-appropriate.

Taking the initiative on these two things the night before really saves me stress and energy the morning-of, because I can ask my preschooler to get herself dressed, and the only thing left is to feed her breakfast and get her into the car with her lunch cold from the fridge.

Packing lunches and selecting outfits the night before works for me!

What do you do the night before to save yourself some time and energy the morning-of?

Bananas $0.10/ea. at Target this Week!

One other thing I noticed at Target - the bananas are $0.10/ea. (retail: $0.19/ea.!) A 7-8 ct. bunch of bananas would cost me somewhere around $1.50-$2 at Giant, but at Target this week they're under $1! I snagged a couple of extra bunches, because I'm planning on slicing and freezing them ripe so that I can have chunks of frozen bananas to throw in smoothies. Or, you know, make 1-ingredient banana soft serve. Yum!

Today's Target Run - A Few Back-to-School Bargains

While I was a little unsettled to see the Christmas items already populating the shelves at one corner of my Target, I did notice today that opposite the Christmas stuff in the same aisle was a LOT of deeply discounted school supplies - large signs read 75% off. I scooped up:

• Some Dora the Explorer single-subject notebooks for $0.48 ea.
• Some Dora the Explorer folders for $0.24 ea.
• Some stretch fabric book covers, various styles and colors, for just $0.22/ea. (!!) Think about that price, then think about all of the pains you'd have to take to cut up a paper grocery bag for a homemade cover. At $0.22 each they'll keep well for next year!

I also spotted some Disney princess and Tinkerbell stuff, along with basics like solid color notebooks, pencils, etc., all discounted at least this much.

Next to this display were also a lot of summer-oriented objects (an outdoor "mist-blowing" fan, for example, and OFF sprays) that were significantly discounted. Do a Target run this week if you can to see if there are any seasonal-discount deals like these that may interest you!

$10 off $10 Purchase At JCPenney ONLINE!

When you spend at least $10 on JCPenney's website, you can get $10 off your purchase by using code GO4TEN. Although you'll pay around $6 for shipping, this is a great deal! Here are some creative ways that you can work that $6-shipped price on $10 items (must meet or exceed $10 total):

• Maternity Wear - normally very expensive, because when you find yourself shopping for maternity wear, they've "got" you! There are a ton of maternity and nursing related products here, which could be had for very cheaply - like a LOT of tops marked down to $10.99 - making them around $7 shipped! Even if you're not pregnant, consider it an opportunity to brighten the day of someone in your life who is expecting. What's not to like about an unexpected package just for the mama-to-be?
  
  
• Speaking of mamas-to-be or new mamas, you could also send some very cute baby outfits inexpensively in honor of a baby shower or birth.
  
  
• All shoes ship free. I also spy some cute summer-theme handbags for under $10, so with a cheap item thrown on top you could have someone's spring or summer 2011 birthday or other gift taken care of!
  
  
• Teen boys' clearance has a 70% off section. Time to dress the dudes in your life cheaply!
  
  
• Chocolate brown leather Isotoner 100% cashmere-lined gloves (size 6.5, small), $16.99. After $10 discount, you'll pay just $13 for originally-priced-at-$54 gloves. If you know a lady with smaller hands, this would be a great stocking stuffer - or a nice gift of appreciation for your kids' piano teacher (...tutor...schoolteacher...mail lady...hairdresser...etc.!).
  

Remember that Christmas is just around the corner - I even saw Christmas decorations ALREADY in Target today (yeesh!). If you pick up clearanced items and pay only $6 or so to ship, you're stocking up your gift stash very inexpensively. :) Click through to the JCPenney site via ebates for 3% cash back.

As a disclaimer, if you sign up for ebates under our ebates link (here), we will receive cash back thanks to you. You'll receive a starting bonus, too

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:
Breakfast - Spinach mushroom omelettes
Lunch - Asparagus taragon soup (didn't get to make this last week, hopefully this time!)
Dinner - Crock pot pineapple/tamari-marinated pork chops, spinach salads

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Bruschetta cheese, pluots
Lunch - Banamandeln smoothie
Dinner - Eggs and veggies

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs
Lunch - Cocoa blueberry smoothie
Dinner - Baked chicken thighs, spinach salad

Thursday:
Breakfast - Custards
Lunch - Loaded salad with leftover chicken
Dinner - Grilled skewered shrimp, baby carrots, salads

Friday:
Breakfast - Yoghurt with a bit of honey
Lunch - Picnic-ing! Probably hard boiled eggs, berries, nuts, cheese, etc. Easy finger foods. :)
Dinner - Leftovers

Ideas for preschool lunches:
Lunch #6: Banana pudding (chilled), trail mix, aged cheddar, baby carrots
Lunch #7: Bruschetta cheese tossed with tomatoes, sliced pluot, sliced green pepper with dip
Lunch #8: Custard, chicken salad from leftover chicken, broccoli with dip, peppermint patties

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 09/17-09/23

1. London Broil or Top Round, Bottom Round, or Beef Chuck Roast, $1.99/lb. (Save at least $1.50/lb.) If ever there was a time to stock up on crock-pottable beef, this is it! These should freeze pretty well, too.
   
   
2. Cheap Produce: Asparagus, Tomatoes on the Vine, Giant European Salads, and Dole Salad Blends, $1.88/ea.
   
   
3. SUPER G Drumsticks, Thighs, or Whole Chicken, $0.99/lb.
   The lowest price/lb. for chicken in recent memory.
   
   
4. Eastern Apples, $0.88/lb.
   Check out these very highly-rated apple recipes!
   
   
5. Giant Cut Baby Peeled Carrots, Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (Two for $1.79)
   Between these babies and the apples, you have some cheap items for school lunches!
   
   
6. Bonus FREEBIE reason:
   Campbell's Select Harvest Soup, 10/$10 (Save $0.79/can)
   $0.50/2 or $1/3, 09/12 SS1
   $0.50/2, 09/19 SS
   $1/1 Select Harvest Healthy Request could make this FREE!
   
   

Other reasons to visit Giant this week:

SUPER G Italian Sausage, $1.99/lb. (Save $2)

Oscar Mayer Beef Franks, BOGO (Two for $4.49)
$1/2, 08/22 SS
Final price: Two for $3.49, or $1.75/ea.

Hillshire Farm Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage, BOGO ($4.39)

Sweet Red Peppers, $1.88/lb. (Save at least $0.61/lb.)

San Giorgio Pasta, $0.77/lb.

Del Monte Tomatoes, 10/$10
$1/5, 09/19 RP
Final price: 10/$8, $0.80/can (Compare with retail of $1.90/can!)

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, BOGO

***

Meal Deal: Enjoy a FREE Pepsi 2 Liter when you buy a Giant Rotisserie Chicken and any side dish from the prepared foods department.

***

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Did we make any deal-calculating hiccups? Post a comment to let us know!

Super Savings Saturday: $2.99 potted mums at Aldi!

I(Mel) made a trip to Woodbridge this week to visit IKEA, hit Aldi for some cheap groceries, and get cheaper gas at Costco.

I realized that I should be making that trip once a month for these reasons:

(1) Cheaper gas.
Costco gas is 20 cents cheaper per gallon than in my neighborhood. It's 15 cents cheaper per gallon than other Woodbridge gas stations. For a full tank of gas, I save $2-$3.

(2) Inspiration.
Even if I don't find what I'm looking for at IKEA, it fills me with creative gift, home decorating and entertaining ideas. It's good to fill my mind and eyes with such!

(3) Cheaper grocery staples & produce.
Grocery shopping at Aldi, even once a month, could significantly reduce our spending on staple groceries and produce. I have been underwhelmed with Aldi's meats, but I'm impressed with its produce and some dairy items. You can't beat buying a Dole pineapple for $1.69, fresh peaches for $.49, and 8-packs of flour tortillas for $.99. Because Aldi only accepts cash or debit cards, I tend to keep my spending under better control, too.

And now, drumroll please, for the biggest bargain I found this week...
8" potted mums for $2.99 each at Aldi!

Each fall I like to buy a few potted mums to spruce up our home for fall. I'm not much of a gardener, but it's easy to re-pot or transfer mums into flower beds. I spent 15 minutes doing just that yesterday. See the photos for our results. 4 mums for just over $12! That's less than half the price I'd normally pay.

HOT: free Millstone coffee in today's Washington Post 9/18

I was pleasantly surprised to see a freebie featured in the plastic outer bag covering my Saturday Washington Post today 9/18. There's a bulk coffee bag insert in the plastic bag, so keep that bag today!

* Get a FREE 1/2 lb. bag of Millstone Bulk Coffee (up to $4.75) when you take this bag and coupon to your participating local grocer. Expires 10/31/10.

I've never tried Millstone coffee before, but I'm looking forward to it! The company seems to put out manufacturers coupons pretty regularly in the Washington Post circulars, so if I like it I might be able to coupon my way to cheap coffee later! And if I don't like it, coffee is always a good hostess or teacher gift.

Children's Consignment Sale TODAY: Chantilly High School

A reminder about this children's consignment sale - let the fall sales begin!

Don't miss the giant Fairfax County Mothers of Multiples Fall/Winter Children’s Clothing & Equipment Consignment Sale! Over 200 families selling great quality, gently used baby and children’s items…

September 18, 2010
9 AM – 1 PM
Chantilly High School
Cafeteria Entrance #11
4201 Stringfellow Rd.
Chantilly, VA 20151

- Find great buys on: infant/kids’ clothing, shoes, costumes, holiday wear (Halloween costumes and Christmas outfits), outwear (winter coats, snow pants, boots, gloves), toys, books, games, sports equipment, CD/DVD/VHS, baby and kids furniture (cribs, gliders, toddler beds, changing tables, high chairs), car seats, linens, kids decor, maternity wear, riding toys, equipment (strollers, swings, bouncy seats, exersaucers, pack and plays), all nursery/layette items, and more!

- At previous sales, over 90% of the items were priced $5.00 and less!

- Cash and checks are accepted. Sorry, no credit cards.

- Open to the public, FREE admission.

It's Friday: Earn Mega Swag Bucks today!

Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day!

Never heard of Swagbucks? It's one of our favorite websites because it's easy to earn free prizes by using the Swagbucks search engine. And on Fridays, users have better chances of winning Mega Swagbucks denominations.

The way it works:

• Go to Swagbucks through our referral link by clicking here.
  
• Sign up and create a new profile for yourself.
  
• Search a few times a day, and you'll start seeing points accumulate.

I use Swagbucks to search 2-3 times a day, 3-4 days a week for things I would normally research. I usually cash out my Swagbucks for Starbucks gift cards, but there are lots of other cool prizes in the Swagbucks store.

As a disclaimer, if you sign up under our referral link, we will receive Swagbucks thanks to you.

5 Reasons to Visit Safeway this week, 9/15 - 9/21

My apologies for not putting out a Safeway post last week. We were out of town without internet access much of the week.

Here are 5 Reasons to Visit Safeway this week 9/15 - 9/21:

1. Produce deals!
5-lb. bag Russet Potatoes, $1.49
Perfect for making one of our family fave recipes, twice baked potatoes!

Sweet Strawberries, 16-oz., or Red Raspberries, 5.6-oz. container, BOGO
Add the Safeway coupon to your Club Card for $.50 off up to 2 containers raspberries for extra savings!

2. Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn, $.99 with Card and Super Coupon, Limit 4
Use $0.50/2 Pop Secret Products MFC from 08/29/2010 RP to get 2 packages for $.99!

3. Prego Pasta Sauce, $1.25 with Card and Super Coupon, Limit 6

4. Cottonelle Bath Tissue 12-pack or Viva Paper Towels 6-pack, $4.99 with Club Card and Super Coupon, Limit 1
Use $0.50/1 Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue two 4 packs or one 12 pack .50 from 08/15/2010 SS or $1.00/1 Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue, 12 pack from SS to get Cottonelle 12-pack for $3.99!

5. Buy 5, Save $5 Deal - Kraft Foods items
There are a variety of Nabisco coupons, Kraft salad dressing, and Kraft Miracle Whip/mayo. This is a great time to stock up on such pantry items!

Let us know if you spot any other Safeway deals!

Currently Updating Giant Deals

I'm currently updating the Giant deals to show some dollar doubler deals. Check the Giant post - I'll republish throughout the evening in case it gives anyone a chance to get their own coupons together. Barilla Picollini pasta should be FREE, woo hoo!

Menu Plan Monday

We're fortunate to enjoy some leftovers from this past weekend spent with my inlaws. Got in lots of walking, time in the sun on the beach, and playing and relaxing with family.

Monday:
Breakfast - Boiled eggs, bananas for the girls
Lunch - Creamy tarragon asparagus soup, leftover brussels sprouts
Dinner - Leftover steak slices on salad greens with gorgonzola, and balsamic vinaigrette, sliced melon

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Fried eggs, cubed melon for the girls
Lunch - Broiled brie and a salad
Dinner - Sauteed butter-glazed shrimp, big salads

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Custards
Lunch - Leftover shrimp on salads
Dinner - Bacon summer squash quiche, baby carrots

Thursday:
Breakfast - Fruit smoothies
Lunch - Leftover quiche
Dinner - Crock pot chili, queso fresco to top, salads

Friday:
Breakfast - Fat guacamole devils
Lunch - Leftover chili
Dinner - Roast whole chicken, salads

Ideas for This Week's Preschool Lunch Menu:

• Thin strips of grilled steak, dipping sauce, baby carrots, custard
• Shrimp cocktail (or something like it), sliced raw green pepper, whole milk yoghurt blended with frozen blueberries
• Bacon summer squash quiche, grain-free granola bars

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 09/10-09/16

Ahhh, that back-to-school spring is in everyone's step, and the stock-up deals are flooding Giant's ads now that everyone's back in town. There are also dollar doublers in this week's ad, as I mentioned. I haven't had time yet to rake through the entire Giant ad and the online coupon database to determine if there are any hot matches (I was out of town this weekend - the last of the summer trips), so if anybody has found any good deals, please feel free to post a comment!

Hot deals when coupons double typically include:

• Yoplait/Dannon $1 coupons
• Cascadian Farms/Muir Glen $1 coupons
• New cereal flavor release $1 coupons
• $1 coupons for new back-to-school lunchbox or snack packaged items

...so keep your eyes peeled - I will, too, and add to this post as I can!

1. SUPER G Boneless Chicken Breast, $1.99/lb. (Save $2.30/lb.)
   This is stock-up price...rarely gets cheaper, so make room in your freezer!
   
   
2. Whole Boneless Pork Loin, half price @ $1.99/lb. (Save at least $2/lb.)
   
   
3. White Seedless Grapes, $0.99/lb. (Save $1.50/lb.) - also a historical low. I read once that Victoria Beckham freezes grapes as an indulgence.
   
   
4. Broccoli Crowns, $0.99/lb. (Save at least $0.70/lb.)
   Steam it, stir-fry it, or pack it raw with some dip in school lunches.
   
   
5. Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup (or Regular Tomato Soup), 2/$1
   Looks like the 08/29 SS has a $0.40/3 coupon, which - if applicable - would result in getting three for $0.70 - $0.23/ea. What a deal!

Here are some potential dollar doubler deals and other coupon deals:

Barilla Pasta, 10/$10
$1/2 Piccolini, 08/29 SS
Final price when dollar doubled: FREE!

Purex 2X Liquid Laundry Detergent, 2/$5, all varieties
$0.35/1 when you email to a friend
Final price: $1.80/ea.

Freschetta Pizz'Amore Pizzas, 2/$10
$1/1
Dollar doubled, final price: $3/ea.

Healthy Choice Entrees, 5/$10
$0.50/1, 09/12 SS1
Final price: $1/ea.

Country Crock Side Mashed Potatoes, $3.69
$0.75/1 side, September All You magazine, final price: $2.19

Weight Watchers Entrees, 4/$10
$1/5, dollar doubled to $2/5, means you get 5 for $10.50, or $2.10 ea.\

Kellogg's Eggo Pancakes or Real Fruit Pizza, 3/$5
$1/2, 07/25 RP
Final price, dollar doubled: $0.66/ea.

Reddi Wip, 2/$5
$1/1, August All You magazine
Final price, dollar doubled: $0.50

Grande Tortilla Chips, 2/$5
$1/1, 06/27 SS
Final price: $0.50/ea.

Special K Bars, 2/$5
$1/2, 07/25 RP and 09/12 RP
Final price, dollar doubled: $1.50/box

Special K Cereals, 2/$5
$1/2, 09/12 RP
Final price, dollar doubled: $1.50/box

Progresso Vegetable Classics Soup, 2/$3
$1/4, Betty Crocker site, and 09/12 GM insert
Final price, dollar doubled: $1/ea.

Pampers Jumbo Diapers, $8.99
Pampers Baby Wipes Refill, $5.99
Pampers Diapers or Pants, $1/1, 08/29 P&G
Pampers Diapers or Pants AND Wipes 60 ct. +, $2/2, 08/29 P&G

**

Hellmann's Mayonnaise, $2.99
$0.75/1 (bricks)
Final price: $1.49 - but if you buy $15 worth (after coupons and savings) of this and/or other products on the back page, you'll save $4 instantly.

Wish-Bone dressings, 2/$4
$0.50/1, Wish Bone site
Final price: $1, but the above promo also applies!

Sample scenario: Buy 7 Hellmann's, 5 Wish-Bones, pay $15.43 after coupons, minus additional $4. Average price per item = $0.95

Giant = Dollar Doublers this Week!! :)

My Giant ad which came in today's Washington Post has four dollar doublers - woo hoo! Check and save your Giant ad in the coming days as the one in-store almost never has the doublers attached. Also - ping your neighbors or friends to see if they will be using theirs.

I will sniff through the ad to try and find a few good deals to note in the upcoming weekly deals post. In the meantime, feel free to make a comment on this post with any suggested coupon matches! :)

Menu Plan Monday - Labor Day Edition :-)

Tuesday:

Breakfast - Eggs scrambled with butter, add honeydew melon (on sale this week at Giant, $2/ea.) for the girls

Lunch - Leftover crock pot ribs ($1.99/ea at Giant this week) from Monday, baby carrots

Dinner - Leftover browned ground beef with salsa and organic sour cream over salad

Wednesday:

Breakfast - Whole milk yoghurt / blueberry smoothies, add bananas for the girls

Lunch - Veggie omelettes

Dinner - Baked chicken thighs, salads

Thursday:

Breakfast - Mashed boiled eggs, add bananas for the girls

Lunch - Guacamole curried chicken salad on greens

Dinner - Snow crab clusters (also on sale at Giant! $5.99/lb.), and a salad

Friday:

Breakfast - Apple slices with almond butter, cottage cheese

Lunch - Out with relatives

Dinner - Crock pot ribs ($1.99/ea. at Giant) with family, salads

Happy Labor Day! + A Few Giant Deals

We both wish you all a Happy Labor Day, folks! Enjoy the extra day off. :)

I (A.) am relaxing with family this weekend, so the Giant deals will be back next week. I CAN tell you, though, that you should stop by Giant for:

• Porterhouse steaks, half price ($4.99/lb.)
• Pork ribs, half price ($1.99/lb.)
• Watermelon ($3.88/lb.)
• Cantaloupes and Honeydew melons ($2/ea.)

Happy long weekending!

VistaPrint Deals @ Moneywise Moms

Gina posted a link to some FREEBIES at VistaPrint. Go check out her post and make your way over to VistaPrint from there for some freebies!

Ironically I made my way to the site via her blog, and then once I was ready to order I went to ebates (as I do with nearly all online orders) to click back through the VistaPrint site (they were offering 5% cash back). Clicking through ebates seems to eliminate the freebie offers activated by Gina's affiliate link, though, so be sure to go through Gina's link for 10 freebies:

• Sticky notepad
• Photo calendar
• Mouse pad
• Business cards
• Address return labels (or as I ordered them: Personalized To/From Christmas package labels)
• Photo tote bag
• Photo notebook
• Mug
  

...and more!! There is a nominal initial shipping fee, and after that, a little bit ($1-2) added per item. I ordered 9 of the freebies, and the shipping/processing came to around $23.14...so...like $2.57 per item. Cheap considering that most items on the list are $10-$20 retail from these photo sites. Grandparents' Day is just around the corner!

5 Reasons to Visit Safeway This Week, 9/1 - 9/7

It's September!

Here are 5 Reasons to Visit Safeway this week 9/1 - 9/7:
1. Produce!
3-lb. Red or Green Seedless Grapes, $2.99 each
Tomatoes on the vine, $1.49/lb.
Whole Red Seedless Watermelon, $3.88 each, Limit 2 with Super Coupon
Jumbo Cantaloupe, 2 for $5
Blueberries, Strawberries or Raspberries, 2 for $5
5-lb bag White Potatoes, $2.99
Red Bell Peppers, $1.99/lb.
Yellow peaches or nectarines, $1.49/lb.
Tender Green Beans, $1.49/lb.
Portabella Mushrooms, 2 for $6
Eating Right or Fresh Express Salad Blends, 2 for $5

2. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs, $1.99/lb. in the Extreme Value Pack

3. Nabisco Snack Crackers or Toasted Chips, $1.88 each

4. Super Coupon Deals!
Lay's or Lay's Kettle Chips, $1.79, Limit 4
Hellmann's Mayonnaise, $1.99, Limit 2
Bar S Jumbo Meat Franks, $.88, Limit 5
Safeway Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns, $.89
Kraft Cheese Slices, $1.69, Limit 3
Eggo Frozen Breakfast, $1.77, Limit 4
Tide Laundry Detergent or Stain Release, $5.99, Limit 2
Glad Trash Bags, $5.99, Limit 3
Coffee-mate Flavored Creamer, $1.99, Limit 3
Safeway Frozen Potatoes, $1.99, Limit 4
Safeway Softly Bath Tissue or Thirsty Paper Towels, $8.88, Limit 2
Duracell or Energizer Batteries, $2.00 off, Limit 2

5. Mix & Match Freezer Deal, Buy 5 to get discounted price of $1.99 each
Breyers Ice Cream 1.5 qt.
Popsicle 6 to 24-ct.
Lean Pockets 6.5 to 9 oz.
Stouffer's 6 to 21 oz.
Lean Cuisine Dinner and Entrees 5 to 12 oz.