saverchic

Menu Plan for Week of 12/13/09

2009-12-13T20:20:00.003-06:00

Here's what's planned for this week:

Sunday - Salmon, sweet potatoes, and whole grain pilaf

Monday - Crockpot BBQ Ham sandwiches, peaches

Tuesday - Spaghetti with Ground Beef Sauce

Wednesday - Leftover Tuna Casserole & Chips!

Thursday - Chicken covered in breadcrumbs, yams, whole grain pilaf

Friday - Whole wheat pita pizzas!!!! (my husband's awesome idea!)

A New Blog

2009-06-01T18:41:00.001-05:00

Check out this one!

Make the Home

Homemade Glass Cleaner

2009-05-10T19:49:00.003-05:00

I'm experimenting. We're out of Windex, and I keep reading that you can make homemade cleaners on the cheap without all of the chemicals.

I just poured 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water into my old Windex bottle. I tried it out on a bathroom mirror and it looked pretty good. I don't have anything really dirty to test it on right now, though.

I hope this works! It would be nice to get some chemicals out of the house and save some money.

Using it Up - Chicken

2009-05-05T18:35:00.002-05:00

This weekend I made a yummy chicken dish with olives, onions and tomatoes. After we were done with the meal, I took our leftover chicken bones and made them into a broth.

To do this, I just filled a pan with water and added the bones. I boiled the water for about 20 minutes, and ended up with a nice broth.

Today I used the broth to steam some broccoli. Then I used it to cook rice pilaf. I served it with salmon and it made a nice meal.

And I didn't have to pay for chicken broth!

Whole Paycheck

2009-05-02T22:10:00.003-05:00

I just finished reading Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels and I am totally freaked out.

I thought the book was going to be about getting fit, but it turned out to be a lot about how chemicals in our food are making us sick and perhaps, unable to have children.

What??

Okay, I know it's not rational to completely freak out about this. But, I do eat a lot of crazy processed food. Mostly because I get a good deal on it with my coupons.

So, today I did something very un-frugal. I went to Whole Foods and I bought a ton of stuff. And, I spent a ton of money. No scenarios needed for this one. It was not cheap.

I am feeling kind of good about it, now that I've gotten over the sticker shock. Maybe this will help DH and I to be healthier? Since we're spending more on groceries, I'm going to cut way back on restaurant meals. This will probably be more healthy too.

Is anyone else freaked out about chemicals in our food? Do you know of any good online resources for more information?

Slowing Down the Pace

2009-04-17T17:46:00.003-05:00

I've decided to slow down the pace of posting to this blog. Although it has been fun, keeping up with blog posting has also been an added stress. I'm going to try to focus more on being healthy while making wise spending choices.

I plan to post a few things here and there, but not as frequently as I have been. If you regularly come to this site for Jewel deals, please check out Mummy Deals or Mashup Mom. They are both fantastic blogs that list lots and lots of local deals.

Thank you for continuing to check out this blog!

Menu Plan Monday!

2009-04-06T18:52:00.003-05:00

Spring Break is over, and it's back to the old grind again. Here's what's cooking this week:

Monday - Fish (not fish sticks, but close), Tater Tots, Peas

Tuesday - Pork Chops, Salad, Brussel Sprouts, Rice Pilaf

Wednesday - Chicken Breasts with Rosemary, Salad, Baked Potatoes

Thursday - Beans & Rice and Soup

Friday - Salmon, Asparagus

Seattle's Best Coffee Deal at Jewel

2009-04-04T11:00:00.004-05:00

It's possible to get Seattle's Best Coffee for $2.99 right now.

Here's how to do it:

Log on to your Jewel Avenu account. You should see an Avenu coupon for $3.00 off Seattle's Best Coffee.
Seattle's Best Coffee is on sale for $5.99. Combined with the Avenu, that makes the coffee $2.99/bag. There's a limit of two bags per customer.
As an added bonus, for each bag of coffee you purchase, you'll get a $1.00 Catalina.

This is a great deal for coffee lovers. Unfortunately, I'm not drinking coffee anymore. I still did the deal because we're going to have company tonight, and I know that they love coffee.

I walked to the grocery store, which helped me get my daily walk in, and picked up two bags. I might have a cup of decaf as a reward...

The Office is ORGANIZED!

2009-04-03T12:56:00.003-05:00

I had to share...

Our crazy, disorganized office is now in good shape. I can actually see the countertops. I'll post some pics of this on Newlywed Home in the next few days.

If you'd like to see how my rearranging and lighting experiment went, click here.

Spring Cleaning

2009-04-03T09:28:00.000-05:00

Open the windows and air out the house! It's Springtime!!

TLC has a really cute "how to clean your house" site that will guide you through Spring Cleaning. Click here to check it out!

Jewel Shopping Plan

2009-04-02T08:28:00.006-05:00

Here's what I'm planning on picking up today at Jewel:

Kraft Salad Dressing
$1.67 sale price
$1.50 coupon from 3/29 S

Premium Vine Tomatoes
$1.48 sale price

Jewel Cream Cheese
BOGO

Jennie O 93% Lean Ground Turkey
BOGO makes it $2.75 each

Top Loin Pork Roast & Bottom Round Meat
BOGO makes them $5.00 each

Split Chicken Breasts
BOGO makes them $2.00 each

Haas Avocados
BOGO makes them $0.99 each

Wild Mahi Mahi
2/$7

Del Monte Canned Fruit (peaches!)
4/$3
Use $1 off 12 coupon from 02/08 RP
Get $3.00 instant savings!

Kashi Frozen Meal
Use FREE coupon from mail

Scott Paper Towels
$9.99/package
$1.00 off 3/29 S
I also have a $2.00 off Long-Lasting Scott Paper Towels if it will work.
I'm buying 2 packages!
$5.00 Catalina when you buy $15 worth of selected items.

Works for Me Wednesday

2009-04-01T10:41:00.003-05:00

Target runs great clearance sales. If you're able to catch the sales at the right time, you can score some great deals. (Click here to see what I did with my $4.98 pillow)

What works for me is to hit Target a couple of times a week. I know where the clearance merchandise is placed, so I walk through the store and see if there's anything new at a good price. Most times, I leave the store with nothing. But every once in a while, I score a great deal.

I've been able to find a lot of decorating items, clothes, and presents for others this way.

Target Pillow for $4.98

2009-03-31T17:02:00.001-05:00

I bought this today on clearance at Target for $4.98. Want to see how I used it? Check out my new blog Newlywed Home.

Product Rave - CeraVe

2009-03-30T16:44:00.002-05:00

This stuff is so incredibly fabulous, words do not do it justice. And I swear, I'm not being paid by anyone to say this.

I have rosacea, and recently it's been flaring up quite a bit. I tried to use Cetaphil and Eucerin, but my skin was having none of it.

Finally in a last-ditch effort for some relief, I went to Walgreens and plunked down a good $40 for the CeraVe cleanser, moisturizer, and cream. I paid, ran out to my car, and put a ton on my face. Ahhhh....relief!

This stuff has helped me so much. I've just been using it for a week, and my skin is so much better. I don't think I'll ever have "perfect" skin, but the CeraVe products sure make things a lot more comfortable.

Menu Plan Monday!

2009-03-30T16:41:00.001-05:00

This week, there is no plan. I'm on Spring Break.

Tonight we're going out to dinner, and for the rest of the week, I'm going to cook. I am planning on enjoying being able to cook whatever sounds good.

It's kind of nice to take a break from the plan.

Telecommuting Doesn't Work For Everyone

2009-03-29T21:53:00.002-05:00

Argh. I've been surfing the web today and checking out personal finance and organization sites. One suggestion that comes up again and again is to try working from home.

This is so irritating. Mainly because I really, really want to work from home and be able to set my own schedule. The other reason it's annoying is that I'm a teacher. I don't think it would work if I tried to teach 33 middle schoolers via webcam.

I've even investigated online teaching, but with WAY lower pay and no benefits, that's not really an option.

I know that teaching can allow for more time off and flexibility, so I should be happy with that. But it's really irritating when so many sources say that telecommuting is a great idea. Not everyone can work from home.

Spring Break 2009!!!

2009-03-29T12:40:00.002-05:00

Spring Break 2009 will be spent in the snowy Chicago suburbs. Since I will be here for a week of uninterrupted "fun," I decided to make a list of stuff I want to do. Here it is:

Order a new dishwasher. ASAP. Our old one is broken and things are getting ugly.
Get all of my missing tax documents together.
Send name change notifications to at least 5 companies. I got married almost two years ago. It's time I got this taken care of.
Spend one day in my classroom organizing and planning. I don't want to be overwhelmed when I go back to school. Ugh. That's the worst feeling.
Figure out what the heck is wrong with my camera.
Buy a new camera?? Things would be a lot more interesting if I could post more real pics on this blog.
Organize the paper catastrophe that is our home office.
Call basement waterproofing company. Our basement is NOT waterproof.
Check out a nearby thrift store.
Have lunch with a friend.

Earth Hour

2009-03-29T10:01:00.002-05:00

Earth Hour happened yesterday. From 8:30 until 9:30 everyone was supposed to turn off their lights to conserve energy and save the earth, blah, blah, blah.

This is so much fun, and I don't know why. It's kind of exciting getting out all of your candles and preparing to turn off the lights. We actually ended up leaving the lights off until right before going to bed. It's amazing how much light candles can generate. It must have been really cool to go to a late night soiree in the pre-electricity days.

Why don't we do this more often? Perhaps because candles can be kind or pricey too. But it's kind of a nice idea to have some no electricity time every once in a while.

Jewel Deals

2009-03-29T08:49:00.004-05:00

This week things were pretty light on the Jewel front. Yesterday I went in and bought a ton of frozen Green Giant veggies for $1 each and picked up a few odds and ends I needed for recipes I'm planning. Other than that, not too much exciting going on...

So, I'm wondering. Should I keep posting Jewel deals? Does anyone care about them at all? There are a lot of other blogs out there that do a much better job of focusing on Jewel, and I'm tempted to let them continue to do that while I write about other stuff. What do you think? If I don't get any comments, I'll assume that everyone is cool with me dropping the Jewel deals.

Although, I might post a few photos here and there if there are any really great deals. Let me know, okay??

Fitness Friday

2009-03-20T06:54:00.001-05:00

Yeah. Not so much.

For me, it's Fatness Friday. And not Phatness with a "ph."

I really don't know what my problem is. This week I walked a grand total of two times. Even though the weather has been fabulous and totally conducive to walking, I've decided to grade papers, watch TV, and eat a ton of Triscuits instead.

And I wonder why my stomach is hanging over my jeans...

I hope you did better than I this week. Feel free to leave a comment below about your fitness fabulousness. I promise it won't hurt my feelings. It might even inspire me to get off the old davenport.
Photo by nazreth

Jewel Deals - March 19-25

2009-03-19T06:20:00.001-05:00

Here are the best deals I've seen so far this week:

Check out Mashup Mom's Kelloggs deal that's happening this Friday.

MEGA MEAT SALE - Thursday - Saturday

Perdue Whole Roaster
$0.88/lb.

Butterball Turkey Breast
$1.88/lb.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
$1.98/lb.

Regular Sale Items

Red, Green or Deep Purple Grapes
Buy 2 lbs. or more and get the first pound FREE

Fresh Express Garden Salad Plus
BOGO

Farmstand Dollar Deals on the following Produce

Large Mangoes
Mini Bananas
Green Peppers
Head Lettuce
Navel Oranges
Cara Cara Navel Oranges
Granny Smith Apples
Red Delicious Apples

Click to see Saveinapenny's complete list.

Watering Plants and Saving Water

2009-03-18T07:58:00.000-05:00

photo by crisderaud

I tend towards lazy when it comes to cleaning up my used glasses and cups around the house. I drink water a lot, so I've started using the little bits of leftover water I've left around the house to water my plants. Every once in a while I'll walk around the house and dump the contents of my water glasses into the planters.

It works for me!

Five Ways to Make Walking More Fun

2009-03-17T19:11:00.004-05:00

Walking around the block day after day gets really old. Now that the weather is getting nice, it's harder for me to actually walk for a long time, as the neighbors are out and about. Here are a few things you can do if you're in a walking rut.

1. Walk somewhere new. Are there any parks that you haven't visited yet? Want to take a closer look at the ritzy neighborhood. Get in the car and drive to a more exciting location to mix things up.

2. Walk with music. Download some of your favorite tunes or a podcast. Listening to great music helps me walk faster. However, if I listen to the same stuff all the time it gets annoying and counterproductive.

3. Count stuff. Look for a pattern and try to count as many of a certain item as you can. Right now I'm counting the number of signs for mayor I'm finding in my town.

4. Walk with someone else. Preferably someone with lots of drama or gossip to share.

5. Go shopping. If you can, make your walk an errand. Walk to the store and pick up something you need for dinner. You'll kill two birds with one stone and probably end up having a tastier supper.

Photo by luci.

Two Links Tuesday

2009-03-17T10:28:00.002-05:00

Here's a great article about cleaning. Click here to be inspired!

Feeling festive? Click here to see a really easy Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe.

Image from nkzs.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-15T19:51:00.003-05:00

I'm still trying to be a bit healthy this week and stick to my dietary recommendations. Here's what's being served this week:

Monday - Leftovers!

Tuesday - Corned Beef & Cabbage

Wednesday - Chicken, Brussel Sprouts and Creamed Corn

Thursday - Sausage and Noodles Casserole, Brocolli

Friday - Using our BOGO entree coupons for T.G.I. Fridays

Jewel Shop for 3/15

2009-03-15T17:51:00.003-05:00

I am completely THRILLED with today's shopping trip. The weather was nice and the store was relatively empty. After my transaction went through, the cashier said this was one of the best savings he had ever seen! I'm pretty sure he's in high school and has pretty limited checkout experience, but I was still happy! :-)

I used Catalinas from the Kraft deal and a previous P&G deal to lower my overall bill. I also used my new gift card for the first time. I spent $36.14 and saved $49.36. Here's what we bought:

2 packages of Strawberries
BOGO - original price $3.99

Canteloupe - 99 cents

Cabbage - $0.28/lb.

Red Potatoes - $1.99/5 lb. bag

Corned Beef - $1.68/lb.

4 No Yolks Egg Noodles
2/$3
Used $1.00/2 coupon (S 3/15)
2 $0.75 off coupons from Smartsource

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner
$1.49
Used $0.75 off coupon (S 3/15)

Sour Cream
$1.00

Rice
$4.49

Bolthouse Green Garden Juice
$4.49

2 Wheat Thins Artisan Cheese crackers
2/$6
BOGO coupon (S 3/15)

4 Triscuits
2/$6
$1.00 off 2 (S 3/15)
$2.00 off 2 (not sure of date!)

2 Split Breast Chicken packages
BOGO with in-store coupon

Jenny-O Ground Turkey
BOGO - $3.99

Wrigleys Doublemint Gum
$1.25
$1.19 off with FREE coupon (the limit is $1.19 so I couldn't really get it for free).

From this I got another Catalina for $10.00 off the next order. Since we go through Triscuits like there's no tomorrow, I think I might be heading back to the store later tonight.

Jewel Gift Card Deal - $30 for FREE with $300 card

2009-03-15T10:15:00.004-05:00

I just got the Sunday paper and checked out the Jewel ad. They're running a deal right now on Jewel gift cards.

If you buy a $300 gift card, they will add on a bonus $30. That's like getting 10 percent for free! I have to think about this and decide whether this deal is worth doing or not.

Spending $300 OOP is going to be kind of tough, but then I won't have to worry about budgeting for groceries for a while. I'm also afraid I'll lose my gift card or it won't work and I'll be out of a lot of money.

But the $30 for free is pretty cool...

Is anyone out there going to do this? Please comment if you are!

Happy shopping!

Freebies and...expensivies? A fun day!

2009-03-15T09:38:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I had some time to myself, so I decided to do some shopping. First I stopped by Lucy to get a FREE pair of socks. Click here for the coupon. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the coupon is for TWO pairs (a $14 value), and there were no strings attached. The socks are really nice workout socks with built in support and a little tab in the back so your ankles don't rub up against your tennis shoes.

Next I walked over to Aveda and purchased a bottle of the Hand Relief lotion. At $19 this was NOT a deal at all, but I love this stuff. I used up my previous tube, so it was time to re-stock. Yet, I feel guilty with all of the free lotion I have sitting around in my bathroom at home.

Then, I went to the Gap and bought two pairs of dark jeans for work and a cute bag for carrying my grading in. I am SO happy that I work at a place where I can wear jeans!!! Here's a pic of the bag I bought for $19.99:

At the Gap, I used this 30% off coupon to benefit the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society. The coupon expires on 3/15/09.

After this flurry of spending, it was off to the movies! I had a free pass which I used to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. Very fitting considering the amount of spending I had just done!

Finally, I went to Walgreens and bought four cans of Blue Diamond Almonds. They are on sale BOGO this week, and I used two 75 cents off coupons. I paid for them with my Walgreens gift card that I got through the Easy Saver program, so I didn't pay anything OOP.

Fitness Friday!

2009-03-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Friday is here! This has been a good week fitness-wise. I took a 30 minute walk after work each day. Instead of coming home right after school, I decided to drive to a walking path to do my workout. This took a little extra planning on my part to bring the right shoes and jacket, but it wasn't too bad. I just walked in the clothes I wore to school, so that made everything a lot easier. On the rainy days I came home and did a yoga DVD instead.

How did you do this week? Leave your comments below!
Photo by nazreth.

Jewel Deals for March 12-18

2009-03-12T02:00:00.001-05:00

Here's the good deals for this week!

3 DAY SALE - March 12-14

Pepsi 2 liters (select varieties)

97 cents each

Asparagus

1.49/lb.

Home Run Inn 6" Pizza

4/$9

Regular Sale Prices - March 12-18

Canteloupe

$0.99/lb.

Red Potatoes or Baby Red Potatoes

$1.99/bag

Green Cabbage

$0.28/lb.

Corned Beef Brisket

$1.68/lb.

Lay's Potato Chips

BOGO (one for $3.99)

Bella Terra Whole Wheat or Organic Pasta

2/$4

CATALINA DEAL QUALIFYING ITEMS

Buy $25 worth of participating items and get a Catalina for $10 off your next order

Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip

2/$6

Kraft Salad Dressing

2/$5

Kraft Singles

2/$4

Nabisco Snack Crackers

2/$6

Oreo Cookies

2/$7

Capri Sun Boxes

2/$4

DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen Pizza for One

4/$10

Crystal Light Drink Mix

2/$6

Nabisco Teddy Grahams or Ritz Bits

2/$5

Jello or Gelatin Pudding and Kraft Planters Big Nut Bars

2/$5

Oscar Mayer Beef Fast Franks or Deli Creations

2/$5

Oscar Mayer Lunchmeat or Ready to Serve Bacon

2/$6

Brownberry Wide Pan Bread

2/$4

Plantters Trail Mix, Daybreak Blend or Kettle Nuts

4/$5

Nabisco Variety Tray Packs

2/$9

Kraft Deli Fresh Natural Sliced Cheese or 2% String Cheese or Live Active Cheese Sticks

2/$6

Click HERE to see saveinapenny's full listing.

Click here to visit Be Centsable's Grocery Gathering!

Simplifying Couponing

2009-03-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

This summer I ran myself ragged trying to keep up with coupon clipping and coupon trains. I was clipping every coupon and filing them away according to category. Then I would send out the coupons I didn't need to my friends on the coupon train. Once school started back up again, I had to put a stop to it. I dropped out of my coupon train, because I just couldn't keep up with it while I had a full-time job. On the Coupon Mom website, I found a recommendation for organizing and using coupons.

Instead of clipping coupons each week, just keep the inserts. When you get new inserts each week, write the date on the front and stow it away. I keep all of mine in the blue bin pictured above. When I need a coupon, I pull out the bin and look for the correct insert.

Sure, I may miss a few deals here and there because my similar coupons aren't all in one place. But saving my sanity has been worth it! This has saved me a TON of time.

Two Links for Tuesday

2009-03-10T10:11:00.001-05:00

Here are two cool links I found this week:

The Deoderant Challenge uncovers the mystery of which deoderant works best. I am a big fan of the Crystal roll-on deoderant myself, but that wasn't the winner!

Are you bored or frustrated with Menu Planning? Check out The Simple Dollar's Nine Tactics for Making Healthy, Incredibly Simple and Cheap Meals. It even explain's the Tightwad Gazette method for making a yummy casserole.

Enjoy!

This Week's Menu Plan

2009-03-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week is going to be a transitional menu of sorts. I'm trying to improve my overall health by eating foods recommended by my doctor, but I have quite a stockpile of foods that we have yet to eat that don't really apply to my new dietary plan. Here's hoping there's not a revolt!

Monday - Pork Tenderloin, Asparagus & Sweet Potato

Tuesday - Tempeh Stir Fry, Caesar Salad, Pineapple

Wednesday - Rosemary Chicken, Brussel Sprouts, Rice Pilaf

Thursday - Beans & Rice with Avocado

Friday - Salmon, Brocolli & Rice Pilaf

I've not yet figured out what I'm going to do for lunch. For breakfast I will have two hard-boiled eggs and a fruit. For lunch I might do salad and a bowl of oatmeal? I'm not sure. It's hard to stick to the dietary recommendations for this one while having to take my lunch to work. Wish me luck!

Jewel Shop 3/7/09

2009-03-07T15:42:00.004-06:00

There's many a deal to be had this week at thee Jewel. To see a comprehensive list, click here.

I recently found out that I have a minor health problem that may be remedied partially by changing my diet. So, I bought a lot of veggies that weren't on sale this week, which really brought up my total. But, I'm hoping it will make me feel better and pay off in the end.

One of the best deals going on right now is the Kraft Catalina deal. If you buy 7 packages of the 2% Cheese (on sale 2/$4), you will get back a $10 Catalina coupon and a $3 Catalina coupon. The deal costs $14 OOP, but that's like paying $1 for 7 packages of cheese when all is said and done! Thank you to Mummy Deals for posting about this deal.

The Proctor and Gamble deal is also a nice one if you want to stock up on cleaning supplies. I only use the Mr. Clean all-purpose-cleaner for my kitchen floor, so I went crazy. Even the bagger asked me why I was buying so much cleaner.

How did you do on your shopping trips this week? Feel free to link to your own deals below or add any comments.

Happy shopping!

FREE Crystal Light

2009-03-04T18:10:00.002-06:00

Thank you to Mashup Mom for posting this awesome deal!

The 3/$1.00 mix in Crystal Lights are working for a Catalina deal. If you buy 3 Crystal Light products, you get a Catalina for $2.00 back.

Click here for Mashup Mom's post on FREE Crystal Light!

Jewel Deals - March 5-11

2009-03-04T17:36:00.004-06:00

There's some interesting stuff going on at Jewel this week. The Fav 4 Mix or Match meat sale is back again. Perhaps it's time to stock up on some carne? There are also a couple of good deals in the 3-Day Sale. Finally, there's a Fav 4 Mix and Match sale for sides!

3 Day Sale - March 5-7

Gatorade - 88 cents/32 oz. bottle

Creamette Pasta - 88 cents/package

Green Seedless Grapes - $1.28/lb.

The Fav 4 Mix or Match Sale has 19 items to choose from this week. According to the latest Jewel ad, here's how to do the deal:

Mix or Match any 4 packages of meat or seafood with the "Fav 4" label.
Pay only $19.99 for 4 packages in a single transaction - regardless of individual package price.
Savings automatically deducted at checkout with purchase of 4 packages.

Here are some of the items to choose from:

2 lbs. Fresh Cut Boneless Top Loin Pork Roast

2 lbs. Fresh Cut Blue Ribbon Beef Chuck Pot Roast

4 - 5 oz. America's Cut Pork Chops

Johnsonville Italian Sausage or Bratwurst

Jewel Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

4 - 8 oz. Fresh Cut Steakhouse Choice Pub Burgers

3 lbs. 75% Lean Ground Beef Chub

Perdue Fresh Whole Fryers

4 lb. Corn King Boneless Ham

1 lb. Arctic Shores Shrimp

2 Wild Mahi Mahi 6 oz. portions

Fresh Ocean Perch Fillets

Sonoma Seafood Stuffed Salmon Belle Mar or Salmon with Spinach and Feta

The Mix & Match Sale for sides is similar to the meat sale. You can buy 4 sides for $9.99. Some of the possibilities are:

14 oz. Clamshell Tomatoes on the Vine

16 oz. Del Monte Chunk Fruit

3 ct. Wild Harvest Romaine Hearts

3.5 oz. Shitake Mushrooms

3 lb. bag of Organic Yellow Onions

5 lb. bag of Jewel Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit

Premium Whole Golden Pineapple

5 lb. bag Farmstand Idaho Potatoes

18 oz. Jewel Garden Medley or Blend

2 lb. Bag of Farmstand Baby-Cut Peeled Carrots

16 oz. Bag Jewel Green Beans

99 cent Sale

Sweet Onions, Cara Cara Navel Oranges, Portabella Mushroom Caps, Green Peppers and Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit are all 99 cents per pound.

Proctor and Gamble Catalina Deal

Get $5 off your next shopping trip when you buy $20 worth of the following P&G products:

Tide or Cheer Laundry Detergent
$10.99/75-100 oz.

Charmin Ultra Soft or Strong Tissue
$12.99/package

Bounty Paper Towels
$13.99/12 Big Roll Pack

Dawn or Ivory Dishwashing Liquid
$2.79/22-30 oz.

Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaners
2/$5

Bounce or Downy Fabric Softener Sheets
$5.49/100-120 ct.

Puffs Family Pack Facial Tissue
2/$4

Bounty Premium Napkins
2/$6

Cascade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
$4.99

Swiffer Disposable Cleaning Cloths
$7.99

Febreeze Air Effects
2/$5

Mr Clean Magic Eraser
$2.99

IAMS Dog and Cat Foods
$16.99 and $13.99

Click here to see Faithfully Frugal's Bargain Meal of the Week!

Consolidating Errands

2009-03-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Since I started couponing, my shopping has taken over my Sundays. I've been trying to cut back on that lately by doing some things to make shopping less of a production. One of those things has been consolidating my shopping trips with my commute to work. There's a way nicer grocery store on my way home from work that I've stopped at a few times, and I'd like to start doing most of my shopping there on the way home from work. That way I'm saving on gas and I get to spend more time with my family on Sundays.

Menu Plan Monday 3/2/09

2009-03-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm digging deep into the stockpile this week! Hopefully we can use up some stuff that' been around for a while.

Monday- Indian Masala Chicken with Rice

Tuesday - Beef Fillets with baked potato and corn

Wednesday - Chicken Breast Tenderloin sandwiches and Tater Tots, Applesauce

Thursday - Crockpot Chicken

Friday - Turkey Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

Click here to see my Top Ten Reason for doing a Menu Plan

Jewel Shop this Week

2009-03-01T18:51:00.002-06:00

I'm holding off until tomorrow to do my Jewel shopping for the week in an effort to save on gas and avoid the cold snowiness that is Chicago right now. I'm going to stop at Jewel on the way home tomorrow, and this is what I'm planning on buying:

6 cans of Hunts Tomatoes

BOGO - $2.75

8 cans of Hunts Pasta Sauce

8/$10

3 jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter

4/$10

This should get me to the $25 point so I can get a $10 Catalina for my next trip to the store. Click here to find out more about this ConAgra deal.

Jewel Deals - Con Agra deal and $10/10

2009-02-28T08:02:00.003-06:00

Jewel has a 3-day $10/10 sale going until Saturday, February 28. Here's what's included:

Boneless Pork Chops

Jewel Yukon Gold Potatoes (3 lb.)

Jewel Carrots (2 lb.)

Yellow Onions (3 lb.)

Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding

Perdue Oven Roaster Chicken or Drumstick and Thighs

Jewel Corn, Green Beans, Peas, Carrots or Mixed Veggies

Jewel Sour Cream

Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna

Campbell's Soup at Hand

Banquet Value Menu Dinners

Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Orange Crush 2 liters

Chef Boyardee Microwave Bowls or Canned Pasta

Del Monte Fruit Naturals Cups

There's also a Con-Agra deal going on. If you buy $25 or more worth of participating products with your Jewel card, you get $10 off your next visit. Here's the stuff that qualifies for the deal:

Marie Callender's meals 4/$10

Healthy Choice Soups - $2.79 each - on sale BOGO

Hunt's Tomatoes - $2.75 each - on sale BOGO

Peter Pan Peanut Butter - 4/$10

Hunt's Manwich - 8/$10

Hunt's Pasta Sauce - 8/$10

Reddi Wip - 2/$5

Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa - 8/$10

Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding - 10/$10

Guiden's Spicy Brown Squeeze Mustard or Hunt's Ketchup - 8/$10

Act II Microwave Popcorn - 8/$10

Wesson Oil - $4.49

Banquet Select Recipe Dinners - 4/$5

Click here for saveinapenny's complete list on Hot Coupon World.

Phatness Walk Friday

2009-02-27T21:00:00.004-06:00

Yay! Bring on Friday! How did you do so far this week? What reward do you have planned for yourself? Leave your links below.

The Cheapest Bevvy: Water

2009-02-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

Water is usually free, and it's supposedly good for you. Check out these links to see how drinking more water can benefit your pocketbook and other stuff too:

1. The Diet Channel lays out its Top 4 Benefits of Drinking Water. I didn't realize that drinking more water could keep us from getting sick.

2. Lifehack's Ten Reasons to Drink More Water. I certainly didn't know that water could keep heart attacks at bay.

3. Seven Health Benefits of Drinking Water from Sport and Cooking.

4. And so that we're not totally biased towards the clear beverage, here's WebMD's report on the Health Benefits of Water Being Oversold.

No More Matching Socks - Works for Me Wednesday

2009-02-25T09:00:00.001-06:00

My dad taught me this trick, and it's worked like a charm.

In order to keep socks from separating in the wash, use a clothespin to fasten them together before you put your socks in the dirty clothes hamper. The clothespins don't rust, and when you finally take your socks out of the dryer, your socks are already matched up!

The Phatness Walk Challenge

2009-02-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

Walking is easy. Walking is good for our health. Walking is something we can do until we're ancient. Walking burns calories. Walking reduces stress. Walking gets you outside.

Why not walk?

I'm challenging my fellow blogging friends to join me in a Phatness Walk Challenge. You do not have to be fat to do this. The "phatness" part is tongue-in-cheek. If you're offended, you should probably read someone else's blog.

Here's the deal. Each week, walk for at least 30 minutes for six days. Come up with a reward for yourself. If you're able to reach this goal of six 30-minute walks each week, reward yourself!

On Fridays, I'll post something on the blog so people can check in and swap ideas about rewards. So, are you in?

Menu Plan Monday 2/23/09

2009-02-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Menu planning is an awesome money-saving tactic. If you're stockpiling and buying items on sale with coupons, it will help you save even more. To find out why I menu plan, click here.

Here's my menu for this week:

Monday: Pasta with Peas & Leftover Breakfast Sausage! This is one of my faves. I add lots of pepper and parmesean to the mix for a flavorful meal.

Tuesday: Beans & Rice - Trying to cancel out the evil that is Monday night's meal

Wednesday: Trader Joe's Biryani - I'm on my own on Wednesday night!

Thursday: Going out with MIL

Friday: Turkey Spaghetti

Top Ten Reasons to Do a Menu Plan

2009-02-22T09:00:00.001-06:00

I just received an email from a concerned reader who wondered why I am so obsessed with planning out menus for the week.

Here are the reasons why:

1. I like to know what I'm going to be eating and that food WILL be available.

2. If I plan ahead, I can plan on using a bunch of stuff I already have.

3. If I use stuff I already have, I don't have to buy as much.

4. If I don't have to buy as much at the grocery store, I save money.

5. If I save a lot of money, I'll be able to take cool trips to remote locations.

6. If food IS available, I won't go out to eat as much.

7. If I don't go out to eat as much, I'll lose weight.

8. If I lose weight, I'll fit into my clothes.

9. If I fit into my clothes, I won't have to buy new outfits.

10. If I don't spend a lot of time shopping, I can go on more phatness walks.

It's a never-ending cycle of goodness, this menu planning!

Jewel Deals from Hot Coupon World

2009-02-22T08:44:00.004-06:00

Click here to see saveinapenny's complete list of Jewel deals for this week.

Here are the items in Jewel's Four Day Sale. These are usually the best bargains.

Sara Lee Whole Grain White or Wheat Bread Selected $1.77

Jewel Butter 1lb $1.88 Limit 2

Texas Red Grapefruit 8lb Bag $2.48

Van De Kamp’s Sticks, Fillets or Tenders $2.67

Jewel Fresh Cut Blue Ribbon Beef Porterhouse Steak $5.98lb

Lamb Lion Chops $5.98lb

Check out my post on the General Mills deal at Jewel for even more savings and a chance to get some of this stuff for free with at $10 off coupon!

Free Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

2009-02-22T06:45:00.003-06:00

Click here to get a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts Dark Roast. I'm ordering this so I have some caffeinated coffee in the house when guests come over.

CVS Shop 2/21/09

2009-02-21T20:55:00.004-06:00

CVS is running an ECB promotion for Diet Coke and Tylenol. If you buy $20 worth of the products, you get a $10 ECB coupon.

I'm not so excited about getting cheap soda now that I shun caffeine. But alas, I purchased six twelve-packs today at my local CVS.

This is what I did:

3 Caffeine-free Diet Coke 12-packs

3 Diet Coke 12-packs

I used six coupons for $1 off a 12-pack that I got from My Coke Rewards.

I used $2 in ECBs that I had around.

I spent about $14 OOP.

I walked out with a $10 ECB for future spending fun!

Post your CVS Shops below:

Jewel Shop 2/21/09

2009-02-21T20:12:00.005-06:00

I bought a ton of really unhealthy food today because it was on sale. And I know that because it is delicious and unhealthy, we will eat it instead of letting it rot in the fridge.

Jewel is doing this awesome deal where if you buy 10 General Mills items, you get a $10 Catalina coupon to use on your next visit to Jewel. Oh the joy!

So, I ended up spending a little over $20 on everything, but I also bought a couple of packages of the lovely packaged Jewel Butter (on sale for $1.88) and an interesting Sara Lee bread which claims to be both White and Whole Wheat ($1.77 - looking at the price, I think it's probably white).

Here are some of the other nutritional gems I picked up:

3 packages of Pillsbury crescent rolls
3 packages of Pillsbury GRANDS biscuits
2 packages of Warm Delights desserts (just add water and microwave!)
1 bag of Cheddar flavored Chex Mix (dairy)
1 container of Betty Crocker frosting

So, I had a bunch of coupons for everything, which made it way cheaper, plus I got the $10 off coupon. Sweet!

Update on Routines

2009-02-21T20:01:00.003-06:00

Okay. I'm a huge loser and a huge winner.

Perhaps you remember my post on Reducing Slacking? Oh, how I was so fired up to get up early in the morning and exercise! Guess how many times that actually happened?

Zero.

So it's on to Plan B with my mission of reducing fatness. I've decided to do after-work Fatness Walks. I've done two so far, one in very cold weather. Things are looking promising.

On a more positive note, I am off caffeine! Since late December (click here for my announcement, which I hoped would make me accountable), I have not had any caffeine unless I was somehow unaware of it. I still drink coffee in the morning, but it's the organic decaf kind. I also enjoy the occasional Caffeine Free diet soda beverage. While this does not help with my impending fatness, at least I was able to stick to something.

Yelp Reviews from Saverchic

2009-02-16T17:07:00.004-06:00

Oh yes. I found Yelp.com today, and I LOVE IT!

Yelp is a website where people can post their own reviews of local businesses. It's a tool that's really helped me to get to know my new neighborhood.

I've started posting reviews, and I'm hoping to create some lists that might help out the local North Shore Chicago bargain hunters.

Click here to see the reviews I've posted so far.

Save $ on Bradsdeals

2009-02-16T15:15:00.002-06:00

My husband showed me this site yesterday, and it's really great. I think it's a lot like woot, in that you have to check it often to get the good deals, but the deals are really nice.

Click here to check out Bradsdeals.

I'm planning on using this site to buy Christmas presents throughout the year at good prices instead of waiting until the last minute.

Need Help, Advice: Designer Wanted

2009-02-16T15:09:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about re-designing my blog and doing some things to make it more user-friendly. Does anyone have any advice or know of any good designers who would like to work on my humble little blog?

Please leave a comment below or shoot me an email if you have any ideas!

Gracias!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-16T14:29:00.004-06:00

Here's the plan for this week!

Monday - Going out for dinner. Birthday cake for dessert!

Tuesday - Steak, asparagus, salad, rice pilaf

Wednesday - Spaghetti!

Thursday - Salmon & Brocolli, rice pilaf

Friday - Chicken Masala

Menu Planning Monday 1/25/09

2009-01-25T17:24:00.003-06:00

Argh! I really have the winter doldrums this weekend. I'm hoping that my new morning routine will help me get out of this funk. One new routine task will be to actually eat some cereal for breakfast. What a novel idea!

Here's our menu plan for the week:
Monday - Tortellini with marinara sauce, Spring Mix with grape tomatoes
Tuesday - Pork chops, roasted baby carrots, spring mix
Wednesday - Soup, salad and baked potatoes

Thursday - Black Beans & Rice

Friday - Salmon & Brocolli, Biryani side dish
Saturday- Pasta with Turkey Marinara Sauce

Reducing Slacking

2009-01-25T17:08:00.002-06:00

It is cold. I am a wimp. I have totally been slacking on the exercise routine. My stomach is getting huger by the minute. Things are not good.

I've decided to try something this week, and see if I can somewhat "automate" my exercise routine. I'm planning on getting up wicked early in the morning so I can go to the gym for 30 minutes before work. Then I'll come back home, get ready, and then head out for the day.

I'm putting this on my blog so I'm somewhat accountable. At least to the eighteen people who read the blog today.

I'm going to be pretty relaxed in what I do at the gym. If I just feel like walking for 30 minutes, that's what I'll do. If I can take it up a notch and run, I'll do that. The point is just to get myself out the door and form a routine.

If on Friday I decide that I hate this, I will try to come up with a new routine.

I hope it works. So does my fat stomach.

Menu Plan Monday 1/19/09

2009-01-19T07:49:00.002-06:00

Here's our plan for the week. I'm hoping we'll be able to spend some quality time at home this weekend.

Monday- Lasagna, Salad, Homemade Bread

Tuesday- Tempeh Stir Fry & Rice

Wednesday- Sandwiches & Soup

Thursday- Rotisserie Chicken, Brocolli, Potatoes

Friday- Going out with my aunt

Walgreens Shop 1/18/09

2009-01-18T19:03:00.004-06:00

Woo hoo! Walgreens was awesome today. I just did one deal, but it was a good one:

6 12-packs of Pepsi products (mostly caffeine free for me)

$3.00 each

2 2-liters of Diet Sierra Mist

$1.34 each

$22.32 = Total with Tax

- 20.33 on Walgreens Rebate Gift Card

$1.99 spent OOP

Plus, I received a $10.00 Register Reward for having spent $20 on Pepsi products.

Photo from stock.xchng

Jewel Shop 1/18/09

2009-01-18T18:50:00.004-06:00

Nice shop at Jewel today, even though I didn't really use my Grocery Game list. (To read more about the Grocery Game click here.) I pulled some other resources together, and bought a few "essentials" that weren't on sale. I ended up spending $41.60 and saving $23.67 with sales and coupons.

Some of the best deals I saw this week were:

Perdue Ground Turkey - BOGO

$3.99 for two packages

Progresso Soup - on sale $10/10

Used coupons for $0.50/2 and $1.00/4

Why I'm Dumping the Grocery Game

2009-01-18T18:41:00.002-06:00

I've been doing the Grocery Game for a little less than a year now. For those of you not familiar with it, the Grocery Game is a service that puts together shopping lists that pair sales and coupons for stores in your area. I've learned a lot by using the service, but after today's shop, I'm done. This is why:

My list always has errors. It says something is on sale, and it isn't. It's disappointing and annoying.
My list includes a lot of "clearance" items that are not available at my store. It makes me suspicious.
The list doesn't come out until 10 o'clock on a Saturday night. If I use the Grocery Game exclusively, it means that I either have to stay up late on Saturday night or wake up early Sunday morning to put together my coupons and get to the store before all of the good stuff is gone. I would prefer to go out on Saturday night and sleep in Sunday morning, thank you very much.
There are free services out there. I have to question why I'm spending money on a service that annoys me, when I could get an equally annoying one for free.

If you are just starting with couponing and grocery shopping, the Grocery Game is great. It can really help you learn the ropes. If you're more experienced, your time is better spent on sites like Coupon Mom or Hot Coupon World.

Just my two cents!

Snow Day!

2009-01-16T07:53:00.004-06:00

Yay! The buses wouldn't start this morning, so my school district canceled school. Hallelujah! I'm going to spend the day working at DH's office getting Quick Books put together for him. I'm hoping that soon we can get a better idea of where our money is going so we can look for more ways to save.

Eating off the stockpile

2009-01-15T16:18:00.003-06:00

It has been super cold lately, and I've just wanted to stay home. Luckily, we have a pretty good stockpile going that we've been eating from, and we haven't had to visit the grocery store. I feel a little bad about missing out on some good deals, but eating from the stockpile has worked for us. We've been out of town on the weekends, so this has helped us to not waste food.

Next Monday I'll be sure to visit the store again. I don't want to deplete the stockpile too much!

Loving TV!

2009-01-13T16:31:00.002-06:00

Okay, okay. I know I'm not supposed to say this. I should be quietly reading books each night and spending quality time doing something...quality. But I can't! TV has been so incredible lately!

These are some of the shows I've been watching:

24 - Jack Bauer is back, and he is almost more amazing than Chuck Norris. I love that Chloe is also back!
Gossip Girl -- Serena and Dan - love the combo. And, I love seeing what Blair Waldorf wears. You know you love her, XOXO!
Oprah - Her Best Life series is so good. And, I love the fact that they gave away Suze Orman's book for free.
Desperate Housewives - Hello, drama!
The Office - always a hilarious show
Kath & Kim - This show just cracks me up. I think most guys hate it.

I'm trying to enjoy the good TV shows now, because I know they won't last for long. What shows are you watching?

Menu Plan Monday - 1/12/09

2009-01-12T18:26:00.003-06:00

Monday - Leftover Tofu Pad Thai and Rice

Tuesday - Beef Tenderloin, Brocolli, Potato

Wednesday - Pasta with Turkey Marinara Sauce

Thursday - Rotisserie Chicken, Creamed Corn, Rice Pilaf

Friday - Stir Fry

CVS This Week

2009-01-04T08:58:00.002-06:00

Okay. I'm not incredibly thrilled about this one either. If you go the Centisible Sawyer webpage, you can find instructions on how to get a $3 off CVS brand items.

There's also Garnier Fructis shampoo to be had for free if you have coupons.

Other than that, I'm not very excited. It's not that the deals aren't good, there's just nothing we really need.

Very Disappointing Jewel List

2009-01-04T08:40:00.002-06:00

So, I woke up this morning all excited about starting out the 2009 grocery shopping. I was armed with new coupons and ready for deals. After checking my list from the Grocery Game, it turns out the only thing I am interested in buying is some salsa and a Powerade.

That's not even worth going to the store for!

So, I'm not going. We went to Sam's on NYE and bought a bunch of stuff for the deep freeze. I think this week we'll just use that stuff. We are starting to have a pretty decent stockpile, so we should be more than okay.

I'm just a bit bummed about the lack of Jewel deals.

Quitting Caffeine

2009-01-02T08:02:00.006-06:00

I decided to quit drinking caffeine this week. Cold turkey.

Let me first start by saying, there's nothing wrong with drinking caffeine. There are many health benefits to drinking coffee in particular. This was a personal choice based on health factors and the fact that I keep spilling coffee all over my car every morning.

Why cold turkey? Well, I've tried to wean myself off several times, and it just didn't work. I ended up losing track of how much caffeine I'd had, or decide that I was having a bad day and deserved a little extra java. In other words, I was a huge wimp. I had to do an all or nothing.

So, starting last Sunday, no caffeine. Here are some of the lovely symptoms I've experienced:

Headaches, headaches, headaches. Especially in the first two days.

Feeling really spacey.

Sleeping a lot.

A weird pain in my lower lower back. I think it might be constipation. Sorry for TMI.

Here are some of the benefits I've experienced:

I feel really calm now that the headaches are gone.

I don't have to worry so much about bad coffee breath.

I'm sleeping really well.

Tips for those who want to quit:

Drink lots of water. Let it be your substitute beverage. Put some lemon in it if you don't like water.

Let yourself rest. Go ahead and take extra naps. Your body will be really freaked out and could use the extra time to recover.

Try to start your quitting on a day when you know you're not going to have to go to work for a few days. That way you can hang out at home, drink water, take naps and generally detox.

Menu Plan Monday!

2008-11-30T20:38:00.002-06:00

Here's our menu plan for this week:

Monday - Toasted Ravioli, Applesauce, Zuchinni, Squash & Corn combo, leftover rice

Tuesday - Spaghetti with Turkey Marinara Sauce, Texas Toast

Wednesday - Turkey Sausage, broccoli

Thursday - Soup & PB&J sandwiches

Friday - Tortellini

ULTA rocks

2008-11-30T09:40:00.002-06:00

Oh. My. Goodness.

Why did I not know about how awesome Ulta is when I was living off of PB&J, but still got my hair colored every three weeks?

I started going to Ulta back in September to get my hair cut. They had a promotion. I felt kind of guilty about it, but I really liked my hairdresser, so I went back again yesterday. It's awesome. This is why:

They always seem to be running some kind of a promotion. Yesterday I got a free gloss treatment. It's not something I ever would consider paying for, but it was a nice gesture.
You can use your ULTA card to rack up points. They points then get you free stuff. I just got a catalog in the mail from them that said I can go to the store and pick out something free from their list. Sweet!
They gave me a free clutch filled with Redken hair products yesterday. For free.

Why did I ever go anywhere else?

Cracked Heels Solution on Oprah

2008-11-12T15:36:00.005-06:00

This is what Paula Begoun recommended on the Oprah Winfrey Show's episode on beauty. Do this routine before bed to cure cracked heels:

Use Stridex pads to wipe down your heels. The acid in the pads helps to exfoliate the skin on your heels.
Put on a rich moisturizer like Eucerin, cocoa butter, or Vaseline.
Put on a pair of socks.
Go to sleep!

Gosh, I sure hope this works!

Click here to see more products that were recommended on the show.

Paula Begoun's Recommendations on Oprah

2008-11-12T15:17:00.009-06:00

I've had a few requests for a more-detailed list of inexpensive beauty products recommended by Paula Begoun on the Oprah Winfrey Show. (Click here to see my previous post) Here's what Paula recommended:

Cleansers - need to be gentle!

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser - $12.00
Olay Foaming Face Wash - $7.00

Exfoliant - important for all skin types

Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion - $12.00

Moisturizers - ingredients are important

Olay Regenerist Lotion - $19.00
Clinique Moisture In Control - $38.00
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Supplement - $60.00

Lips - put these balms on right before bed to treat dry lips

Prescriptives Lip Specialist - $15.00
Neutrogena Lip Nutrition - $7.59
Loreal Bare Naturale - $9.95

Hair Styling Tools - help minimize damage

Citre Shine Serum - $6.99
got2b Crazy Sleek - $4.49
Wet2Straight Flat Iron - $27.99
Revlon Tourmaline Ionic 1875 Hair Dryer - $29.99

Cracked Heels - click here to see how to use these products!

Stridex Pads - $5.99
Eucerin - $13.72
Cocoa Butter - $2.15
Vaseline $1.82

Photo from stock.xchng

Low-maintenance hair

2008-11-12T07:20:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe this works. And really...maybe it just works for me.

I have really annoying thick, wavy hair that used to be straight. If I blow dry my hair, it usually goes straight, but ends up being frizzy. All of my gray hairs stick straight up. I look like a crazy person.

I started taking a shower at night as part of my evening routine. I shower right when I get home, or after I'm done exercising (so really, just when I get home). Then I let my hair air dry. Every once in a while I'll run a comb through it so it doesn't kink up.

The next morning my hair isn't perfectly straight, but it isn't kinky or weird either. And, there's no frizziness or sticking up grays. I just spray some spray shine stuff on it, brush it, and go! It looks just as good if not better than when I'd wake up early to shower and blow dry.

And, I'm happy as can be because I can sleep later and I'm saving energy by not using my hair dryer.

I hope this helps someone!

Inexpensive, Effective Beauty Products on Oprah

2008-11-11T19:15:00.008-06:00

Okay. I am loving Oprah lately. She's been doing shows on being financially responsible and frugal, and today, she had Dr. Oz come on to talk about his new book on beauty. (Click here to check out what happened on the show.)

My favorite part of the show was when Paula Begoun came on to talk about effective yet inexpensive beauty products. Some of her recommendations were:

CeraVe Cleanser
Olay Foaming Cleanser
Alpha Hydrox AHA lotion
Stridex and Eucerin cream for cracked heels

I went to Begoun's website, and I was disappointed to see that she's started her own skincare line. She also charges $24.95 for you to see her top recommendations. Boo!

I personally love Alpha Hydrox AHA lotion. Here are some other products I like that aren't going to break the bank:

Store-brand Cetaphil - I like the Wal-Mart brand more!
Olay Definity night cream
Lamsilk foot lotion
Store-brand Aveeno lotion - My favorite is the Target brand

What inexpensive beauty products do you like?
Photo from oprah.com

CVS Shop!

2008-11-09T19:28:00.001-06:00

This is what I "bought" at CVS this week:

Olay Regenerist lotion $11.99 - $11.99 in ECBs
I used a $1 off coupon for a profit!

Garnier Fructis conditioner $2.99 - $2.00 in ECBs
I used a $1.00 off coupon to make the conditioner free!

Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'? Week of November 10

2008-11-09T13:43:00.004-06:00

We're off to Vegas this Friday, so our menu plan is a bit short. We're going to concentrate on using up what we already have in the fridge:

Monday - Leftover Italian beef & bbq sandwiches, pilaf in homemade broth, frozen veggie

Tuesday - Turkey spaghetti, leftover garlic bread

Wednesday - Pork chops, frozen veggie & pasta side

Thursday - Steak, pilaf, frozen veggie

Friday - VEGAS! :-)

I'm back!

2008-11-09T06:46:00.002-06:00

Why has this saverchic lady been slacking off so much? I have been as sick as a dog this week. I'm feeling much better this morning, so I hope whatever was wrong with me is fixed, and I'm back in good health.

I'm particularly bummed, though, about missing out on a great deal at Walgreens. A week or two ago, I did the St. Ives deal there, and I had 2 $5.00 off coupons. They both expired yesterday as I was snoozing away. So I guess I'm out $10. Aye caramba!

So, I'm off to Jewel this morning to do some shopping, and I'll post my menu plan for the week soon thereafter.

Thank you so much for continuing to visit this blog!
Photo from stock.xchng

Hey good lookin', Whatcha got cookin'?

2008-11-02T20:20:00.000-06:00

I'm on my own for the beginning of the week, so I'm keeping the menu simple and small this week. I'm starting the week off with one of my favorite meals from my single-gal days, and finishing the week off with some salmon to help the good old complexion:

Monday - Salad with feta cheese, chic peas, and raspberry dressing. Cornbread muffin, banana for dessert
Tuesday - Sandwich and salad. Banana for dessert
Wednesday - Stirfry with chicken and lots of veggies!
Thursday - Pork chops, a frozen veggie and Kashi rice pilaf
Friday - Salmon, broccoli, pasta with peas side dish

Check out other meal plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Beauty Deals Around the Web

2008-11-02T16:13:00.004-06:00

Here's a deal I read about on the Centsible Sawyer:

Free sample of a mystery shampoo that's supposed to make your hair look fabulous. Click here to get yours.

Do you know of any great beauty deals around the web? Please post them in the comments section.

Saving Yourself From the Spa: Manicures

2008-11-02T09:39:00.005-06:00

I am truly a minimalist when it comes to manicures and pedicures. Before our wedding, I was on a bit of a mani/pedi binge, but since then, I usually go natural. I'm the type who ends up picking at her nail polish anyway, so it's a bit of a waste for me. And at $30/appointment plus tip, I can hardly justify the expense!

I love the look of french manicures, so this is what I usually end up doing:

Soak hands in soapy water for about 5 minutes.
Cut hangnails and push back cuticles.
Apply moisturizer to hands and cuticles.
Use Sally Hansen 2-in-1 Nail White Pencil under fingernails. It helps if you can wet the pencil before using it under your nails.
Apply Sally Hansen Maximum Growth clear polish to nails.
Dip my nails in cold water to help set the polish.

The white nail pencil helps to give my nails a more polished look, and the clear polish is pretty fool-proof. If I end up messing up the polish or picking at it, no one can even see it.

If you really want to use color, I highly recommend the Sally Hansen Color Quick pen in Sheer Pink.

Want to see more Saving Yourself From the Spa articles?

Saving Yourself From the Spa: Eyebrow Shaping

Saving Yourself From the Spa: Hair Color

Photo from stock.xchng

Saving Yourself From the Spa: Hair Color

2008-10-28T19:53:00.005-05:00

Spending a lot of cash on salon hair coloring? In many cities, a single-process hair coloring can cost up to $80.00. If you're trying to cover your grays, the salon appointments can be very frequent and add up quickly.

Many women are hesitant to color their own hair because they're worried that something will go horribly wrong and they'll turn their hair pink. Unless you're making a drastic change to your hair color, chances are that coloring your hair at home will be just fine. Here are some tips and ideas for making home hair coloring easier.

Read the directions. This is huge. If you've read the directions and follow the manufacturer's recommendations, the chances of ending up with hair color you can't stand is pretty slim.
Don't wear nice clothes while coloring your hair. I have an old raggedy robe that I wear just for hair coloring. It has tons of brown stains from hair dye on it, and I don't care.
Cover the floor and your sink. I use old newspapers and cover the area where I'm going to be coloring my hair. That way if I spill or splatter hair dye, it doesn't matter.
Buy hair color that's close to your natural shade. Leave the drastic changes for the salon.
If you've colored your hair before, just color your roots. This will take less time and do less damage to your hair.
Use coupons. There are tons of good coupons for hair color. Watch for the sales and match them with your coupons. I can sometimes buy hair color for $2-3 by doing this. That sure beats paying salon prices!

Many women try doing highlights to blend in their grays. Click on the video below to see how you can do your own highlights at home:

If none of these ideas work for your, you might want to consider going gray. Click here to read more about it.

CVS Shop 10/26 - Moneymakers!

2008-10-27T17:43:00.003-05:00

My CVS Shop was short and sweet. I got everything for FREE with ECBs.

2 Bic Comfort3 Advance Razor 4-packs
$4.99/package
Used 2 $2 off coupons
Total cost = $5.98
Used $6.00 in ECBs
Earned $8.00 in ECBs

Woo hoo! I made money off this transaction, and got some nice razors. :-)

Cleaning Out the Closet

2008-10-26T10:24:00.002-05:00

I'm in the process of cleaning out my closet. I'm trying to get rid of the stuff I never wear, and pulling out warmer clothes for winter.

I have a few nice pieces that I just don't fit into anymore. I'd like to take them to a consignment shop, but the ones I've called aren't interested. We just moved to the suburbs, and apparently the standards here are much higher than they were in the city.

I'm trying to decide if I should try to sell my stuff on eBay, or make a trek into the city to visit my favorite consigner.

Does anyone have any good ideas for getting top dollar for your gently used clothing?
photo from stock.xchng

Walgreens 10/25

2008-10-25T17:30:00.004-05:00

The Walgreen's shop was pretty successful today. I just LOVE being able to get this stuff for free. I can't believe how much I used to pay for things like razors, foundation and cleansers.

I'm not going to be buying much in the way of groceries tomorrow, so I let myself splurge a little with up-front money on beauty supplies. This is what I bought:

Fusion Razor - On Sale for $8.99

I used a $4 off coupon

We were also supposed to get a $4 RR coupon, but it didn't happen. :-(

Rimmel Foundation - $7.49

Used $1 off coupon

Easy Saver Refund of $7.49 - Money Maker!

Loreal Revitalift Cream Cleanser - $6.99

Used $2 off coupon

Easy Saver Refund of $6.99 - Money Maker!

St. Ives Scrub - $4.99

Used $2 off coupon (click here)

Received $5 in Register Rewards - Money Maker!

Four Packages of Snickers Candy for the Trick-or-Treaters

4/$10

Used two $1.00 off coupons

Easy Saver Refund of $4.00

Final Price $1.00/bag

I used a $5/$20 coupon, and ended up spending $24.40 OOP. With the Register Rewards and Easy Saver Rebates, I ended up getting $23.48 back. Not bad for spending $0.92!

Beauty Deals Around the Web

2008-10-24T20:32:00.007-05:00

Here are some great beauty deals found around the web:

Six LipSmakers for $2.37 at Ulta! Denise tells you how here.

A great tip on $3.00 Antibacterial Hand Soap at Bed Bath & Beyond. Click here.

Rachel posted information about two awesome deals at Walgreens. Find out about the St. Ives moneymaker here, and the free-after-rebate Loreal Revitalift here.

Click here for a $5/$20 coupon from Walgreens.

Free sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Lotion here.

Free sample of Degree Ultra Clear Deoderant here.

Free Aveda sample for your man here.

Saving Yourself from the Spa: Eyebrow Shaping

2008-10-22T17:34:00.006-05:00

Having well-groomed eyebrows makes everyone look more put-together. It's amazing how much a few stray hairs here and there can detract from one's appearance. Clearing up my eyebrows has been one of my favorite ways to freshen my appearance.

Unfortunately, my eyebrows grow like weeds. Going to the salon twice a month was setting me back $40. I had to make a change, because it felt ridiculous to pay that much money for someone to put hot wax on my eyebrows and yank out.

I decided to start waxing my own eyebrows at home. After researching the supplies I would need, I discovered that they would cost me less than I would spend in one trip to the salon. This is what I bought in order to do my own eyebrows:

Parissa Hot Wax $7.59/package
A Parissa Hot Wax Warmer $11.90

I also gathered these supplies:

Popsicle sticks
Kleenex
Hand-held mirror
Tweezers for plucking stray hairs after waxing

This is how I waxed my own eyebrows:

Warm the wax using the Parissa Hot Wax Warmer
Dip popsicle stick in wax once it is warmed up - less wax is easier to deal with
Blow on the wax to cool it off a little bit
Lay down
Cover the eye beneath the eyebrow you're waxing with Kleenex
Hold up hand-held mirror so you can see the brow
Apply wax to area that you want to remove hair from
Wait about 1 minute, or until the wax begins to harden
Pull the wax off
Repeat until you're satisfied with the way your brows look!

The first few times I did this, the results were okay, but not fabulous. Now that I've been waxing my own brows for a while, I'm much happier with the results. I've had a few mishaps here and there, but it's been worth it. Over the course of a year, I'll save $480 by doing my own eyebrows at home.

Saving Yourself from the Spa Series

2008-10-22T17:09:00.005-05:00

Photo from www.sxc.hu

When I think about how much I used to spend at the beauty salon each month, I feel sick. I had a financial meltdown a few years ago, which caused me to track my spending:

Eyebrow wax - $20 (including tip)

Haircut - $70 (including tip)

Eyebrow wax #2 - $20 (including tip)

Single process hair color - $80 (including tip)

Manicure/pedicure - $30 (including tip) - I considered this to be a huge bargain!

Massage - $70 (including tip)

TOTAL = $290.00

I got creative and found ways to save on these treatments. The Saving Yourself from the Spa series will show you different ways to save on your beauty regime.

How I Started Feeding My Shopping Addiction for Free

2008-10-21T21:24:00.005-05:00

Photo from www.sxc.hu

I used to spend TONS of money on beauty supplies. It was like an addiction. I would go out to Walgreens every once in a while, just to "treat" myself to some new makeup, or a nice new conditioner. I had no money, and I thought this was an inexpensive way to feed my shopping addiction.

I didn't think I was spending that much until I started adding up all of the little "treats" I was giving myself each month. It turned out that I was spending anywhere from $150 to $200 a month!

I decided that the "treats" needed to stop. Instead of spending $200/month on drugstore brands, I wanted to get the nice stuff. So, I planned my beauty shopping, and bought more high-end shampoos, conditioners and makeup.

Guess what. It's not any different than the cheap drugstore stuff.

When I learned about the Grocery Game, I decided that cutting my food expenses would be a great way to trim my budget. I signed for a trial version, and I got lists for my local grocery store, CVS, and Walgreens.

It didn't take me long to figure out that I could get all of the stuff I was plunking down big bucks for for FREE. As long as I shopped every week (as if that was going to be a problem), I would always be well-stocked with makeup, moisturizers, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. And, I didn't have to spend a lot of money.

Too bad I didn't figure this out ten years ago when I was living on a beginning teacher's salary!

I hope that this blog will help those of you out there who are desperately in need of a "treat." I hope it will help you get your shopping fix without having to spend a lot of moolah.

Good luck & happy shopping!

Nail Polish and Hair Color at Jewel-Osco

2008-10-21T19:45:00.004-05:00

Photo from www.sxc.hu

This week at Jewel-Osco there are a few HBA items on sale that are great deals when paired with coupons:

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color

40% off at Jewel ($1.56 each)

Use $2.00/2 coupon from S 9/28

Each bottle ends up costing $0.56

Garnier Nutrisse Hair Color

2/$10 at Jewel

Use $2.00 off coupon from R 10/12

Final Price = $3.00/box

These prices sure beat going to salon to get your hair colored and your nails done! :-)

Happy Shopping!

How We Saved on a Vacation to Jamaica

2008-09-28T08:18:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago we decided that it's time to use up our airline miles. We have quite a few miles banked, and it sounds like soon the miles are going to be pretty useless.

We didn't want to spend a ton on our vacation, but we did want to get away for a while, and we were willing to pay a reasonable amount for our trip. We ended up using miles for a non-stop flight from Chicago to Jamaica. Then, we took advantage of a promotion at Sandals resorts and saved 35% on our hotel stay at the all-inclusive resort. As part of the promotion, we got a credit for our airfare of $350/person.

Finally, we booked our rooms at the Sandals resorts through Ebates. That way, we'll get cash back! Click here to learn more about Ebates.

New Walgreen's Coupon for $5 off!

2008-09-25T19:09:00.002-05:00

Click here for the new Walgreen's coupon. It's good on Friday and Saturday!

Rock the Crock Pot

2008-09-24T13:29:00.000-05:00

Last week I tried this recipe from the Year of Crockpotting blog. I'd like to say it turned out awesome, but really I think I cooked it too long and it just turned out okay. Anyway, I plan on trying it again, because we had the ingredients on hand, and it wasn't half bad!

Apple, Cheddar and Turkey Meatballs

Cheap, Easy Meals

2008-09-21T17:22:00.004-05:00

This is a really cool video by Denise Sawyer at The Centsible Sawyer. I love that this meal idea is EASY, FAST, and doesn't have to be for a huge family!

Sweet Jewel Shop

2008-09-21T16:53:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I'm semi-back-to-business with my mission of saving.

Friday night I was crabby, hungry and low on food. I was also fed up with just about everything I could think of. (click here for deets on my meltdown) So, I went to the Jewel, and I bought all of the stuff I like to eat. Without coupons.

Saturday was a really great day. One of my oldest friends gave me a call out of the blue, and we had family come to visit. We spent the day together, and I got to show my parents and husband where I work. We went out for a yummy dinner, and when we got home, my husband put What Not to Wear on the TV. It was awesome.

I think I needed some relaxing time with family.

This morning I slept in, which I haven't done in ages. Then I trekked to the Jewel for my Sunday shop. I spent $95 and saved $81. Not bad! I am hoping the Sunday shop will cancel out the Friday no-coupon shop. But man, the food I bought on Friday sure does taste good!

My Couponing Meltdown

2008-09-21T16:08:00.004-05:00

Yes, I had a couponing meltdown. I didn't think it was possible either.

This summer I got really into clipping coupons, writing my blog about saving, and trying to get the best deals. It was a lot of fun, and since I had the summer off, I had time to do it.

Now that I'm back to teaching, the time is gone.

Once school started, I my coupons went to hedoublehockeysticks. My desk was covered with coupons I'd clipped, but didn't have the energy to file.

The girls on my coupons train sent me messages about what was up with our group, and I never got them because I didn't have time to check my email.

It seemed like everything in my life was in complete chaos. I decided to cool it with the coupons for a couple of weeks so I could concentrate on getting my home organized. I also spent a lot of time working on ways to simplify and streamline my work day.

Things are much better now, but my couponing is definitely going to be more low-key.

I jumped off my coupon train after I got a nasty message from one of the girls. I also decided to stop clipping every single coupon. I am now going to use the Coupon Mom's method of saving individual inserts and labeling them with the date. This has already saved me HOURS of time.

I am also thinking about changing the look and focus of my blog. As I was surfing the net this afternoon, I noticed that The Thrifty Mama has the same layout as me. And her blog is totally awesome! I've been thinking of changing my layout for a while, so now might be the time to do it!

CVS Shop for 9/8/08

2008-09-07T13:31:00.002-05:00

Here's the deal I did at CVS:

Revlon Nail Polish

On Sale for $3.99

Used $2.00 mfg. coupon

Generated $3.00 in ECBs

Loreal Age Perfect Cleanser

On Sale for $5.99

Used $1.00 off mfg coupon

Generated $5.99 in ECBs

Two bags of Chex Mix

On Sale for $1.00

Used $1.00 off printable coupons (Click here)

FREE after coupons

I also used ECBs and a $2.00 off CVS coupon to pay. All in all, I spent $0.80 OOP.

Yeah! :-)

Jewel Shop for 9/7/08

2008-09-07T08:54:00.002-05:00

Wow. I bought a lot of meat today. I thought we were running low, but now we're set for a while!

We spent $29.43 total, and this is what we bought:

Eight packages of Healthy Ones Lunchmeat
Normally $2.25/package
BOGO this week at Jewel
Used 8 $0.75 off coupons
Final price = $0.38/package

Four packages of Butterball Ground Turkey
Normally $6.99/package
BOGO this week at Jewel
Used 3 $0.75 off coupons
Used 1 $0.55 off coupon (found by product)
Final price = $2.80/package

Three Boxes of Cheerios
4/$10 this week at Jewel
Used 3 $1 off coupons from the Cheerios Challenge
Final price = $1.00/box

Two cans of Del Monte Organic Crushed Tomatoes
Normally $2.69/28 oz.
On Clearance for $1.39

Perdue Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 lb. box
$6.77 (Sunday only)

Paula Red Apples
3 lb. bag
$1.79 (Sunday only)

CVS deals posted on MoneySavingMom

2008-09-07T07:01:00.002-05:00

The new CVS deals are posted on Crystal's site. Click here to check it out. Looks like there's going to be nice deals on Chex Mix, moisturizer, and nail polish this week.

How I Got Garnier Fructis for Free

2008-09-06T15:48:00.004-05:00

I love Garnier Fructis conditioners. And I pinky-swear I'm not getting a payback for saying this. It smells good, and it makes my hair a lot less crazy than it wants to be.

When I found out from the blog Common Sense With Money, which is fabulous, that I could get it at a deep discount, I was very excited. My stockpile had whittled down to just 3-4 bottles, and I was afraid I was going to have to dip into my reserves of free hotel conditioners.

The only downside to this deal was that I had to go to Walgreens to get it. My local Walgreens is not so much on the friendly side. If I can at all avoid going there, I steer clear.

But for Fructis, I will do almost anything. So here's the deal I did:

3 Fructis Conditioners @$3.99

2 Fructis Shampoos @ $3.99

1 Fructis Spray Shine Styler @ $3.99

1 Pert Plus @ $3.79

At the store I used six Walgreen's coupons for $1.00 off Fructis items, and six manufacturer's coupons for $1.00 Fructis items. I also used a $3.00 off coupon for the Pert Plus.

My total with the obnoxious sales tax was $14.81.

Then I got online and did the Walgreens Easy Saver rebate program. It took me about an hour to do this, no joke, because their website was so slow.

Because I spent $20 on Fructis, I was able to get a $10 rebate. My Pert Plus also ended up being FREE, because I got a $3.79 rebate for it. Now I just have to wait to get my Walgreens gift card in the mail.

All together I spent just under $2.00 for a heck of a lot of nice shampoo and conditioner.

Yippee!

Will buying Organic break the bank?

2008-09-06T09:05:00.005-05:00

Is it possible to eat organic food and be frugal at the same time?

Some argue that even though you might spend more on organic food up front, you'll end up saving in medical bills later on. Others justify the expense of organic food by using it as a consumer "vote" for safer, more-healthy food.

Check out the Happy Foody's take on "Frugal Organic" here.

The Organic Consumer's Association has an article on being "Naturally Frugal" here.

Click here for "Organic Food for Less" from the Dollar Stretcher.

Click here to link to MamboSprouts, a site with coupons for organic food.

Photo from www.sxc.hu