Fred's: Double Coupon Day

*clickable pic*
Ran to Fred's this afternoon. I love Fred's. Especially on double coupon Saturdays! I try to save up my "little coupons" and make a good run to Fred's once a month. This month I needed to stock up on cleaning supplies, as you can see. Everything I purchased had a coupon.
Here's the math:
Total Price before coupons: 68.32
Total Price AFTER coupons: 39.78
Total Savings: 28.54 (enough for a tank of gas, if prices stay where they are at) *yays*

I feel pretty good about it, considering its stuff I really need, and use on a daily basis. I got several small things free: Suave lotion, Trident gum, etc. And, who can't feel good about something free and reduced price.

CVS:11/2

This week's deal:

2 crest pro-health toothpaste 3.98 each -1.00Q each+6.98 EBC's
total 7.54(.08 tax)
-2.00 mfg coupon's
-5.00 ebc's
total OOP .54
gain 6.98 EBC;s

transaction #2
2 olay body wash (12.00)-2.00 Q each+5.00 EBC
total- 12.96
-4.00 mfg Q's
-6.98 EBC's
total OOP 1.98
gain 5.00 EBC's

thats it for me this week. No real deals screaming at me.

Remember to get you Sunday paper today!

CVS: after the sale #2 (10/18)

transaction #2 (yes, I was feeling pretty good, used hubby's card, so didnt have alot to work with but, I think I did ok)

Gum toothbrushes 3.99
candycorn 1.29
excedrine 1.99 (had 2.00 Q)
kleenex .89 (had .40 Q)
powerade 1.69
Listerine Agent Blue 3.99 (had 1.00 Q)
pumpkin pail .99
funglow light .99
sure deoderant 2.99 (had 1.00 Q)
2 pert plus (had 2- $2 q'S)
goody's 6 pk headache powder 1.79 (had free CRT)

Total -22.33

total mfg Q's- 8.40, EBC's- 8.49
Total OOP- 13.84
earned- 16.95 ebc's
Not too bad eh?

CVS: after the sale (10/18)

my scenario worked!!! made the cashier mad, she griped to the mgr, and inturn, I told him he could honor CVS policy, or I could call the district mgr, who incidentally gave me his cell #, on Sunday. He chose to honor store policy. Go figure. BTW, you can use mfg coupons + cvs CRTs+ebcs. 1 mfg q & 1 CRT per item. Grrr. I hate mgmnt sometimes. Anywho, here is my haul for the day:

Windex (2.00 mfg Q)
Fantastic (1.50 mfg Q)
Scrubbing Bubbles (2.00 mfg Q)
Gum Toothbrushes
candycorn
2 excedrine (1- 3.00 CRT, 1-2.00 mfg Q)
kleenex
powerade
listerine agent blue
pumpkin pail
funlight
airheads (filler)

total before discount: 26.90
used: $5/$25, had 8.90 mfg. Q's and used $13 ebcs
total OOP .93 earned- 11.95 EBC's
SCORE!

CVS: The plan (10-18)

Ok. Here is the plan I've got drew up. Remember things can change once you get in the store and figured with 8% tax. Items are always "due to availability & all". Here we go:

SCENARIO #1
2 excedrin (1.99 each) have 2 (2.00 coupons)
1 candy corn (1.29) earn 1.29 EBC
1 pumpkin pail (.99) earn .99 EBC
1 powerade (1.69) earn 1.69 EBC
1 butler 2 pk toothbrush (3.99) earn 3.99 EBC
1 listerine agent blue (4.49) earn 4.49 EBC
1 fantastic spray cleaner (2/5.00) have 1.50 Q
1 windex cleaner (2/5.00) have 2.00 Q
1 scrubbing bubbles cleaner (2/5.00) have 2.00 Q

Total before discounts: 26.10
Use $5/$25 & coupons above $10.60
Use 10.00 EBC's
Total OOP .60
Earn 12.45 EBC's


We'll see how it turns out! I may do a 2nd transaction this week. There are SO many good deals!!

Cvs:After the Sale (10/12)

Just got back from CVS thought I would report on how I did. They did not have the skin vital mask or tampax listed on sale, so I did ask to make sure they would honor the sale price.
I got:
5 Gatorade (3 EBC's back)
1 Palmolive dish detergent (used.25 Q)
2 cesar dog food tray (used b1g1 Q)
1 tampax 40 ct. (used.50 Q) (2 EBC back)
1 skittles & 1 m&m's funpacks (used 1.00 Q)
1 skin vital mask(2 EBC's back)
1 covergirl liquid foundation (used buy foundation get another product free)& (1.00 off foundation Q)1 covergirl mascara (free) (3 EBC's back)
1 puffs plus (used .25 Q)

total 44.03
used 25.16 ebc's, 9.24 maufacturer Q's
total OOP .34 + tax .77 =1.11
got 10 ebc's back

I'm banking the rest of my ebc's until next week's good sale. But, I didnt think I did too bad this week with a not so good sale.

Mission: repurpose

Oh yes, Scotty dogs! I forgot to mention I found a cool little stuffie pattern here.

Aren't they the cutest? This is my first attempt from a pair of recycled girls pants. I made it in just alittle while. I think I'm addicted!

Mission: repurpose

Went to the thrift store today. I found 2 flat cotton sheets, and 2 pairs of little girl stretchy pants. These will be repurposed into 2 pajama bottoms, and a few scotty dogs. The bright red fabric is a very pleated, very bright dress I found for 50 cents. It will become new throw pillows for the couch.





















As you can see, it is very pleated.

CVS:After the sale (10/5)

ok. back from my weekly shopping trip to CVS, here is what I got:

2 bic soleil razors 5.99 each
1 colgate toothpaste .99
1 always infinity pads - 4.98
1 pink orbit gum (72 pc)3.49
1 cottonelle flushable wipe 3.69
1 vitimin water - 1.59 (they didnt have the one on sale so gave me this one with 1.59 EBC)
Price before discounts: 31.61

used:
cvs $5 off $25 Q
colgate 1.00 Q (also a printable here)
(2)bic soleil razor 2.00 Qs (1 Q from last weeks newspaper, $2/1 printable here)
you can print 2 copies
14.50- EBC's (had 2.50 quarterly EBC's print out)
Out of pocket price: 2.81
Received 14.00 EBC's back
1.59 (raincheck EBC from vitimin water)
total EBCs earned this week: 15.59
free $25 giftcard with new or Xfer prescription
and another $5/$25 Q
not to shabby eh?

I was feeling good so I went ahead with the next transaction. Here is what I got:

Mylanta Max Liquid 6.00
Motrin IB- 8.00Tylenol PM Rapid Release Gellcaps- 6.00
Vitimin Water- 1.59 (again, didnt have what was on sale, gave me this + EBC's)
Total-27.68
Used- 1.00 Q motrin IB (10/5 newspaper)
2.00 Tylenol Q (last weeks newspaper)
2.00 Mylanta Q (printable here)
13.79 EBC's from last week
Total Out of pocket: 3.42
Earned:
$10 EBC
6.50 EBC summer spending quarterly credit
1.59 (vitimin water raincheck EBC's)
total 18.09 EBCs back.
Yeah!!!

CVS: for all the ways you care

So, I'm a frugal gal. I decided to start reading frugal forums and find some real money/time/effort saving tips. I found a great forum here . great tips and advice for the newly frugal.

One of their biggies is saving with coupons (q's) and other valuable things from different stores. I have a CVS in town and decided to try out the extra care buck program (ebc's). The way to use them is this: you get the Sunday newspaper and clip the coupons in there. Some you can use in different places, some at CVS. Then you check the weekly circular and see what items they have as buy 1 get 1 free, and match the coupons to the product. I had been doing little deals and saving up the ebc's. Only buying products that I will really use and actually need. I saved up 16 ebc's and went in today with my q's (coupons). Here is what I got:

2 toothpastes, 6 razors, 4 deo's, 1 pine sol, and 1 shampoo. Total price: 44.65

But, what did I pay? 4.85. No kidding. The clerk did a double take too, but he said nothing. Suits me just fine. I like CVS!

Frugal Living: Homemade lye soap

Yes, I finally took the plunge. This weekend hubby and I made our first batch of lye soap. Since our baby has such sensitive skin, we have really jumped on the frugal bandwagon making laundry soap, and now lye soap. It is not hard to make, and is suppose to be very good for your skin. It has glycerine in it naturally. Commercial soaps (dare I say detergents not soap)remove this glycerine and sell it to cosmetics companies. My soap will have to cure for a few days, and then will be wrapped and ready to use. We can grate it up for laundry soap, use it in the shower, dare I say its all purpose. So far, it lathers well and leaves your hands very soft.



The blue soap is glycerine soap, the girl helped me melt down and color. She chose lavender scent. It worked well on her skin. I'm hoping the lye soap will as well. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday Funday

Finally, a day off. Prop up the feet, crochet alittle, spend time with the kiddos.... ahhhhh sounds great.

First, I want to cook a proper breakfast for the family. Homemade biscuits, bacon, eggs, and some strawberry freezer jam. mmmm. We only sit down on Sunday for meals together. Its sad, but throughout the week its hard for us all to be eating at the same time. To much going on...




Also, I'm hanging out more laundry. If I keep doing a load daily, maybe I won't get behind....so far so good


I made this Rambler Rose motif for a mini doily for my mom's birthday. I'm actually considering making the whole doily again. It is, IMO, the prettiest floral doily around. I think I'm going to "tweak" the center rose though.

Happy Sunday Ya'll!

Frugal Living: Homemade laundry soap

I am really turning in an anal -frugal wierdo, aren't I? LOL. I have been doing this for about 2 months now. Making my own laundry soap. My daughter has sensitive skin and I've always had to use the pricier brands for that reason. Or she would suffer with an itchy rash. So, I found this website while searching for frugal stuff and thought I'd give it a try. It worked really well. too well. So, I let my friends and family try it, hoping that someone would tell me there was something wrong with it and that it was too good to be true. Didnt happen. Everyone loves it. I haven't had one complaint. The best part is the money you truly save. It averages out to about a penny a load. A PENNY A LOAD. (75 cents per 2 gallon batch) Now who can say they cant afford to try it. It only takes about 15 -20 minutes to make a batch, and that consists of grating the soap, melting it, adding the other ingrediants and letting it set. Super easy, Super natural. Give it a try, and amaze yourself.

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

I use Zote laundry soap. I found it at the local save a lot store for 69 cents a bar. You can use about any soap, some use ivory, irish spring, fels naptha, etc. If you don't want to make your won laundry detergent, you can use Zote as a cheap stain remover. Just wet and rub the bar over a stain before laundering. One bar will last longer than you ever thought possible.

I use Arm & Hammer washing soda. Had to order it offline. no one around here sells it. But, I found out that as long as you use 100% calcium carbonate (AKA soda ash) it is the same thing. You get soda ash in the swimming pool dept of ur local wal mart, or pool shoppe. and alittle goes a LONG way. :-)

I use 20 mule team borax. wal mart.

Also, for tought stains, or grungy stuff, add 1 scoop of Oxy clean to the bottom of ur washer, before adding clothes. It works well. I also use 1/2 c. white vinegar for fabric softener. (no, it doesn't make ur clothes smell)

If you try it lemme know!