2011 April | Money Saving Mom®

It’s finished (well, sort of!) + some favorite posts

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

Did you hear that huge sigh of relief coming from Kansas today?

I finished my manuscript and it’s now ready to head to the editor at my publishing house. There’s still plenty more work to be done before the book is actually published, but this was a huge step in the whole book-writing process. And I’m so excited about the book and can’t wait to tell you more about it soon!

For now, I’m just thankful to have it done and submitted and am looking forward to getting back to a more normal schedule after a few weeks of having to focus all of my extra time and energy on completing the manuscript.

Thank you so much for your patience while I stepped back from my usual blogging in April. I’ve missed interacting and writing here and can’t wait to get back to our scheduled series and topics. Plus, I’ve got some fun new ideas brewing for series and features that I hope to be unveiling soon!

In the mean time, here are a few posts I read recently that I really enjoyed or was challenged by. Some of these are off-topic, but I’m sharing them because I thought they might bless or encourage some of you. Enjoy — and have a restful Sunday!

Somebody Else’s Passion Can’t Fuel Your Dream — “One of the greatest ways you’re guaranteed to fail eventually is to chase someone else’s dream instead of your own.”

Own It — “Often I’m so busy worrying about what people think of a particular choice that I don’t really put everything I have into what I chose. I spend too much time apologizing rather than just saying ‘This is me. This is my calling.’ I don’t own it.”

You Choose When You Refuse — “If you have debt and you refuse to change your lifestyle to get out of it, you are in essence choosing debt.”

How Hurting Women Can Help Each Other Heal — “…No one tells you that the shields you carry to keep you safe, become the the steel cages that keep you alone.”

photo credit

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This Week in Review: Free Cottonelle Wipes, Free Tidy Cats Litter, Free Zyrtec + more!

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

In case you missed them, here are some of the best deals and freebies from this past week which are still available:

Free tub of Cottonelle wipes for you and a friend

Free six-pack of Nescafe Taster’s Choice samples (Facebook offer)

Free samples from General Mills

Free Emergen-C samples

Free Tidy Cats Litter at Walmart

Free Playtex Sport sample pack

Free John Frieda Root Awakening sample

Free 5-count package of Zyrtec

Flip Flops for as low as $1.75 per pair from Kohl’s

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CVS: Deals for the week of May 1-7, 2011

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

Here are the best deals at CVS this week, with a big thanks to The Thrifty Mama for her help in compiling them:

ECB Deals

Buy 1 Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam, MaxWhite or MaxFresh Toothpaste at $2.77, Get $2.77 ECBs (Limit 2)
Use $1/1 coupon from the May All You magazine
Free pllus overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 2 Aussie or Herbal Essences Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler at $2.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 3/13 SmartSource insert (exp 4/30/2011)
Or use 2 $0.50/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
As low as $0.49 each after coupon and ECBs (if purchased on Saturday)

Buy 1 Right Guard or Dry Idea Body Wash or Deodorant at $2.99, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 2)
Buy 2 and use Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
$0.99 each after coupon and ECBs

Spend $10 in Cascade, Mr. Clean, Swiffer Select Products, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)

*Deal Idea*
Buy 1 Cascade product – $4
Buy 2 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers (2 ct) – $3 each
Use $0.25/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
And use $1.50/2 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$1.75 each after coupons and ECBs

Buy 1 All Laundry Detergent 2x Ultra (28-32 loads) or 3x Small & Mighty (32 loads) at $4.99, Get $1 ECB (Limit 2)
Use $1/1 coupon from the 4/10 RedPlum insert
$2.99 each after coupon and ECB

Buy 1 Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color at $7.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $2/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
Or use $3/1 coupon from the 4/17 RedPlum insert
As low as $2.99 each after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Bic Soleil Shimmer Razor Starter Kit or 4ct Cartridges at $6.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)
$3.99 after ECBs

Buy 1 Tampax Pearl Tampons (36-54 ct) at $7.99, Earn $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$4.99 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Bounty Paper Towels (8 pk) at $7.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $0.25/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$5.74 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Garnier Ultra-Lift Day, Night, Eye Cream, Deep Wrinkle Treatment, Nutritioniste Skin Renew Lotion, Moisture Cream or Eye Roller at $10.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $2/1 coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
$5.99 after coupon and ECBs

Other Deals

Dove, Yardley, Lever 2000 or Ivory or Ivory – $0.99
Use $0.30/1 coupon from the May All You magazine
$0.69 after coupon

Dawn – $0.99 (Limit 5)
Use $0.20/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$0.79 after coupon

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain or Special K Bars 5-8 ct or Special K Cereal – $2.47
Buy 2 and use $2/2 coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
$1.47 each after coupon

Crest Pro-Health, Extra Whitening or Whitening w/ Scope – $2.75
Use $1.50/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$1.25 after coupon

Old Spice Body Wash – $3.99
Buy 2 and use Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$1.99 each after coupon

Bounce or Tide Dryer Bar 1 ct, Stain Release Liquid (20-21 oz) or Booster Pac (10 ct) – $3.99
Use $1/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$2.99 after coupon

New to shopping at CVS? Be sure to check out my CVS 101 post which gives you the full scoop on how to get the best bargains at CVS. See the full list of deals at CVS this week here.

Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your CVS deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your CVS deals post will be deleted.

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Rite Aid: Deals for the week of May 1-7, 2011

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

Here are the best Rite Aid deals this week, with thanks to Shannon for her help in compiling them. If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid or have questions about their coupon policy, click here.

Revlon Beauty Tools – 40% off regular retail
Buy 2 – Get $4 UPR

*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Emery Boards or Tweezers – @ $1.79 (after discount)
Get $4 UPR
Free after discount and UPR

Dove for Men – $3.99
Get $3 UPR
$0.99 after UPR

Gillette ProGlide – $9.99
Get $4 UPR
Use $4/1 coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
$0.99 after UPR and coupon

John Freida Precision Foam Hair Color – $11.99
Use $5/1 coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
And use $5/1 April Video Values
$1.99 after coupons

Revlon Foundation – $9.99
Get $5 UPR
Get $2 SCR
$2.99 after UPR and SCR

See the full list of deals at Rite Aid this week here.

Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Rite Aid deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Rite Aid deals post will be deleted.

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Walgreens: Deals for the week of May 1-7, 2011

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

Here are the best deals at Walgreens this week, with thanks to Mercedes for her help with compiling these:

COUPON DEALS

Tylenol Precise Product – $7.99
Use $5/1 printable
Plus use $3/1 coupon from the May Walgreens coupon booklet
Free after coupons

Puffs – $0.99 with in-ad coupon

Kellogg’s Cereals or Pop Tarts – $1.99
Buy 3 and use $1.50/3 coupon from the 4/10 RedPlum insert
Or buy 3 and use $1/3 printable
As low as $1.65 each after coupon

Cottonelle (12 pk) – $5

*Deal Idea*
Buy 2 Cottonelle – $5 each
Use 2 $0.50/1 printable here (IE) or here (FF)
Plus use $1/1 coupon from the May Walgreens coupon booklet (takes off $2)
Pay $7, Get $3 Register Rewards
$2 each after coupons and Register Rewards

REGISTER REWARD DEALS

Buy 1 G-U-M Eez-Thru Flossers at $2, Get $2 Register Rewards
Free after Register Rewards

Buy 1 Fixodent Cleanser or Adhesive or Scope Mouthwash at $3.99, Get $1 Register Rewards
Use Free coupon (Up to $3) from the P&G insert
Free after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Right Guard Total Defense 5 or Dry Idea Antiperspirant/Deodorant at $2.99, Get $2 Register Rewards
Buy 2 and use Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 5/1 RedPlum insert
$0.49 each after coupon and Register Rewards

Buy 1 Gillette Fusion Proglide at $9.89, Get $5 Register Rewards
Use $4/1 coupon from the 5/1 P&G insert
$0.89 after coupon and Register Rewards

New to shopping at Walgreens? Be sure to head over and check out Walgreens 101 where I explain in detail how to maximize the mileage of your money at Walgreens. See the full list of deals at Walgreens this week over at Common Sense with Money.

Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Walgreens deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Walgreens deals post will be deleted.

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Frugal Mother’s Day Idea: Tin Can Treats

by Crystal on April 30, 2011

Looking for a pick-me-up to give to a special mom in your life? How about giving them a Tin Can Treat? I loved this idea!

Have a fun and frugal Mother’s Day idea? Leave a comment or email it to me and I’ll consider posting it.

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Hot! Free tub of Cottonelle wipes for you and a friend

by Crystal on April 29, 2011

This offer was available a number of months ago and I got my coupon for a free tub. It looks like you can sign up again even if you signed up last time this was available.

Thanks, Coupon Pro!

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Free 6-count package of Nescafe Taster’s Choice — new link (Facebook offer)

by Crystal on April 29, 2011

Click on the “Like” button on the Nescafe Taster’s Choice Facebook Page and you can sign up for a free 6-count package of Nescafe Taster’s Choice.

Thanks, Coupon Katarina!

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3 Ways to Cut the Meat Without Decreasing Nutrition

by Crystal on April 29, 2011

Guest Post by Katie Kimball from Kitchen Stewardship

When you check your receipts, I can almost guarantee that animal products make up the category that requires the largest funding from your food budget. Meat, milk and cheese are staples in most families’ meals, yet coupons are few and far between, and even great sales will rarely net you a pound of beef for mere pennies like you can accomplish on the inside aisles and pharmacy section.

Families with young children in particular need to include protein in their diets, and many meals feel incomplete without meat or cheese involved. How to cut the budget without lowering your family’s health?

1. Use homemade meat stocks.

Nothing is more frugal than making something out of nothing. I can turn virtual garbage into a pot of steaming, nutrient-dense, immunity-boosting homemade chicken stock for about a dollar.

I always buy chicken with bones, and those bones go in the stock pot with a few carrots, celery stalks and onions. (That’s where the dollar comes in, plus stove energy.) After simmering for 4-24 hours, I’ve got gorgeously rich chicken stock that can not only save me over $30 a batch versus buying cans of chicken broth, but it also serves to stretch the protein in meat.

Eating homemade chicken stock with just a little bit of meat allows the body to better assimilate the protein and vitamins in the meat, which means I can get away with using less and not feel like I’m short-changing my family’s health.

2. Cut the meat in half and pair with beans.

Although the protein in beans is not used as easily in the body as animal proteins, as little as 2% meat in a meal helps the body assimilate the vegetable protein in the beans completely. I always use half of the meat called for in chili and bean soups, often freezing the already-cooked other half for a quick spaghetti meal.

I’ve also learned to use a 1:1 ratio of meat to lentils when we have tacos, and once it’s all seasoned and wrapped up, no one knows I’ve fiddled with anything (unless they look closely, but you can’t taste them at all).

3. Try a meatless meal with legumes instead.

In spite of the fact that beans aren’t quite as quality protein as meat, they’re still a very good and nutritious source of protein, iron and fiber. Particularly if you start with bulk dry beans, they’re incredibly frugal.

I make it a point to include a bean-based meatless meal at least once a week in my meal planning, ranging from soups to veggie bean burritos to black bean burgers and even a pasta white sauce that uses blended beans as a base. That one is great for the bean haters of the world who can’t stand the texture of beans, because it tastes like a lovely cheesy Alfredo (see below).

Download a free sneak preview of my ebook which includes a recipe for the above-pictured Pasta With White Bean Sauce.

My eBook, The Everything Beans Book, includes 30 recipes to help you easily incorporate the goodness of beans in your weekly menus, plus 20 pages of tips so you can effortlessly cook with dry beans. You’ll trim your budget and maybe even your waist at the same time. Enter to win a free copy of my ebook for the next 48 hours here.

Katie Kimball is a mom of two who spends a ton of time in the kitchen making real food with whole ingredients and then blogs about her successes and failures at Kitchen Stewardship.

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48-Hour Giveaway: The Everything Beans Ebook (5 Winners)

by Crystal on April 29, 2011

Since I’m sequestering myself off today to finish up my manuscript (it’s due tomorrow!), Katie Kimball from Kitchen Stewardship is filling in for me by writing a guest post and giving away her Everything Beans ebook — an ebook I can’t wait to read once I’m back to more normalcy next week!

Here’s what she wrote about her giveaway:

Sometimes I think the best part about being a woman who cooks is sharing recipes. When someone eats my food and says, “I need that recipe!” it’s the best compliment I can receive. It is my hope that whenever you cook these beans recipes for friends, you get that reaction!

I’m thrilled to share five copies of The Everything Beans Book with the Money Saving Mom® community. (If you’re not into beans, you could opt for my popular book, Healthy Snacks to Go, with over 30 homemade options for snack and lunch foods.)

If you’re ready to cook beans tonight, please use the coupon code MSM50 for HALF OFF The Everything Beans Book through Monday, May 2^nd, or MSM20 for 20% off any of my ebooks, expires May 6th. Winners who have already purchased the book will get a full refund, and I usually throw in an extra book to thank you for your good faith.

To enter to win a copy of The Everything Beans ebook, just click on the graphic below and type in your name and email address. Five winners will be chosen and posted on Monday. This giveaway ends Sunday, May 1, at 11:59 p.m., CST.