Good News and Bad News

Well the good news is that child #3 for our family is due to arrive mid February. The bad news is that I am already stricken with quite a bit of sickness.

So for now I will be putting this blog on hold. I know this is disappointing, and I am sorry for that. If you are interested in doing the weekly posts or possibly taking over this blog entirely please email me by using the contact button at the top right.

Thanks!

One Busy Week...

This has been the busiest week I have had in a LONG time! I don't usually pack my schedule so full, but there was just no getting around it and here it is Thursday and I of course have not looked at an ad yet. I am gong to have pass on doing the ads this week:(

For Hy-Vee deals check out Kansas City Mamas

For Dillonss deals be sure to check out Frugal Fritzie and Saving Lifestyle

I hope your week was a little less busy than mine! I plan to be back next week.

This Week's Posts and Cellfire

We have a special birthday this week for one of my boys on Thursday. If I have time to get to the weekly posts I will. I do, however, have quite the birthday cake to make:). I guess the older they get, the more specific "wants" they have! So if it goes well I might have some spare time to look at the ads.

For now be sure to load the latest Cellfire coupons!

PB Toaster Strudel® Save $.50
when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries.

Totinos Party Pizza Save $0.60
when you buy THREE any flavor/variety Totinos® Crisp Crust Party Pizza® Products.

Just for One® Save $.50
when you buy any variety Green Giant® Just for One® vegetables.

PB Sweet Rolls Save $.40
when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls.

PB Refrig'd Grands! Save $.30
when you buy TWO any size/variety Refrigerated Pillsbury® Grands!® Biscuits.

PB Italian Meal Brd Save $.40
when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Italian Meal Breads (Includes any Loaves, Breadsticks, Dinner Rolls, and Pizza Crust).

Totinos Pizza Rolls Save $.40
when you buy TWO PACKAGES any flavor/variety Totino's® Rolls Snacks.

PB Cookie Dough Save $1
when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough.

Progresso® Soups Save $.50
when you buy TWO CANS any flavor Progresso® Soups.

BC Fruit Snacks Save $.50
when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot®, Fruit Gushers® OR Fruit Roll-Ups® fruit flavored snacks.

Fiber One® Chewy Bar Save $.50
when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Fiber One® Chewy Bars OR Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars.

BC Cookie Mix Save $.40
when you buy ONE POUCH any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix.

Gardetto's Snack Mix Save $.50
when you buy any flavor 8 OZ. OR LARGER Gardetto's® Snack Mix.

Kix® cereal Save $.75
when you buy any ONE BOX Kix® cereal listed: Kix®, Berry Berry Kix®, Honey Kix®.

Cheerios® Cereal Save $.55
when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box).

Golden Grahams® Save $.75
when you buy ONE BOX Golden Grahams® cereal.

Chex Mix® or Snacks Save $.50
when you buy TWO any flavor 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Chex Mix® OR Chex® 100 Calorie Snack.

BC Cake Mix/Frosting Save $.50
when you buy BOTH Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Cake Mix AND Betty Crocker® Ready to Spread Frosting (any flavors/varieties).

PB Holiday Cookies Save $1
when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Refrigerated Holiday Cookies.

Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1
when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.

GG Valley Fresh Stmrs Save $.50
when you buy TWO any variety Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers® frozen vegetables.

Yoplait Kids Zone Save $.75
when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed: Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz(TM) Yogurt.

Cortaid® Save $2
on any Cortaid® Anti-itch product.

Green Giant boxed Save $.60
when you buy THREE any variety Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables.

Maybe Not...

I did have great intentions to get the Hy-Vee and Dillons posts done yesterday, but as you can see they are not done. My attention was stolen by these 2 adorable kids who were having a blast cutting ginger people for our edible nativity scene we were making! I hope you all have been enjoying this Christmas season as well!

I did look at the ads and I noticed Dillons goes until today. The ad is pretty much the same as last week's with select GM cereals being $1.88.

Hy-Vee has an ad that goes until 12/28.

For now I will not be posting deals. Today we are continuing with our fun Christmas tradition of making cookies with Grandma and preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Weekly Posts

Hi!

We are really enjoying the 2 weeks off my husband gets for Christmas break! So much so that I forgot it is already Thursday. Have no fear, I will post the deals later today!

Thanks!

Groupon: $50 to GAP for only $25

Have you tried Groupon yet? If not, you should! The closest city that participates for us is the Kansas City Metro area.

Today's offer is a $50 Gap Gift Card for ONLY $25!!! This is a NATION WIDE deal, so it doesn't matter what city you live in, you can get this deal!
Here is the Fine Print on this deal:
Expires Nov 19, 2010
Limit 1/person. Valid in-store at US and Canada Gap stores only. Not valid @ Gap Outlet, Factory, Generation, online. Not valid for GiftCards, tax, or w/other offers. $50 minimum purchase. It is VALID on clearance items!

You can sign up HERE for Groupon for FREE! Once you sign up you will be informed about HOT deals for hotels, restuarants, salons, even Royals tickets! I have had many friends try it in other cities and they have LOVED it!

If you have tried Groupon feel free to share your review in the comments section!

I Forgot!

I honestly forgot that yesterday was Wednesday. I knew it was Wednesday, but forgot all about posting anything. Having my husband off work this entire weeks put a kink, a good one, in my usual daily/weekly routines.

I will hopefully have something up later today! Sorry!

The Aldi Challenge

When I first started this blog 2 years ago I did so with intentions of only posting weekly ads for Dillons and Hy-Vee. I found that I was regularly purchasing items (name brand even) for myself at these major grocery stores for less than I was paying at Aldi. I learned that by watching the ads and clipping coupons I could purchase items that cost the same, or less, than the Aldi price. My motto has always been that if you can beat the Aldi price, you know you are getting a great deal!

During my 2 week break, I have been doing some thinking and praying about what role this blog would play in my life. The answer came when I got an email from Aldi announcing a week long grocery challenge. They are challenging their customers to shop their store only for 1 week and see how much they save (see full press release below). In their email to me this following statement caught my attention:

"ALDI prices are typically 30 to 40 percent less than store brands at traditional supermarkets and 15 to 20 percent less than big box store brands."

After reading this I was reminded of my original intent of this blog. This blog exists to help my readers learn how to shop wisely at the major grocery stores and pay the least amount possible for items. Another goal of this blog is to provide information about coupons and the best price to pay for an item. The items I pick to post from the weekly ads are items that I know to be a good price based on my years of comparing prices to Aldi. I will frequently tell you if a particluar item beats the Aldi price. I only share coupons that I believe will get you a good price. I also continue to shop at Aldi because some prices really are unbeatable!

Having said all of that, I have decided to continue posting once a week on this blog. I will post the Dillons and Hy-Vee ad every week. If time allows, I will post Apple Market as well. These posts will get posted Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. I invite you as my readers to always comment with other great deals you may find at these stores throughout the week.

Thank you for being such faithful readers. A BIG thank you to everyone who commented and emailed their encouragement!

The full Aldi press release is below if you want to read it.

ALDI to Launch “One Week Challenge”
Grocer to dare shoppers to compare savings
Average family to save nearly $2,000 annually

Batavia, Ill. (July 15, 2010) – Starting Monday, select assortment discount grocer, ALDI, will boldly launch a “one week challenge,” daring consumers to shop ALDI for one week and compare the cart-to-cart savings to their typical weekly shopping bill. The new campaign comes with its own reward for shoppers: a family of four can save approximately $1,996.80 per year – each year – compared to traditional supermarkets’ store brands, or $998.40 compared to big box store brands.

“Everything we do is designed with one goal in mind – to help our customers stretch their grocery dollars,” said Joan Kavanaugh, ALDI vice president of corporate purchasing. “Competitors may offer specials or sales on an item here or there, but cart-to-cart, no one matches the quality and value ALDI offers everyday.”

Known for offering high quality grocery items, fresh meats and produce at up to 50 percent less than the competition, customers can expect to find more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased items sold under its exclusive select brands.

The grocer’s streamlined, efficient approach eliminates hidden costs (such as in-store banking, pharmacies, bagging clerks, check cashing, photo processing or other non-essential grocery store services), and passes on the savings to customers in the form of lower prices.

ALDI stores’ efficient layout makes it easy for shoppers to get in, get out and get on with their day, and the smaller store footprint uses less land and utilities, all helping keep prices low on the high quality items offered every day.

“We know that anyone who shops ALDI will save money, but there’s nothing like seeing those receipts for yourself and feeling the satisfaction of having more money left in your pocket,” said Kavanaugh.

Quality, taste and satisfaction are always double guaranteed at ALDI. If for any reason a shopper is not 100% satisfied with any product, ALDI will replace the product and refund the money.

[Note: Estimated savings based on the average $416 monthly grocery shopping bill for a family of four, according to Consumer Reports, 2009. ALDI prices are typically 30 to 40 percent less than store brands at traditional supermarkets and 15 to 20 percent less than big box store brands.]

A Little Break

Hi!

My apologies. I have been very quiet on the blog this past week. Over the course of the past few months I have noticed that my blog has started to take more of my time and attention. I have come to realize that I need to take a step back and evaluate the situation.

My laundry has piled up, I don't know the last time I mopped the kitchen floor and my children seem extra needy. All these things tell me that I have my priorities a little mixed up! As a wife and mom my home and family come first. I love my blog and I love helping people save money, however, I love my family more.

That being said, I will be taking the next few weeks to evaluate what the role of my blog will be in my life. Has it served its season and I need to surrender it? That is the question I am honestly seeking out the answer to. I will not be posting this week or next.

Thank you for being such faithful followers of this blog!

Shannon

Father's Day Deals

Kristi, from Bargain Loving Mom, has compiled a list of Father's Day Deals. They are as follows:

Dad (or anyone else) can get a FREE Burger at Chammpswhen they register.

Denny's is giving Dad a choice of three free floats — Cherry Coke, Root Beer or the Red, White and Blueberry Float with thisprintable Facebook coupon. The coupon is valid June 20-27 with the purchase from the Value Menu or the General Menu.

Bring your Dad to McDonalds for breakfast on Father's Day and he'll get a FREE breakfast entree.

Noodles & Company is offering a Free Bowl of noodles, soup, or salad for Dad between dates of 6/18 - 6/20

Smokey Bones is giving Dad a Free Dinner with this printable coupon on 6/20.

Spaghetti Warehouse is giving Dad a choice of a FREE original recipe spaghetti or the 15-layer lasagna on 6/20.

At Tasti-D-lite, Dad can get a free small cup or cone, no other purchase necessary.

TCBY is offering free frozen yogurt to Dads on Sunday

Texas de Brazil is offering Dad one FREE meal with the purchase of another from 6/20 through 6/24

Be sure you call ahead to your location to see if the are participating! Krisit has also compiled a linky you can see HERE for any other deals posted by other bloggers!

Finally!

Yeah! I can actually get into my blogger account from home! I am going to attempt to do some posts now.

Money Saving Tip: Look at Your Receipt!

If you want to be sure you save the most money on your grocery bill, then look at your receipt! I can't tell you how many times I have been charged wrong for something. Usually it is a $1 or less, but this past week I was over charged by more than $7.00 in 1 transaction. I didn't catch it until I got home. I did go back and they graciously refunded me my money.

I want to encourage you to practice these 3 habits!

• Always make sure you are charged the correct price!
• Always make sure you receive the coupon value due!
• Always check your receipt BEFORE you leave the store!

Getting in the habit of practicing these 3 things will definitely save you money!

Gone for the Weekend

This is just a quick note to let you know I will gone for a few days. I will resume regular posting Tuesday evening. For now, I have scheduled a few posts over the next few days. Be sure to check in:)

GAP: My 40% Savings!

This weekend Gap is having a HUGE sale. The whole store is 40% off of EVERYTHING, including clearance. I was relieved to hear this news because just the other day Ryan informed me he had 1 pair of jeans without holes in them.

You see, Ryan gets the short end of the stick when it comes to new clothing. He is the only person in this house who is not growing at a rapid rate. The children are, of course, always growing and always in need of clothes. Thankfully for me garage sales seem to keep us a float in their department. Then there is me. I am always growing too. When you have 2 kids in 3.5 years there are many new clothes to be had and lots of sizes to filter through:) For me, I am fortunate to have friends that I trade maternity clothes with, but I still need new clothes at a much faster rate because of my frequent size changes.

Ryan gets his shot at new clothes once every 2-3 years when I am not pregnant and do not have a need for any new clothing. If you know me well you know that, while I might buy new clothes, I NEVER PAY FULL PRICE! I keep my eye out for deals and then scoop them up when they come. I try to pay what I might pay at a used clothing store. So far I would say I have a 75% success rate!

There is not doubt that this Gap sale came at just the right time. It was, of course, an answer to a prayer I muttered when I looked at the one "good" pair of jeans Ryan had with holes soon to come. We also realized that his "teacher" pants were starting to wear out too. Those are going on 3 years.

So here is how I was able to get him 4 pairs of pants from The Gap for a grand total of ONLY 48.48+tax.

• Bought 2 Pairs of jeans at 34.99/1=$69.98
• Bought 2 Paris of casual dress pants at 29.99/1=$59.98

Total before discounts =$129.96

• -40% store wide discount =-51.98
• -25% discount for using my Gap card (coupon came in the mail this week) = -$19.50
  
• -$10 coupon I had earned for using my Gap card
  

New total=$48.48+ tax! That is a total savings of $81.48.

**Disclaimer: We have a tight spending plan that we follow and use our store card responsibly. We don't buy clothes unless we have the "cash" to do so with in our budget. This insures that we ALWAYS pay off our card. We feel the discounts and rewards we earn are valuable and money saving enough to have a GAP card.**

This Gap sale is good through closing time Sunday!

The Blender Won

Maybe a lid would have helped...

I have been making my own baby food for quite some time and the blender finally won a round. I am not sure what was going on with my banana avocado mixture, but it somehow ended up on my cabinet. It was so high up there I had to fetch my handy dandy stool so I could reach to clean up the mess!

Although a bit messy, making your own baby food is a great way to cut down on baby feeding costs! I have done this for both my children and the cost savings have been totally worth the time I put into it.

If you have a baby that is eating solid food, or will be soon, I highly encourage you to consider making your own baby food. Summer is such a great time, too, because a lot of fresh fruits and veggies are a great price!

I could do a whole post about how I make my own baby food. I, however, am not going to reinvent the wheel. The absolute best site I have ever come across is wholesomebabyfood.com. Check this site out and if you have questions email me. I would be happy to assist!

$.50 32 oz. Fountain Drinks!

Through the month of May Kwik Shop is offering 32 oz. fountain drinks for only $.50!!! I have a few friends with soda addictions that I know will benefit from this. You know who you are!

No Internet for 3 Days!

Yes, you read my title correctly. I did not have internet access for 3 whole days! I was out of town spending time with family.

I have dug myself out of 145 emails and will resume regular posting tomorrow:) I hope you all had a great weekend!

Hanging the Laundry to Dry!

We have lived in our current house for 2 1/2 years. My clothes lines have clearly been haning in the back yard long before we moved in, however, I just now decided to actually use them!

With promises of temps around 80 degrees and a good breeze I decided to wash our bedding and hang it out to dry. In the process, I turned it into a fun little "science experiment" for my 3-year old. He loves to help with laundry but I have never taken the time to explain to him what the washer and dryer actually do.

So, as we took the bedding off the bed and put into the washer I explained to him the purpose of the washer and dryer. He understood that what goes into the washer gets wet and then we put it into to the dryer so it gets dry. After our items had been washed we put them into a laundry basket and took them outside.

I simply explained to Seth that instead of using the dryer we were going to do an "experiment" and see if the sun and wind would dry our sheets. So, we hung up our wet sheets and then went about our business for the morning. Okay, I hung the sheets and Seth made sure to point out where all the dog poop was so I wouldn't step in it. Thanks, buddy!

After about 3 hours we went out to check on our laundry. Seth was so excited and exclaimed "It is dry, the sun and wind dryed our stuff!" I was amazed too. Not that I didn't believe it would work, but that I had never done this before and my little 3 year old got so excited about something so simple. It is amazing what their little minds find fascinating! He also made sure to tell me how nice the wind and sun were to dry our sheets:)

I wonder how many other every day jobs I do that I can make a science experiment out of? Laundry sure is more fun around here now!

It Was A GOOD Morning!

Here are some of the items I found this morning... a few were in use by the time I was able to snap a picture:)

I have had a list of wants and needs for children that has been waiting for garage sale season. It was as follows:

Tricycle for Seth (not a need but a want)
3T summer pjs
4t winter pjs
3t/4t casual shirts for summer (5-6 would be good)
size 8-9 sandals for Seth
size 8-9 tennis shoes for Seth

I woke up this morning at 6:30, grabbed my coffee, did a quick check of my email, and out the door I went to meet my friend. We were hitting up the Sherwood garage sales early! Before I met her, I do what I usually do, that is to pray that God would supply what I needed. He knows my needs, He can see my list, and He definitely knows that I rely heavily on garage sales to meet a lot of our clothing/toy needs and wants.

It was kind of slow going at 1st. It seemed that every sale we came to had nothing but girls' clothes. Thankfully, that is what my friend was on the hunt for! At the last few sales we came to I hit the jack pot, finally!

All for $25 dollars this is what I found:
1 Men's K-state t-shirt=$1 (my hubby can always use these!)
1 Women's Old Navy Puffy Vest for $1 ( not a need, but for a $1 you can't pass that up when you are on a tight clothing budget:)
5 pairs of summer sandals ranging in size 8-9 for only $2
1 pair of regular shoes for Levi=$1
6 casual 3t-4t t-shirts in great condition (church wearing even) =$4
1 pair of jeans for Seth (good for playing outside)=$1
2 pairs of 4t winter jammies=$2
3 pairs of 3t summer jammies=$3
1 tot spot chair=$1 (now we have 2 so there will be no fighting when Levi is old enough:)

And my best find of the day: A Roadmaster tricycle in awesome condition for ONLY $10!

I love it when God provides what I need and throws in a want like the tricycle, also! It was a GREAT MORNING and it was so fun to share with a friend!

If you made it out this morning to any garage sale, I hope you found some great stuff too!

Google...

Notice anything funny today? If you are from Topeka you should really check out Google's home page...pay close attention:)