Simple Savings Mom

An Unexpected Opportunity!

2010-07-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

I know things have been quiet around here for the past few weeks, so I would love to update you on our life and the future of Simple Savings Mom. I began Simple Savings Mom last fall as an outlet to share about how couponing was significantly changing our finances. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. I quickly became aware of the fact that I had a lot to learn about blogging. In the late fall, I came across information about The Savvy Blogging Dinner and I knew that was where I needed to be! Needless to say, it was a night to remember! To get a picture of the events from that night I wanted to share this Savvy Blogging video.

One of the hosts from that evening was Andrea Deckard from MommySnacks. Andrea and I did not connect however, until a couple of months later concerning a guest post opportunity about debt reduction and couponing. I had already been tracking our debt reduction story here on Simple Savings Mom since last December. The posts have ended up being a series on MommySnacks, you can read Part 1: Broken Beginnings and Part 2: Trying To Fix What Was Broken. The final post will be published very soon! As we coordinated over the guest posts, we discussed the possibility of me assisting her with MommySnacks and the growing needs she had. I was amazed and thrilled at this unexpected opportunity to work with such an experienced blogger and professional in our field!

BJ and I prayed over the opportunity and decided it would be a great decision for our family. As we discussed the implications of this endeavour, it became very clear that I could not partner with Andrea and keep up Simple Savings Mom too. For about a month now, I have been getting my feet wet at MommySnacks and enjoying every minute of it! I have learned so much after being there for only a month, and I am still able to do what I really enjoy, sharing couponing with others. I have realized that by working with Andrea, I am able to offer both my "real-life" friends and my virtual friends more resources than I ever would have been able to do alone.

Andrea has been a joy to work with and I believe that the Lord has brought our partnership together! I appreciate her warmth and transparency with her readers as well as her passion to help families save money. I would love to have you join us at MommySnacks as we continue to share about how to save money on our everday needs. Thank you for reading Simple Savings Mom, it really has been fun and I know the fun will continue at MommySnacks.

I wanted to end by highlighting some of the helpful resources that you will find at MommySnacks. The MommySnacks Coupon Database will be particularly helpful if you desire to do your own personal coupon matchups. You will also find weekly postings for grocery, retail, and drugstores under Snack Summary. Another fun feature is a Free Stuff database where you can find over 100+ freebies. There are also tons of articles on frugal living, couponing, getting deals, and so much more! I know you will enjoy MommySnacks as much as I have.

I look forward to you joining us!

Photo Credit: Wonderlane

Financial Goals: Mid-June Update

2010-06-20T23:21:00.000-04:00

I wanted to give you a little update on where we are in our goal to pay off our debt by January of 2011! As of today we have currently paid off 84% of our debt. That means we only have 16% of our debt left to pay off! We are now trying to make our last payment to pay off our credit card in September. We are super excited and looking forward to our goal being met!

How about you, is there some financial goal your family is shooting for? I would love to hear about it!

Photo Credit: GlacierTim

Sunday Coupon Preview 6/20

2010-06-17T23:52:00.007-04:00

There will be 2 inserts in this week's paper, 1 Smart Source and 1 Red Plum. I wanted to share a few highlights from each:

Smart Source
$.50/1 Huggies wipes (64 ct.+)
$1.50/1 Huggies diapers
$1/1 Nexcare product
$.50/1 Yoplait Delights Multipacks
$.50/1 Yoplait Fiber One Multipacks
$.50/1 Yoplait Yoplus 4 pack

Red Plum
$2/1 Pampers Cruisers
$2/1 Pampers Swaddlers
$1/2 Kellogg's Frozen Products

It seems like this is the week for more diaper coupons! The Yoplait coupons are usually a great coupon to have if your grocery store doubles. These seem to be constantly on sale at one grocery store or another! Also, remember that your coupons may vary per region.

To see even more coupons in this upcoming paper, head over to Sunday Coupon Preview to check them out!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Our Journey to Financial Freedom: Part 2

2010-06-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

Today, I am sharing the second part of our journey to financial freedom at Mommy Snacks. I hope you check out the first part of our story from last week as well. My desire is that others would be encouraged by our story as they deal with personal debt and gaining freedom from it.

I hope you have a great day and enjoy reading.

Photo Credit: lrargerich

Jamba Juice Superfruit Smoothies Only $1(Wed. 6/16)

2010-06-15T21:28:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow Jamba Juice is offering up their Superfruit Smoothies for only $1! Doesn't that sound yummy! Also you can find the closest store to you.

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom

Gymboree 70% off Sale!

2010-06-15T21:12:00.000-04:00

Gymboree is currently hosting their Big Red Balloon Semi-Annual sale where they are offering 70% off of select items! They are also offering $5 flat rate shipping on all orders! I checked out the sale and there are some adorable things up for grabs!

Old Navy:$2 Tank Tops

2010-06-11T20:18:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow Old Navy is offering tank tops for only $2! What a great deal! I would suggest going early before they are all sold out! Most stores will be open tomorrow at 7 a.m., but check to make sure your local store will be open that early.

$4 AMC Tickets:More Cities!

2010-06-10T20:00:00.000-04:00

I shared a couple of days ago about the $4 AMC movie tickets for Philadelphia and San Francisco. Now, there are even more cities where this is available:

Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
New York
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Washington D.C

Wow! What a great deal! Let's go to the movies!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway Reveal...

2010-06-10T19:20:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce that the winner of the $10 Subway Gift Card(via Random.org) is...

Kristen with the answer:
"I am trying to take walks and go on the treadmill"

Congratulations Kristen! I will be contacting you tomorrow about getting your prize. Let's all keep working at it this summer and stay tuned for the next upcoming giveaway!

Our Journey to Financial Freedom

2010-06-10T15:16:00.000-04:00

Today I will be guest posting on Mommysnacks about our families' journey to financial freedom. I have shared previously about our goal to get out of debt by May of 2011. It has been a rough road that we have been on, but we are getting closer every day! We are working really hard to actually be debt free by January of 2011! Please head over today and check out my guest post and stay around for a while to check out Andrea's site, Mommysnacks!

Healthy Muffin Recipes

2010-06-09T23:19:00.000-04:00

You can download a free Healthy Muffin Recipe eCookbook, with 25 different muffin recipes! I love specialty muffin and bread recipes! Anything with bananas or chocolate are my favorite. Yummy!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Sunday Coupon Preview 6/13

2010-06-09T21:37:00.000-04:00

There will be only one coupon insert in this week's paper, Smart Source. Here are a couple of highlights that I saw:

Smart Balance Milk-$2.50/1
Soft Scrub Product-B1G1

There are plenty of other coupons available in this week's insert. Check out the Sunday Coupon Preview to see them all!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

More Frugal Fun: Free Movies!

2010-06-09T20:43:00.000-04:00

Regal Cinemas is hosting their Free Family Film Festival, where they offer free movies before 10 a.m. at participating locations. This offer is for Tuesdays and Wednesdays on select G and PG movies. You can go here to check out the full details for this offer.

Thanks, The Happy Housewife

Summer Fun and Freebies!

2010-06-08T22:57:00.000-04:00

Due to the fact we are living away from home for a whole month, we are taking lots of opportunities to be creative and resourceful in keeping our little guys busy and occupied! I am committed to keeping our activities as frugal as possible as well. We have had so much fun, so I wanted to share some of our frugal and fun activities that we have been taking part in:

The beach-This one is a little obvious because we are living at hotel on the beach, but it has kept us plenty occupied. We have been enjoying the use of 3 pools too!(regular pool, baby pool, and indoor pool)
The library-I love the library that we are near in Florida. It is amazing! The have a fun and interactive Storytime for preschoolers 3 days a week! They host it twice during the week and another one on Saturday with a craft. Have I mentioned their playroom? It is huge! They have a ton of toys and lots of room to run and play, perfect for us!
Book stores and the mall-On those rainy days we have another option besides the library, Books A Million and the mall. There is a Books A Million in the mall that has a train set that the boys love to play with, and I love the coffee! Right outside the bookstore is an indoor playground with a breakfast theme. Ever considered a piece of bacon as a slide? The boys love it!

Parks-There are several parks within a 5 mile radius of where we are. The boys have a favorite though, a firetruck playground! The playsets are all firetrucks and firestations. How fun!
Creativity-We have had some fun "picnics" in our hotel room as well as our own "storytime" reading, and rereading all their favorites!

Many of the free options I found with just a little investigative work and scouting them out either on the internet or over the phone. I have been amazed at all the free options of activities and entertainment available. Frugal and fun, right up my alley!

*I have found that one of the best ways to find freebie activities before we take a trip is to look up the Visitor's Bureau for the city that we are visiting. Have you used this as a resource on your trips?

What about you? What frugal and fun activities do you do when you are on vacation or away from home?

$4 AMC Movie Tickets (Philadelphia,San Francisco)

2010-06-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

If you live around Philadelphia or San Fransisco there is a great offer by AMC Movies! You can get $4 movie tickets to locations in both of these cities! This is also a great deal if you are traveling to these cities for vacation this summer! For those who live in/traveling to Phillie get you $4 ticket here, and for those is San Fran. or traveling there get your ticket here! Have fun at the movies!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Last Day of Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway!

2010-06-08T07:05:00.000-04:00

Wow! I have been so encouraged and motivated after reading everyone's comments on getting fit for the summer! I wanted to remind everyone that today at 11:59 p.m.(EST) the giveaway will be closed. If you have not entered the Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway make sure to do so now! Thanks to everyone for making this so fun for me and for challenging me to stay with it! Looking forward to seeing who the winner will be soon!

Quizno's Coupon for $2.99

2010-06-07T13:59:00.001-04:00

You can download a $2.99 coupon for Quizno's, which includes a small sub, chips, and a drink. We currently have a Quizno's across the street from our hotel and have gone a few times with friends. This coupon would definitely come in handy for us. They also have a deal that when you buy a combo meal, you get a free children's meal($3.49 value). I am not sure if you can do the children's meal with the coupon since we have not tried it yet, but it would be worth a try. I know we probably will!

Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway-One More Day Left!

2010-06-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

I wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is the last day to enter the Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway! The prize up for grabs is a $10 Subway Gift Card, for frugal and refreshing meals! It has been so fun and inspiring to hear what everyone is doing to get fit this summer! If you haven't entered, there is still time! The giveaway will end tomorrow night at 11:59 p.m.(EST). I will be announcing the winner on Thursday, June 10th! Good luck and I am looking forward to finding out who the winner will be!

Pampers Wipes-Free and Cheap!

2010-06-07T07:34:00.000-04:00

There is a great coupon in this week's Proctor and Gamble insert, $2/1 Pampers wipes box. This coupon is good for the 64 oz. or larger, which means there are a few options for free and cheap wipes!

Walgreens- on sale for $2.50, making them $.50 a box
Target-I have seen them for $2.28, making them $.28 a box
Walmart-$1.97-$2.17, making them Free- $.17

Are there other places you have seen these on sale this week?

Medco:$10 off order and $.99 Shipping!

2010-06-04T13:49:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share this great deal with you guys! Medco currently has a promotion going on where you can take $10 off any order when you use coupon code: MHS10 at check out. They are only charging $.99 shipping and that can equal products for under a dollar(including shipping)!

Here is a Seventh Generation deal:

Buy 4 Seventh Generation Pantiliners -$3.49 each (under feminine care)
-Seventh Generation Discount (Purchase 4 S.G. items save $4)
-$10 coupon code
=$.99 after discount and coupon code(charge is only for the shipping!)

I just purchased these a few minutes ago. If you are interested, I would make my purchase now because who knows how long it will last!

Thanks, The Thrifty Mama

$2 Welch's Juice Coupon

2010-06-03T23:03:00.000-04:00

If you "like" Welch's on Facebook you will be able to print a $2/1 coupon for the 64 or 96 oz juice! After you "like" them go to the "promo" tab and you will be able to print your coupon! Yum!

Thanks, For the Mommas

June Once A Month Cooking

2010-06-03T22:29:00.000-04:00

Once A Month Cooking in June is about to be ON! Jessica from Life As Mom is hosting Once A Month Cooking, June 4-June 7th. I have loved participating in the past and hope to this month as well. Since we are living in a hotel currently, I am trying to decide if it is the best thing for me. It will probably be a game time decision, honestly. If you are interested in participating but still have some questions about OAMC, check out Freezer Q&A by Jessica.

Are you considering Once A Month Cooking in June?

Sunday Coupon Preview 6/6

2010-06-03T21:55:00.000-04:00

There will be 3 inserts in this week's newspaper, 1 Proctor and Gamble, 1 Smart Source, and 1 Red Plum. Here are a couple of highlights:

Proctor and Gamble
$2/1 Venus, Embrace or Daisy Razor
B1G1 Old Spice Bodywash
B1G1 Gillette Bodywash
$4 Gillette Fusion Razor
$1.50/1 Pampers Diapers/Training Pants
$2/1 Pampers Wipes 60ct.

Red Plum
$1/1 8th Continent Soymilk Half Gallon
$.50/1 Daisy Sour Cream 16oz.+
$1/1 State Farm Corn Dogs

The $4/1 Gillette Fusion Razor coupon should work to score the Gillette Fusion Razor at Target for $1.93. Also, if your store doubles coupons the $.50/1 Daisy Sour Cream coupon should get you free sour cream, because if is often on sale for $1 or less! To see other great coupons that will be in the paper this week check out Sunday Coupon Preview!

CVS: Cheap Huggies Diapers

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

I made a quick run into CVS on Saturday and found the Huggies Mega Pack on sale for $13.49 (retail $17.99). The deal got even better when I got to the register and the diapers rang up for $8.99 (50% off!). I used the $3/1 coupon from Coupons.com and got them for $5.99, only $.13 per diaper! Don't you just love those days!

I have recently heard word that the jumbo packs are ringing up for $4.49,75% off! If you have the $3/1 coupon the diapers would only be $1.49! Woohoo!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom

Target Clearance!

2010-06-02T22:13:00.000-04:00

I went to Target on Monday to get a few items, and I found a few great deals on clearance.

Gillette Fusion Razors-$7.00 (Clearanced $5.93)
-$5/1 Gillette Fusion Razor coupon (came in a sample a couple of months ago)
Final Price=$.93

Listerine Whitening Mouthwash $3.99 (Clearanced $1.98)
-$1/1 Listerine Whitening coupon (RP 3/07, 4/11, 5/16)
Final Price=$.98

Del Monte Fruit Chillers $2.24 (Clearanced $1.90)
-$1/1 Fruit Chillers (RP 4/18)
Final Price=$.90

Clearance deals will vary per store, but if you are already headed to Target check them out!

June Coupons at Coupons.com

2010-06-02T14:09:00.001-04:00

There are some great coupons available this month at Coupons.com. Here are some of the high value coupons available this month:

$1/1 Coppertone Sunscreen Product

$1/1 Kraft 100 Calorie Cheese Bites

$1/1 Yoplait Fiber One Multipacks

$1/1 Yoplait YoPlus Multipacks

$2/2 Aveeno Daily Lotion 8oz, 12oz. and 18 oz.

$1/1 Muir Glen Product

$1/1 Yoplait Delight Multipacks

$1/1 Del Monte Fruit Chillers

$2.50/1 Huggies Pure and Natural

$3/1 Huggies Little Snugglers/Movers

$1.50/1 Huggies Little Swimmers

Free Audio Book at Christian Audio

2010-06-02T08:41:00.002-04:00

Christian Audio is offering a free download of a different audiobook each month. Until the end of June, you will be able to download Francis Chan's Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Simply, go here to download this audiobook, using JUN2010 at checkout.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom

Staying Frugal, Getting Fit Giveaway!

2010-05-31T23:00:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you, but there is just something about warm weather and sunny skies that motivates me to get out and get moving. Recently, I made a goal to lose 10 lbs. for the summer. I love short term goals and this summer weather has been a great catalyst to get me moving! Unfortunately, we do not have the money for a fitness gym, so instead I have headed outdoors to get fit!

My personal fitness goal is to walk at least 3-5 times a week, 3 being the minimum. I have been walking in the mornings with the boys in a jogging stroller. I have loved going out with the boys, it has been fun and refreshing to be with them. I want to continue challenging myself, so by the end of the summer I would like to be jogging for most of my workouts.

As I have been out enjoying the beach weather, I thought it would be fun to hear what others are doing to get in shape this summer. What a better way to do this, than to have a giveaway? So here is what is up for grabs:

*A $10 GIFT CARD TO SUBWAY *

I chose Subway because it is both healthy and refreshing. They have their $5 foot long sandwiches, that you can cut in half and have 4 different meals for just 10 bucks! Now that is what I call, frugal and fit! So, now how to enter:

There are 3 ways to enter (make sure to include your email address with each entry):

1)Leave a comment sharing what you are doing this summer to get in shape and a personal goal related to your fitness.

2)Become a subscriber of Simple Savings Mom by email or reader, and then leave a comment saying you did so.(email subscriber must be confirmed to count)

3)Follow me on twitter @kjordan and leave a comment saying you did so.

The giveaway will last from Monday, May 31st at 11:00 p.m.(EST) to Tuesday, June 8th at 11:59 p.m.(EST) I will announce the winner on Thursday, June 10th. I am looking forward to hearing everyone's plans for getting fit this summer!

The giveaway is now closed at 11:00 p.m. EST. Thank you to everyone who participated! I will be sharing who the winner is on Thursday! I am looking forward to the big reveal!

Walgreens:Neutrogena Soap Moneymaker

2010-05-31T22:47:00.001-04:00

I love sharing great deals that are simple and don't require coupons. This week there is a deal at Walgreens on Neutrogena products, buy 3 and get $10 in RR. Here is a scenerio for you:

Buy 3 Neutrogena single soaps at $2.99 each=$8.97 Receive $10 RR=Free with $1.03 overage!

Thanks, Surviving the Stores

Free Donuts Next Weekend!

2010-05-31T12:19:00.001-04:00

Next weekend their are a couple more Freebies in addition to the Chick-fil-A Sandwich and Friendly's Ice Cream! National Donut Day will be celebrated by Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts on June 4th!

Dunkin Donuts will be giving away a free donut with any drink purchase!

Krispy Kreme announced on their facebook page that they will be giving away a free donut to patrons with no purchase necessary!

Thanks, Mrs. Moneysaver!

Memorial Day Sale at Ann Taylor Loft

2010-05-31T12:03:00.001-04:00

Today is the last day for Ann Tayor Loft's Memorial Day Sale! You will receive 40 % off your total purchase! Woohoo! You can purchase online or in-store: just enter 40SAVE at checkout!

New Coupons at Coupons.com

2010-05-28T14:17:00.002-04:00

There are some new coupons on Coupons.com. I am not sure how long they will last and because it is near the end of the month I would print them now if you can. Here are some new ones I noticed:

$2.50/1 Huggies Pure and Natural
$1/2 Lifesavers
$1.50/1 Minute Maid 89 oz.+
$1/1 Kraft 100 Calorie Cheese Bites

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Friendly's: Free Ice Cream and B1G1 Salad!

2010-05-28T14:04:00.000-04:00

I love going to Friendly's, we normally aren't near one but for a month we will be! There are some great offers coming up soon! On June 5th, Friendly's will be offering up a free scoop of ice cream from 12-5 p.m. Also, you can go to their facebook page and they have a B1G1 coupon for entree sized salads. Yummy!

Thanks, Mrs.Moneysaver

Will you be heading to Friendly's in the near future?

Current Cloth Diaper Deals

2010-05-28T13:37:00.013-04:00

I wanted to share a few current cloth diaper deals that I have run across recently. The first one will be expiring soon:

Monday will be the last day to get a free BumGenius Diaper when you purchase $10 worth of products from BumGenius, Flip, or Econobum from the Green Diaper Store. I purchased a BumGenius for $15.95 and got one free, or you can purchase $10 worth of inserts and get the diaper for free! (Shipping was only a couple of dollars)

Diaper Juction has GroBaby and Dream Eze diapers on clearance as low as $10.17.

Comfy Cozy Diapers now has value priced cloth diapers for only $9.99.

Do you know of any cloth diaper deals going on? Please share them!

50% off Old Navy Clearance!

2010-05-27T22:05:00.000-04:00

What a great way to celebrate Memorial Weekend! Old Navy is taking an additional 50% off of their clearance prices for Friday and Saturday only! Most stores open at 9 a.m., head there early to grab some great deals!

Sunday Coupon Preview-5/30

2010-05-27T13:22:00.000-04:00

There will be no inserts in the paper this week! Take some time to rest and visit with friends and family!

Proctor and Gamble Solutions

2010-05-27T12:32:00.000-04:00

I wanted to remind you all of a great program, Proctor and Gamble Everyday Solutions. They send you samples and high value coupons. I have loved getting these! We travel alot so the samples are very helpful and the coupons are great too! I know you'll love it!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

$3 Huggies Coupon Reset

2010-05-26T14:49:00.000-04:00

Huggies just announced on their facebook page that their $3 coupon has been restocked! Woohoo! More cheap diapers!

Fashion Cents For Mom

2010-05-26T14:38:00.001-04:00

J.Crew

I recently shared about how our family is attempting to Shop Out of the Closet for the rest of the year, in order to save money and pay down debt. I know that most people are not shopping out of their closet, but do want great fashion with little out of pocket costs. For this reason, I really wanted to share with you all a great new site, Fashion Cents for Mom. My friend Amy from Amy Loves It has paired up with Alyssa from Keeping the Kingdom First to help keep women both frugal and in fashion. They share great deals on clothing, beauty and overall fashion. Go ahead and check them out today!

Reminder: Rite Aid Wellness Program

2010-05-26T14:00:00.000-04:00

I have shared a few times about how much I love Rite Aid and their Single Check Rebate System. I was super excited when they announced a new program, Rite Aid Wellness Program a little while back. You register with Rite Aid and they will send you member only savings, coupons, and points!

Earn points as you shop!
*You earn 1 point on every non-prescription purchase
*You earn 25 points for every prescription purchase

To learn more about the rewards and how to enter, head over to the Rite Aid Wellness Program.

Have you joined yet?

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Gymboree Deal At Groupon.com

2010-05-24T14:50:00.001-04:00

I recently shared about the great deals available at Groupon.com. They send you a daily email of great deals that are going on in your city or the nearest metropolitian city nearby. Today I got an email for a great deal going on for any Atlanta folks. You can get a $32 One-month membership plus no registration fee for the Gymboree Play and Music. It is normally $104, that is a 69% savings! On top of this great deal, you will get a $25 discount whenever you spend $50 on Gymboree clothing. You have to get the deal today because their deals change daily! You can read more about the deal on their site. If you miss out on this deal just subscribe and there will be other offers. You can get up to 90% off on some deals! I have been impressed with what I have seen so far. If you don't live in Atlanta, there are lots of other cities as well that are taking part. We travel a lot so I like being able to see what deals come available as we are traveling.

Have you tried Groupon? What are some of your thoughts?

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

A Few Good Reads

2010-05-24T14:24:00.000-04:00

Wyoming_Jackrabbit

I love reading blogs about how to become more frugal and simplified in everyday living! I also love sharing with others about these subjects so I wanted to pass on to you all a few of these good reads!

Jessica from Good & Cheap Eats has been talking about How to Build A Frugal Pantry using staple items. One of the ways we have been trying to live more simply and frugally is by cooking from scratch. Jessica is a pro in this area and I have learned so much from her! I have enjoyed reading this series immensely and want to pass it on as a good read for others too!

Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom has been doing a series on 31 Days to A Better Grocery Budget. I have learned and am still learning a ton from Crystal. This has been a great series on how to easily and systematically learn how to save on your monthly grocery bills!

As I have shared previously, we are now cloth diapering our youngest (13 months). I have been doing a lot of research (though still not an expert) on this subject. I recently ran across a great article by Jenny from Southern Savers on the Buying Frugal For Baby: Diapers. This is a good read for those contemplating cloth diapering or others just wanting to save money while using disposables.

Have you read any good articles on frugal and simplified living recently? I would love to hear about them!

Walgreens Freebies! May 23-29

2010-05-22T20:55:00.001-04:00

There are a couple of great freebies this week at Walgreens, even if you don't have coupons. If you do, the coupons will make these even sweeter deals!

Purchase Complete Multi-Purpose Solution $7.99
-$2/1 Complete Multi-Purpose Solution (RP 5/16)
Receive $7.99 RR=Free + $2 overage

Purchase Goody's Ouchless Barette or Flextip Headband $2.99
Receive $2.99 RR=Free

What deals are you looking to score this week at Walgreens?

Reserve Your Spicy Chicken Sandwich Starting Today!

2010-05-22T15:21:00.000-04:00

Chickfil-A is promoting their new Spicy Chicken Sandwich that they will be adding to their menu June 7th. To celebrate, they are hosting a premiere tasting between May 31st and June 5th at a store near you. If you go here you can "reserve" your FREE Spicy Chicken Sandwich at your nearest Chickfil-A location! I am super excited about this! Our family loves Chickfil-A, and we also love FREE!

Cheap Little Swimmers Deals at Target and Walgreens

2010-05-21T14:27:00.000-04:00

There are two ways I wanted to share with you on how to get great deals on Little Swimmers for this summer.

Target: On Sale $8.99
-$1.50/1 Little Swimmers Printable Coupons.com
-$1.50 Target Printable
Final Price=$5.99 each

Walgreens: On Sale $6.99 (Starts 5/23)
-$1.50/1 Little Swimmers Printable Coupons.com
-$2/1 Little Swimmers (Walgreens May Coupon booklet)
Final Price=$3.49 each

Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom

Sunday Coupon Preview 5/23

2010-05-21T13:13:00.001-04:00

There will be 2 inserts in this week's paper, 1 Redplum and 1 Smart Source. Here are a couple of highlights from each:

Redplum:
Starbucks Coffee-free Ice Cream $1.50/1
Vaseline Sheer Infusion (6.8 oz +) $2/1
Tums Dual Action (24oz+) $2/1

Smart Source:
Schick Disposable Razor Package $2/1
Hawaiin Tropic Suncare (40 oz.+) $1/1
Banana Boat Suncare (40 oz.+)
Keri Lotion $2/1

There are also several high value pet coupons in the Smart Source insert this week. Remember, that coupons will vary by region. If you want to check out what other coupons are available go to the Sunday Coupon Preview!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Monthly Menu Planning On the Beach

2010-05-20T08:12:00.002-04:00

About a month ago I read how Jessica from Life As Mom scheduled her menu planning by the month when she does her Once A Month Cooking. That sounded interesting at the time but a little overwhelming. This weekend we arrived at the beach for a month long stay so I decided we might as well give it a try... with a twist! I have listed two weeks worth of food from what we have on hand for the most part. The rest of the month I am going to fill in with food from sales from Aldi's, Publix, and maybe Wal-Mart. I brought a large portion of our stockpile of food with us to cut down on the cost of food while we are here. I figure with a little planning and hopefully some savvy shopping we can make our budget, if not less! Last year we dropped almost $400 on food and household needs for just one month. Let's just say that was NOT in the budget!

I think that if I go ahead and plan my meals for most of the month it will hopefully keep us in the black this month and not in the red. I am hoping to fill the blank numbered slots with dinner options that are on the cheap! So here is our plan based on the stockpile we brought and weekly groceries we will use to fill in the gaps:

1.~~Spaghetti and salad~~
2.Chili and grilled cheese
3.Pineapple chicken and potatoes
4.White Chili Chicken
5.Black bean and corn quesadiallas
6.Bean Soup and grilled cheese
7.Tunafish Sandwiches
8.Spaghetti and salad
9.Mesquite grilled chicken and potatoes
10.Chili and corn bread
11.Breakfast burritos
12.Spaghetti and salad
13.Warm Oatmeal Bake and fruit
14.Black Bean and corn quesadillas
15.Tunafish Sandwiches
16.Breakfast burritos
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.Spaghetti and salad
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.Spaghetti and Salad

So that is our plan! I may go a little out of order but in general I would like to stick to the plan. If you have any low cost suggestions feel free to share! I would love to hear them!

More Huggies Wipes Coupons

2010-05-19T21:22:00.000-04:00

I shared with you earlier today that the Huggies wipes coupons had been restocked on Coupons.com. They now have a new $2/2 Huggies wipes coupon on their facebook page. Remember that you can print 2 per computer! Woohoo! I am loving Huggies!

Huggies Wipes Coupons Restocked!

2010-05-19T14:59:00.004-04:00

Head on over to Coupons.com for the $2/2 Huggies wipes coupon(64 ct. or larger) and the $2 off (1)64 oz. tub and (1) 184 ct. refill coupon! They have been restocked! I am hyped that they are back, we currently need them!

Mint.com-Free Financial Organizer

2010-05-19T14:33:00.002-04:00

Mint.com is an online money management software that is Free to use to help organize your finances and stay on top of your spending and budget! I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first about Mint.com but it seems like everyone around me is using it! Just last night a friend was sharing about how much she loves it and how some of our mutual friends are huge fans as well. So I am signing up today and can't wait to try it out! If you are in need of some financial management check it out too!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Drink Freebies!

2010-05-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

There are two great freebie deals on drinks that I wanted to share with you all! Since we are currently staying at the beach for a month I love any kind of food and drink freebies I can get my hands on!

You can get a coupon for a free Limeade from Taco Bell for the first 500,000 peeps who print and use the coupon!
Thanks, For the Mommas

Barnes and Noble has a B1G1 Frappacino coupon out. It is good until May 24th! I love these!

Thanks, Mommy Snacks

Grab these soon and head out for some yummy treats!

Free South Beach Living Smores Bar

2010-05-17T22:27:00.007-04:00

This summer I have made it a goal to get in shape and lose weight! For some reason, it just seems like a great time to get going and get fit ! Maybe because we are living by the beach for the next month? Are you doing the same this summer? As an encouragement to getting fit this summer you can sign up to receive a South Beach Living Smores Bar for Free! I just signed up and I have heard that they are delicious too!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Free Haagen Dazs (May 18th!)

2010-05-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

Haagen Dazs is hosting a 50th birthday celebration tomorrow with free ice cream between 4 and 8 p.m.! Unfortunately, we have no stores near us but check your local store and make it a family affair! Your choices will be vanilla, chocolate, or coffee flavors.

Thanks, Mrs. Moneysaver

CVS Deal-Huggies Diapers for $3.49!

2010-05-15T07:37:00.000-04:00

Here is a great little scenerio for some CHEAP diapers at CVS next week!

Purchase Huggies Diapers $8.49
Use $3 Huggies coupon from Coupons.com
Pay $5.49 OOP and receive $2 ECBs (limit 1)
$3.49 after coupon and ECBs!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom

More Huggies Coupons!

2010-05-15T07:30:00.000-04:00

There are even more Huggies Coupons available on Coupons.com! In addition, to the $3 Snug and Dry coupons I told you about yesterday there are a few new ones!

$2/2 64 ct. Huggies wipes
$3/1 Little Snugglers or Movers Diapers
$2 off (1) 64 ct. Huggies wipes and (1) 184 ct. refill

There is also a $3 Huggies Diaper coupon on Huggies facebook page!
Thanks, Money Saving Mom

I would print these off now because they may go fast!

New $3 Huggies Coupon

2010-05-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

In the last couple of months there have been some great high value Huggies coupons and now there is another $3 off Snug and Dry coupon on Coupons.com! I would print this quickly before they are gone!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Shoe Carnival Coupon and Deal!

2010-05-13T23:53:00.002-04:00

Shoe Carnival is having a great sale! Buy one pair of shoes and get the next one half off! The exciting part is that you can also print a coupon that is worth an extra $5, $10, or $15 off! Simply, print your coupon and take it to the store and they will let you know how much it is worth. This would be a great time to stock up on those summer sandals!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Sunday Coupon Preview 5/16

2010-05-13T12:05:00.002-04:00

We will be getting 1 Smart Source and 1 Redplum insert this weekend. Here are a couple of highlights:

Redplum

Aveeno Sun Care Products $1.50/1
Gilette Deodorant B1G1
Surf Detergent $2/1
Bengay $2/1

To check out what will be out in the Smart Source and the rest of the Redplum insert go to the Sunday Coupon Preview. Remember that inserts will vary by region.

If you missed out on a coupon you really wanted, check the Coupon Clippers!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Free Full Sized Suave Professional Product!

2010-05-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

If you go to the Suave facebook page and "like" them now, you will get a coupon for a free bottle of Suave Professionals Product! It is for the first 100,000 people so head over there now!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom

Starbucks' Happy Hour Reminder

2010-05-13T09:26:00.000-04:00

I wanted to remind you that the Starbucks' Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m. will last until Sunday! Don't forget to get yours! With all this packing for Daytona, I am seeing a treat coming my way this afternnoon!

Seeing Your Clothing With Fresh Eyes (Shopping Out of the Closet)

2010-05-12T12:09:00.002-04:00

I recently shared with you about our Shopping Out of the Closet Challenge that we are taking on for the rest of this year. Our goal is to not buy any clothes for the rest of the year, unless absolutely necessary. In the last couple of days I have been packing us up for our Daytona trip that will last until late June. That means a lot of clothes for us and the boys! During the packing and preparation process I feel like I have been learning a couple of things about our clothing situation.

1) If you are shopping only what you have in your closet it forces you to be more creative. By only shopping the clothes that we already have I have fresh new eyes for outfits and matching options. Before, if I have not had the "perfect outfit" I would just go plop down some money for something new. Of course I would still love to run out and get those things but we really don't need them and utilizing what we have is forcing me to think out of the box and more creative.

2) Especially with the boys it has forced me to be resourceful. Recently Trey (our oldest) needed socks and underwear and instead of buying them right out I returned some unused items others had purchased for them to get the items that they needed. Consigniment stores can be great too if you have credit at a store. They often have socks, shoes, and new underwear that you can get with your in store credit.

3) I am learning new levels of contentment in our clothing categories. There are always new and cute styles out and of course I would love them but I keep coming back to, "Do we need them?". The answer is usually No! I would like them, but we don't need them. In the midst of this, I am finding contentment in using what we have and even thankfulness that we have multiple clothing options as it is.

Update from last month: The only thing we purchased in the past month was a pair of socks and tie for a wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago. We had traveled out of town for the wedding and forgot them at home. Oops!

Photo Credit: Elixr!

How are you doing with Shopping Out of Your Closet? What are you learning in the journey?

Organic Coupons

2010-05-12T08:21:00.000-04:00

To be honest I do not buy organic very often unless I find a great coupon and a great sale, but I know that some of you buy it often. I would like to highlight some good resources for you if you are interested and I will update you as I come across more special promotions. Here are a few that I found:

Mambo Sprouts-They send out newsletters and coupons straight to your email. The most recent highlighted gluten free coupons and resources.

Horizon Organics

Organic Valley

Stoneyfield

For more organic resources for your family check out The Thrifty Mama's Organic Coupon Resources!

Photo Credit: Pink Sherbert Photography

Free Gillette Body Wash

2010-05-11T12:07:00.003-04:00

There are a couple of places you can get Gillette Body Wash for FREE with the coupon from Proctor and Gamble from May 2nd!

Dollar General:
Normally priced at $2.75, it is currently on sale for $2! Smaller version (8.4 oz)

*Purchase 2 body washes at $2 each
*Use the $4/2 mq from P and G 5/02
*Final price for 2 body washes= FREE
Thanks, For the Mommas

Target:
Smaller version (8.4 oz.) $1.79-$1.97
*Purchase 2 body washes $1.79
*Use the $4/2 mq from P and G 5/02
*Final Price for 2 body washes =FREE + overage
(You will need a filler item to absorb the overage from the body washes)

My husband loves this body wash! We bought several of the 8.4 oz at Target in March! We love free! Remember, that prices may vary depending on your region.

The Coupon Clippers

2010-05-11T10:52:00.001-04:00

I know that sometimes it can be a little frustrating with your coupon inserts if you do not live in a metropolitan city. We live in a small town and my mom has generously been sending us her coupon inserts for over a year now from Atlanta. In reality, that is the only way that we are able to get a lot of the great deals! Not everyone has a mom that is able to do this however, so I have been doing a little research to help you get some of those great coupons, if they are not available in your area. One of the best resources for coupons when they are unavailable to you, is Coupon Clippers! They have tons of coupons available on their site!

Simply, head over to Coupon Clippers and begin searching for your specific coupons! You can search for them alphabetically, by subject, or even by how "hot" they are. They only charge a small fee for them and for handling. There is a required minimum purchase but you can read up on all that you need to know in the FAQ section. I think this is a great way to get some HOT coupons for some great deals!

Have you tried Coupon Clippers before?

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T22:11:00.002-04:00

A friend sent us this video in celebration of Mother's Day. If you haven't seen it, I hope you enjoy! If you have, please, enjoy it again!

Donations: Couponing For Community

2010-05-08T08:01:00.001-04:00

While we have been out of town for most of the week I still wanted to take part in Couponing For Community! It has been so exciting to see all that people are giving and how they are blessing others with what they have been blessed with. A couple of days ago, I shared My Plan for Couponing For Community which entails giving to a family, an individual and an organization. We have already given to the family and this weekend and early next week I will be dropping off our donations to an individual and the organization.

So here is what we have given and will be giving:

Family Donation

Individual Donation

Organization: Women's Shelter Donation

I want to thank Kaley from Cha Ching On A Shoe String for coordinating this effort! I have been so encouraged by others and have loved participating as well. My vision has grown for blessing others with all that we have. Make sure to check out Cha Ching On A Shoe String today, as Kaley will have links of many bloggers and what they have been giving over this past week. Stop by and be encouraged!

Sunday Coupon Preview 5/9

2010-05-07T07:44:00.000-04:00

There is only 1 insert in the newspaper this Sunday, Smart Source. It will be a great weekend to catch up on any coupon cutting you need to do, since there is only 1 insert this week. Here are a couple of highlights for this week:

Schick Hydro Razor $5/1
Pedisure Nutripals 4 pack $3/1
Resolve Product $1/1

To check out other coupons that will be available go to Sunday Coupon Preview!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Starbucks Happy Hour May 7-16

2010-05-07T07:18:00.000-04:00

Starting on May 7th and running through May 16th Starbucks is hosting Half-Price Happy Hour between 3-5 p.m. You will be able to purchase a Frappaccino beverage for half-off during these hours. Yummy!

My favorite is the Caramel Light Frappaccino! Which is your favorite?

New Coupons on Coupons.com

2010-05-06T21:46:00.000-04:00

There are a couple great coupons now available on Coupons.com!

$1/1 Nexcare Bandages
$1.50/1 Huggies Little Swimmers

Both coupons could make for some pretty sweet deals!

Walgreens Free 8 x 10 Collage

2010-05-06T14:16:00.001-04:00

You can get a free 8x10 Collage Print, valid 5/6/10-5/8/10 from Walgreens photo center! Use coupon code GOODTHOUGHTS for your free collage print.

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Adventures of Cloth Diapering

2010-05-06T08:38:00.000-04:00

About a week and a half ago I received my first shipment of cloth diapers! Yay! Attempting to use cloth diapers is a new adventure at the Jordan household. To be honest, a conversation on facebook with my friend Rebecca is what started us down this new road. Got to love social networking!

I have shared many times that we are doing all that we can to save money and learn how to live a more frugal life. If any of your babes are in diapers you are well aware that our most consistent out of pocket cost is for diapers. I have loved pairing coupons with deals and getting diapers really cheap and sometimes free but this does not always happen. So I began to think what if we could at least cut down the cost, by cloth diapering? At this point I am up for anything!

For the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of research online and asking questions of all my cloth diapering friends! Thanks to Laurel, Rebecca, Jenny, Shannon, and Sharon!

Here is our cloth diaper stash:

2 bumGenius Diapers from the Green Diaper Store

Total $18.93 with shipping included

* Bought this with leftover mone from last month's grocery/household budget

2 Monkey Doodlez Swim Diapers from Nicki's Diapers

Total $23 (Free shipping)

* We will be at Daytona Beach for over a month and rather than pay $10each for a pack of Huggies Swimmers we are going to try reusable swim diapers ($50 for 5 packs of Swimmers or $22 for reusables)

1 Surpa Happy Heiny's Fitted Diaper from Sugardipes

Free Fuzzibunz Wet bag (Won giveaway on Earth Day)

$11.37 (Free shipping)
* Money from grocery/household which was decreased for Eating Out of the Pantry this month

2 Cloth Diapers and 1 Cloth Cover that my friend Laurel was going to give to Goodwill-FREE!

Waiting On:

Econobum:Full Kit from Franklin Goose
$4.95 (Shipping only) $50 Credit From Reviews

Medium Size Fuzzibunz from ebay
$11.50 tax included
* Money from grocery/household which was decreased for Eating Out of the Pantry this month

For right now we are going to stick with this inventory and see how they work for us. Even in the last few weeks I have been learning a ton and would love to share a little of what I have been learning along the way for others that may be considering this switch. Also, if you are a pro at cloth diapering feel free to share your advice, input or suggestions, like I said before I am learning.

There are some really good sites out there to learn more about cloth diapering and to shop at. I will share a few that I have found in the next post and feel free to give suggestions too!

My Plan: Couponing for Community

2010-05-05T13:13:00.001-04:00

I am so excited to be a part of the Couponing for the Community event! It has been overwhelming to see the incredible response from both readers and bloggers who want to share a part of their stash for others in need! There are over 200 participants and 65 bloggers taking part! Thanks to Kaley from Cha Ching On A Shoestring for dreaming up and coordinating this effort! This event was even highlighted on MSN's SmartSpending! I have been thinking and praying about what our family should do this week and here is our plan:

We are going to be giving to a family, an individual and an organization that are dear to our hearts.

The Family- One of our dearest friends just lost their 4 year old daughter last week. She had a heart transplant when she was only 3 months old. We love them dearly and I have wanted to in a small way give to them so that they would not have to think for some daily necessities. It is a small way to give but I really wanted to do something tangible.

An Individual-My husband and I work with a ministry to college students and some of them don't have very much. One of our college friends in particular never complains but has the least of all of them. I love giving to him because he is so grateful for whatever and I know it is truly helping

Women's Shelter-I checked out the needs in our community and the one that stood out to me was a women and children's shelter. Being a woman obviously helps me to identify but also having children of my own I want to do what I can in a small way to provide. When I contacted the shelter the woman who answered sounded a little surprised when I told her what I wanted to do and seemed really excited about whatever we could provide.

I am so grateful for all that we as a family have and how couponing has really provided for us this year as we have been on our own journey to pay off debt and live a more frugal life. This is a great opportunity to give as we have received so much, and be a blessing to others as we have been blessed.

Even if you don't have a stash you can still participate! Amy at Saving with Amy has a list of freebies and cheapies for this week! How can your family participate this week? I would love to hear your plans and ideas! We will be donating ours at the end of this week and at the early part of next week because we are traveling now. What a blessing to be a part of!

Current Baby Deals

2010-05-05T09:21:00.001-04:00

You can sign up to join Enfamil Beginnngs and receive a week's worth of free formula and $250 worth of coupons and gifts!

If you have not signed up for Vocal Point, now would be a great time! You can receive a 3 pack sample of Cruisers Diapers from Pampers!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Mother's Day Recipe and Craft ebooks

2010-05-04T13:44:00.005-04:00

With Mother's Day just around the corner you can download a free Mother's Day craft ebook and recipe ebook for the special day.

What special plans do you have for Mother's Day?

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Born Free Giveaway Reveal...

2010-05-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share a pic of my buds as a part of the big reveal. The winner for the Born Free Gift Pack(via Random.org) is...Luv to Save with the following comment:

I enjoy every moment with my kids.

Congratulations! I will be sending you an email later today to get your mailing information. Thanks to everyone who entered and look out for the next giveaway soon!

Coupons Restocked for May!

2010-05-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

I wanted to remind you that the coupons have been restocked for May on Coupons.com. I did not notice any new HOT coupons but there may be some that will be helpful in the next couple of weeks.
While you are checking them out, head over to Redplum.com and Smartsource.com too.

$3.00 Green Works Laundry Coupon

2010-05-02T22:10:00.001-04:00

There is a HOT $3 coupon out now for Green Works Laundry Detergent. Just head on over to Facebook and "like" Green Works Products and you can print out a $3 off Laundry coupon! This will make for a great deal paired with a sale! This will be for a limited time so I would print it out now!

Thanks, For the Mommas

Couponing For Community May 2-8

2010-05-01T22:01:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you all a fabulous idea Kayla from Cha Ching On A Shoestring came up with. What if all of we, couponers, made a united stand to give to others in need from our abundance in our stockpiles together? We have all been so blessed through using coupons and getting deals wouldn't it be fun to give to someone we know in need a blessing from our goodies? There are lots of things we can do to give. If there is a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or family you know that has hit hard times in the past year consider giving them some gifts from your stockpile. Whether it is a few items or boxes full it does not matter, just consider giving. I know for me choosing to give, reminds me that we have been blessed that we might also be a blessing to others.

Want to join in? Here are some ways to take part this week:

Join the Couponing for Communities Facebook Event-There are lots of bloggers and blog readers coming together to focus on giving. On the Couponing for Communities facebook page, you can find encouragement as we will all be giving alongside one another.

Make a plan-Who would you like to give to? A homeless shelter? A soup kitchen? A family you know in need? Take a picture of what you are giving and post on the Couponing for Communities Facebook page that others might be encouraged by your giving. Won't it be encouraging to see all the blessings going out to those in need?

On Saturday May 8th, go by Cha Ching On A Shoestring and link up your post for Couponing for Communities or share in the comment section about your experience.

Remember that next week is the national Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive as well. You can leave a bag of food goodies by your mail box and your mail carrier will pick them up on his route. To learn more check out the Stamp Out Hunger Facebook page.

I know many of you already are giving on a regular basis but I thought this would be a fun way to give together and also, be encouraged with how others are giving as well! We are traveling this week for my husband's job but I am looking for ways we can give on the go. Looking forward to sharing it with you all!

How would you like to participate this week?

Groupon: Great Deals!

2010-05-01T10:29:00.003-04:00

Have you heard of Groupon? I got an email about this yesterday and signed up. Groupon will send you daily emails for great deals going on in cities throughout the U.S. I was surprised at the great deals that were available at about 90% retail prices! The deals vary by cities and they are not free but really cheap. I signed up because, though we don't live in a big city we travel a lot and the coupons that are available seem like ones that we will really use!

It is completely free to sign up to receive emails for the deals available. You can also search for a city if you are going to be traveling there. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Is your family traveling for the summer? Make sure to check Groupon out!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Last Day of The Born Free Giveaway!

2010-05-01T07:41:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that today is the last day to enter the Born Free/Johnson's Baby Gift Pack Giveaway! Remember that the giveaway will end tonight at 11:59 p.m. (EST). If you have not entered yet please do so now, just click the link above or the link on the sidebar. I will be announcing the winner on Tuesday, April 4th. I can't wait to see who the winner will be! Good luck and have a wonderful weekend!

The giveaway is now closed at 11:59 P.M. (EST). Thanks for all your participation and remember the winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 4th.

P&G Everyday Solutions

2010-04-29T11:57:00.000-04:00

You can sign up to receive the P&G Everyday Solutions Newsletter and get great offers for samples and coupons. I just received my newsletter this morning and I requested a sample of Tide and coupon, a Cascade coupon, and a Tide Stain Release coupon from the P&G Sampler. There are several others as well. Your coupons and samples should arrive in 6-8 weeks.

Have you signed up yet?

Sunday Coupon Preview 5/2

2010-04-29T10:24:00.000-04:00

There should be 3 inserts in this weekend's Sunday Paper, 1 Red Plum, 1 Smart Source, and 1 Proctor and Gamble. Here are a couple of high value coupon highlights:

Red Plum:

$3/1 Nivea Body Wash for Men (16.9 oz.)
$4/1 Nivea Body Wash for Women (8.4 oz.+)

If you want to check out more you can see them at Sunday Coupon Preview! Remember that inserts will vary by region.

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Financial Goals: Mid-April Wrap Up

2010-04-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

I wanted to give everyone an update on where we are in light of our goal to be debt free by May 2011. It looks like it might be more like January of 2011! Woohoo! We are continuing to pay down our debt as aggressively as possible! As of this past week, we have paid off 76% of our debt! That means we only have 24% left! As I have shared previously, both BJ and I have been working part-time jobs in addition to his full-time job in order for us to pay off our debt more quickly. Starting next month, we will be taking a break from these jobs due to our ministry plans for the summer and the fact that there will be less workers needed at both of our part time jobs. The campus that we work on will have less traffic and mainly will be open for a couple of summer sessions. We are very excited about our progress and look forward to getting that last 24% down to 0!!

There are a few things we have implemented in our household to keep us gazelle intense (focused and serious) in cutting down on our household budget. I wanted to share them and a small explanation of each:

Once A Month Cooking (OAMC)-This has helped us save money and time. I try to have a Once A Month Cooking day every month using mostly sale items and items from our stockpile. This has also helped us save time especially when I have to work almost until dinner time.

Eating Out of the Pantry-We are currently doing this to eat down our stockpile before we head to Daytona for a month. It has helped us become more creative with the food we already have in our pantry and save money at the same time.

Paper Towel Switch-I shared about this last week. It has actually been a lot easier than I thought making the switch over. We have already saved money using dinner napkins and kitchen towels and we are utilizing this money for other things we need or to go towards our debt.

Shopping Out Of Our Closet-After our recent yard sale, we reorganized our clothes for ourselves and the boys. We noticed that we did not really need any new clothes, even for the fall. Since clothes shopping has been a source of temptation for us in the past to spend money needlessly, we are challenging ourselves to shop only from what we already have.

Attempting Cloth Diapering-Thanks to the influence of some frugal-minded friends, our family is attempting to switch over to mainly using cloth diapers. The potential savings seem to be really high though there is some initial start up costs. Our youngest is one and I feel like we will be in diapers for at least another year, so we are giving it a try.

Couponing-We have been doing this for well over a year now and it has served us well. We are thankful for all the wisdom there is online that has helped us save some serious cash!

WIC (Women Infant and Children)-This has been a help to save on some of our staple items. This is only a short term solution to helping us get out of debt and back on track.

I love how we are learning to be creative and grateful for what we have as a family. Getting out of debt has been a difficult but good learning experience for us! I think there are many of these things that we are doing that we will continue to implement even after we get out of debt. I am excited about where we are and that hopefully in the near future we will be able to scream, "WE ARE DEBT FREE!"

What creative ideas has your family implemented in order to become more frugal or to pay off debt?

Photo Credit: Hermes

Home Made Simple Newsletter

2010-04-28T13:23:00.003-04:00

Home Made Simple is a great newsletter that you can have sent to your email with coupons, recipes, samples, and special offers. Some of the products that are included are Cascade, Febreze, Swiffer, and Mr. Clean. I signed up last year and I have really enjoyed it!

*Disclaimer:This post contains a link to an affiliate. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

April Rite Aid Video Values

2010-04-28T12:17:00.000-04:00

If you have not had a chance this month go check out Rite Aid's Video Values. They are short commercials that you can watch (even as you clean or fold laundry) and earn coupons. After earning 20 points you get a $5 off $20 coupon too! These coupons can be paired with manufacturer coupons for some great savings. The great thing is that these coupons last until the end of the next month (May 30th). I have used these in the past to get some pretty sweet deals at Rite Aid!

While you are there check out their new Wellness+ Program

Have you checked out Rite Aid's Video Values?

April: End of the Month Coupons

2010-04-28T09:11:00.000-04:00

Wanted to remind you to head over to Coupons.com and get the coupons available for April before the end of the month. There are still some high value coupons left:

$2/1 Lea and Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
$2/1 Heinz 57(10 oz+)
$2/1 Dove Ultimate/Clinical
Several $2/1 DVD coupons

Also check out:

Smartsource.com

Redplum.com

Baskin Robbins $.31 Scoop Night Reminder

2010-04-28T07:03:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to remind you that tonight between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. you and your family can go to Baskin Robbins and get a scoop of ice cream for $.31! We went last year and had so much fun. Check out more about the $.31 Scoop Night and how this benefits national and local area firefighters!

Once A Month Cooking in May

2010-04-26T08:11:00.000-04:00

I wanted to give you a heads up on a Once A Month Cooking event being hosted by Jessica from Life As Mom and Crystal from Money Saving Mom. Jessica has written Save the Date for Freezer Cooking to give you some information and help for getting started if this is your first time. They are both pros at this and I have learned a lot from them. I would love for you to learn from their experiences as well.

I have traditionally hosted my Once A Month Cooking days at the first of the month but because we are leaving to go to Daytona about mid-month, I am going to hold off and see what we need to make the week before we go. I will share my plan and results later this month, but in the mean time if you want to give it a try this is the time! Jessica and Crystal will be hosting the May Freezer Day Cooking April 30th- May 3rd. You can follow along on twitter at # OAMC and also on facebook too!

Are you going to give Once A Month Cooking a try? I would love to hear about your experience if you are!

Born Free and Johnson's Baby Gift Pack Giveaway!

2010-04-24T21:52:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun hosting the Cookware giveaway last month that I could not wait to host another one! As you may know, we have two little ones running(or crawling) around our house and we are so thankful for the gifts that they are to us! I know there are lots of new mommies out there, or soon to be mommies that are learning the ropes just as we are. In the spirit of mommies and Mother's Day just around the corner, I wanted to offer up an awesome Born Free and Johnson's Baby Gift Pack to one lucky winner!

Here is what is up for grabs:

9 oz. Born Free bottle
Born Free formula dispenser
Package of Born Free pacifiers
Johnson's Baby Vanilla Oatmeal Body Wash
Johnson's Baby Vanilla Oatmeal Lotion

There are three ways to enter: (make sure to leave your email address with each individual entry!)

Leave a comment letting me know what is your biggest joy in being a mom, or what you look forward to the most about being a mom (mom to be)
Subscribe to Simple Savings Mom by email or reader, and then leave a comment saying you did so (email subscriber must be confirmed to count)
Follow me on twitter, @kjordan, and then leave a comment saying you did so.

Born Free specializes in baby products that are 100% free of BPA, Phthalates, and PVC. They have lots of other great products that you can check out too! Also, Johnson's Baby Products have been a staple at our home the last couple of years. It is such a privliege to be in the mommy ranks with many of you and I hope this gift pack will be a wonderful blessing for you and your family! Even if you are not a mom, feel free to enter, this would make a great baby present as well!

This giveaway will begin Saturday, April 24th at 10:00 p.m(EST). and will last until Saturday, May 1st at 11:59 p.m.(EST). The winner will be announced Tuesday, May 4th. Good luck to everyone!

The Born Free and Johnson's Baby Gift Pack Giveaway is now closed(11:59 P.M.)EST! Thank you all for participating! I will be announcing the winner on May 4th! Good luck to you all.

Have You Gotten Your Free Snuggle?

2010-04-24T13:35:00.001-04:00

I wanted to remind you about the $3/1 Snuggle coupons that came out last month( RP 3/28). Make sure you go get yours before they expire on May 5th! I got dryer sheets from Family Dollar where they are priced at $3 so we got them free. In all we paid $.30 including tax! They also have them at Walmart usually for around $3.29.

Have you gotten yours yet?

Sign Up to Save!

2010-04-23T18:20:00.008-04:00

There are two great coupons that you can sign up to receive:

$1/1 Banquet Family size product

$1/1 Marie Callender Asian Recipes or Pasta Al Dente (These are often on sale at the grocery stores and Walmart)

These could be great last minute helpers for dinner on a crazy day!

Aveeno Coupon and Rite Aid Deal

2010-04-23T11:09:00.001-04:00

There is a great deal coming up this week at Rite Aid! In this week's circular is a a $2/1 coupon for Aveeno lotion, face, or body care. If you combine it with the $1/1 coupon from Coupons.com that is now available you can score Aveeno lotion for as low as $.49. So watch out next week for this coupon in the circular and for the lowest priced lotion available (around $3.49).

*Sometimes Rite Aid's ads are regional, so it may not be available in all areas.

Thanks, For the Mommas

$2 Dove Ultimate/Clinical Coupon

2010-04-23T08:11:00.000-04:00

There is a great new coupon for $2 off any Dove Ultimate Deodorant or Clinical Protection Deodorant at Coupons.com. I would grab this now! I am sure there will be some good deals for Dove at stores in the next upcoming month that you won't want to miss.

Thanks, For the Mommas

Giveaway Coming Soon...

2010-04-22T08:24:00.000-04:00

I have a great new giveaway coming up this weekend so stay tuned! I can't wait!

Photo Credit: Lakewentworth

$10 Dave Ramsey Books

2010-04-22T08:16:00.000-04:00

These past few months, I have been sharing with you all about how we are working to be debt free by May 2011. The great news is that it might be more like January or ealier! Yippee! Thanks to some hard work, coupon clipping, a good tax return, and some gazelle intensity on our part it is looking hopeful. One of the main influences in our lives as I have shared before is Dave Ramsey. He is intense when it comes to getting out of debt and our family has learned a ton from him!

Currently, several of his books are on sale for just $10 each on Daveramsey.com. If you purchase $65 worth you can score free shipping too! I am not sure how long the sale will last so check it out now, you won't regret it!

Thanks, The Thrifty Mama

Books A Million For Earth Day!

2010-04-21T21:31:00.000-04:00

Looks like we may be headed to Books A Million in the morning! They have several great things going on for Earth Day tomorrow!

Bring in you reusable mug and get a free cup of joe!

Free Lorax bookmark and seeds to plant!

20% off for members who bring their reusable bags!

One of Trey's new favorite books is the Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax! I know he will love the bookmark.

Are you headed out for some great deals Earth Day?

Paper Towel Switch

2010-04-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

After being inspired by several of my frugal friends, our family has decided to take on the "Paper Towel Switch". The "Paper Towel Switch" is an attempt to move away from using paper towels and replacing them for kitchen towels and cloth napkins instread. It is a great way to save money! In fact we were going to put some cloth dinner napkins in our yard sale recently but instead we have began using them along with kitchen towels to replace our paper towels. Also, we still have some cloth napkins set aside that we use for dinner napkins exclusively.

We are making a slow transition into using reusable towels and napkins instead of paper towels. Currently, we have a couple of rolls of paper towels left but my goal is to be paper towel free by the time we get to the end of our current rolls. I love saving money and this has been a lot easier than I first thought. If you are interested in giving it a try, my friend Amy from Amylovesit.com has a great article, Going Green: Say Bye-Bye to Paper Towels. Check it out!

What ways are you finding to save money in your home?

New Classico Coupon!

2010-04-20T12:40:00.000-04:00

The Classico coupon for $1.50/1 that I share about yesterday from Coupons.com has been printed out already! The good news though is that there is a new Classico coupon on there! Buy one Classico white pasta sauce get a free Classico red sauce. My hubby makes a mean bowl of chicken alfredo so this sounds great to me! Print now before they are gone!

Local Chick-fil-A Family Night Event

2010-04-20T09:53:00.000-04:00

Our local Chick-fil-A is always hosting great family events on Tuesday nights! Tonight they are hosting a "Touch a Truck" event! Perfect for families with little ones! Even if you don't live in Statesboro,GA you can check on facebook for your local Chick-fil-A fan page or check with your local store for updates on their events. If you do live in or around Statesboro you can check out the Chick-fil-A of Statesboro facebook page for updates on their daily and weekly events!

$.31 Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins

2010-04-20T09:37:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to let you all know that April 28th, next Wednesday, Baskin Robbins will be hosting their $.31 scoop night! We went last year and had a ton of fun! Our neighborhood Baskin Robbins had firemen and a firetruck for all the kids to explore! They also gave out fireman hats, Trey had a blast! You can read more about $.31 Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins.com

What is your favorite Baskin Robbins flavor? Mine is Mint Chocolate chip! Yummy!