WEEKLY DEALS: Deal Highlights for March 29 - April 4

Remember I live in Midland, Michigan. Here are the deal highlights for my area.

Glen's Market
*Not Sure if they double
*Most expensive place for things not on sale

3 Day Sale 4/02 - 4/04

• Spartan Cheese $1.49 each
• Cooked Ham $2.99/lb
• Faygo $.59 each
  
• Charmin $3.99 ($1/2 Coupon $3.49 each)
• 2 lb. bag onions $.99 each
  

Regular Sale

• Kellogg's Cereal $1.99 ($.75 Coupon $1.24 each)
• Coca Cola 12 packs 3 for $9
• Folger's Coffee $5.99 each ($.25 Coupon $5.75)
• 2 lb. bag onions $.99 each
• Hass Avocados $.99 each
  

Kroger
*Midland Kroger doubles coupons up to $.50
*Bay City Kroger doubles coupons up to $1.00
*Use your Kroger card to upload e-coupons (P & G, Cellfire, and Shortcuts) and sometimes can be used in conjunction to paper coupons
*Look for manager's specials on meats and stock up!

• Milk $1.77 (limit 3)
• Smithfield Ham $.97/lb
• Seedless Grapes $.88/lb
• 10/$10 Frozen Veggies
• Pillsbury Frozen Items $1 WYB 4 (.50/2 Coupon $.50 each)
• CoffeeMate Creamer 2 for $5 ($1/1 Coupon makes it $1.50 each)
• 10/$10 Dole Fruit
• Hershey's East Candy 2 for $5 ($1.50 Coupon off of 3 makes it $2 each)
• Butter $1.79 (Better price at Meijer though!!!)
• Big K Cola $1.99 per 12 pack
• Lunchbox Apples 4 for $1
• Honeysuckle Ground Turkey $1.79/lb
  

Meijer
*Midland Meijer doubles coupons up to $.50
*They will usually only accept 2 identical coupons
*You don't have to buy all of the items in a 2 for or 10 for to get the sale price
*If you buy 10 for 10 you get an 11th item FREE!
*Look for manager's specials on meats and stock up!

• Butter 2 for $3 ($1.50 each!)
• Cheese 4 for $6 ($1.50 each!)
• Pepsi 2 for $10 24 packs ($2.50 per 12 pack)
• 2 for $4 on Meijer Chips (Which are actually quite good!)
• Helmann's Mayo 2 for $5
• Land O' Lakes 4 for $5 spreadable butter (.50/1 Coupon makes .25 each)
• Activia 2 for $4 ($1/1 Coupon makes it $1 each)
• Snuggle $3.99 each (.35/1 Coupon makes it $3.29 each)
• Exedrin Migraine or PM $.99 ($1/1 Coupon makes it FREE)
  
• Suave Shampoo 3 for $5 ($1/2 Coupon makes it $1.17 each)

Walmart & Target didn't really have anything of note this week

I will probably add in Walgreens, Target, Walmart, and RiteAid in the future.

CHEAP EATS: Microwave Nachos

I definitely should have took a picture, but I never think to take a picture of food. Anyway, this is the first in my series of dinners which you can make under $5...and exactly how I build them!

This is not the most healthy dish, but is definitely delish, and super easy!

1 Pound Ground Beef ($1.30 bought at Walmart on sale)*
1 Bag of Tortilla Chips ($1 bought at Aldi, normal price)**
1 Bag Sharp Cheddar Cheese ($1.50 bought at Kroger, on sale)
1 Onion (or green onion if choose) ($.25 roughly)
Taco Seasoning (Negligible...I buy a bulk one and it lasts forever)
Some Sour Cream ($.30 roughly for some dollops)
Some Salsa ($.50 roughly)
-----------------------------------------------
Total $4.85 (4 Servings)

Extras: Olives, Jalapenos, Guacamole, Beans, Other kinds of Cheese ... usually I only use these if they are on sale or I have them around.

*You can substitute beef for ground turkey or beans at varying prices
**You can make your own corn chips from corn tortillas (big pack around $2 at Walmart will yield about 3 batches of chips.)

Directions: Fry up your meat in a pan until cooked thoroughly. Add in some taco seasoning to taste, and possibly some salt and pepper. Drain grease. Arrange chips in a single layer on a plate. Sprinkle with cheese, onions, and beef & any extras. Do a second layer of chips the same way. Place in microwave for about a minute (watch till cheese melts). Will make 4 generous plates of nachos. P.S. You could also cook these in the oven on a cookie sheet, but I do it the fast way.

ENJOY!

MONEY MAKERS: Swagbucks

I recently signed up to this great site. It's called Swagbucks. Basically, it's a search engine along the lines of Yahoo or Google. You type in what you were going to search anyway and occasionally win 'Swag Bucks'. You can turn them in for some cool prizes. I signed up and got 3 SB's (Swag Bucks) to sign up, and 2 on my first search (which I think is standard)

Me, being me, forgot about the whole thing till today. I started searching on there whenever I needed to search something and won about 3 times today! I now have 11 SB's. I think around 12 you get a free song download so that's cool, if nothing else. They have cool prizes though (game consoles, mp3 players, gift cards, etc), and it's the easiest reward program ever, since I'm always searching.

Plus, it's totally free, and completely legit!

Here's How:
1. Sign Up HERE
2. Fill in your info
3. Confirm your e-mail
4. Start Searching and Earning

Tips:
1. Search a few things each day, but rapid fire searches don't count. Today I have won 3 times, so it's possible to win more than once, but it's just luck.
2. It takes somewhere in the ballpark of 45 swagbucks to get a $5 gift certificate.
3. You can get more $$ for turning in old cell phones or iPods, etc.
4. You get swagbucks for referring pals (when they win, you win). Plus, if you have more than one computer you can get more swagbucks for your family!
5. Make it your homepage so you don't forget.
6. If you can, make it a toolbar in your browser (it didn't work for me for some reason)

Reluctantly Frugal...

Some people are frugal by nature. They naturally hoarded all of their money as a small child and by the time they were 12 had amassed a small fortune, learning more and more ways to save money. This is NOT me.

If I had it my way I would be on a luxury vacation every other week, spending too much time at restaurants, and going on spending spree for a new wardrobe. For reasons obvious (I am not a millionaire) I cannot do this.

I would call myself reluctantly frugal, but I will admit that it has its perks and there is a certain 'Savings High' you can get from getting a really good deal. I've become somewhat addicted to this feeling.

For these reasons I am not a hardcore couponer, I am sort of obsessed. I would never buy 20 of anything at one time...1 or 2 and I'm thrilled to death if I get something for free, but I don't 100% let money saving take over my life. Life is still what it is, and it is OK to spend it now and then.

For those of you who are really hardcore, good for you! I will probably never be there...for those of you who are like me...a bit wary of different ways to save...well...give it a try! What have you got to lose? You could be like me...reluctantly frugal, and use all that extra $$ to buy yourself something nice!

Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.
--Mark Twain

About Me...

I guess I'll do an intro post but I don't know what to say about myself. I'm going to be 30 in November and I'm married to a wonderful Scottish carpenter. My mom and sister live with me and our pets...you'll see the general cast of characters in my life as time wears on.

I like all sorts of things. I'm a hockey fan. I like to scrapbook. I read, watch TV and movies, and even video games. I love to travel. I love Disney. I like learning languages. There is always just so much interesting stuff to see and do.

I grew up poor, but we always had a lot, too. That is because of The Lord and my mom -- the boss. She was the original coupon cutter in my house and was so good at it that she could get things all the time for free. All of my friends wanted to come to my house when I was a kid because we had so much cereal for breakfast.

When I was an adult I was tired of being poor so I didn't think that much about saving and spent my money when I got it on what I wanted. It was a bad plan that got me into trouble, like so many people. I have learned my lesson and have paid for my past, and have turned over a new leaf.

I am not manic about deal hunting like some are, but I can be a bit obsessed...especially when coupons are involved. I spend hours a week searching ads, cutting coupons, figuring out where to shop, and shopping. At this point some of you get it...and some of you think that's too much work, but I make more per hour saving money than I do at my job, by far.

Because of the economy, my financial problems, and the fact that my husband is going through the green card process I'm the only one who has a job right now, though everyone contributes around the house. I've had to be crafty, however. The good news is...this is valuable info I'm learning that will carry over all of my life!

I believe God wants me to learn these lessons to help me in my life. I am a Christian and am trying to live a life that would please Him and make Him proud.

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. "
--C.S. Lewis

Alexander Hamilton

What can we say about Alexander Hamilton? He was first Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father, economist, and in my humble opinion the best looking guy on American money. For these reasons, currently he has made his way into my banner. Eventually I will make a better one, but it is a nice start.

FYI...Hamilton eventually met his end in a dual with Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson's VP. Imagine that happening now.

This is the mission statement of this blog -- I guess. Basically, it's about different things I do to save money...with other bits and bobs thrown in. Also, crafts and cooking and projects...mostly ways to save money in creative ways. I coupon, deal search, garage sale shop, thrift shop shop, do my own cooking, and make a lot of things around my house (doesn't hurt that hubby is a carpenter!) and etc, etc. This may have good couponing deals but as for lists...no...there are tons of great blogs who list all the great deals of different stores. I may highlight some of my favorite deals or point you along your way, but that's not the point of this blog. It'll be the best deals mixed in with some crafts and creative fun to do on the cheap!

So the mission statement:

1. Share my creative craft ideas
2. Share my favorite deals and bargains
3. Give ideas for money saving tips
4. Share my frugal fun ideas
5. Share recipes that are cheap that I've made

I'll change it if it needs additions. I'll try to do all of this with clarity which, I'm sure will evolve with time.

Quote of the Day:
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."
-Alexander Hamilton