Operation $40K

Eating Better… on a Budget! In these tight times, families are looking for new ways to stretch a dollar. Attend this two-part class to learn creative ways to cut your grocery bill without sacrificing quality, healthy food. In Week One, couponer extraordinaire ( they are so sweet to call me that!) Dannelle Gay shares her secrets. Learn how to save 60-80% on your groceries every time you go the store. This class will teach you WHERE to get the coupons to use, HOW to organize them, and most importantly, the RIGHT WAY to use them! In Week Two, our wellness experts will share even more ways to eat better on a budget. Get tips on making the most of your local farmer’s market and learn how you can easily grow some of your own food. You’ll leave with simple farmer’s market recipes and tips for starting your own garden. Sign up today and learn how to save money and eat healthier. Coupon Clipping 101 Thursday, May 26 Instructor: Dannelle Gay, Couponer Extraordinaire 5:30 to 7:30pm ...

As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance with the following guidelines.   Guidelines: General All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout. Walgreens does not accept expired coupons. Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards. Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens. Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores. The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law. Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.   Sale Items   Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale. In the event that...

It's the first of the month - and the printable coupons will all be reloaded soon! Seeing as it is a Sunday, most might not reload until Monday. Print them off and put them in your coupon box/binder! Make sure to check out your sites like: Coupons.com Redplum.com Bettycrocker.com Pillsbury.com www.generalmills.com www.kelloggs.com http://www.target.com/  

Right Guard Total Defense 5 Body Wash 13.5 oz (B1G1 sale) Use the B1G1 FREE Dry Idea or Right Guard product (up to $4.49) 5-1-11 RP x5/31 Get two FREE! Fixodent Adhesive 2-2.4 oz or cleanser 78 pk, or Scope Mouthwash 24-33 oz $3.99 get $1 rr Use the $3 Fixodent cleanser from the 5/01/11 P&G Make a $.01 profit on each one! G-U-M Eez-Thru Flossers 75/90 pk $2 get $2 rr Use the $.75 Gum Flossers (any)   (out of prints) Make a $.75 profit on each one! Noxzema Disposable Razors 4 pk $3.99 get $3 RR Use the $2 Noxzema Spa Shave 4-blade shaver 4-pack, Super Smooth Triple blade shaver 4-pack or larger, Premium-pivot twin blade 12 pack OR Bikini shaver 3 pack (exp 6/30/11) 5/01/11 rp Make a $1.01 profit on each one! Tylenol Precise $6.99 Use the $5/1 Precise coupon from here  and STACK with the $3/1 coupon from the MAY Walgreen's coupon book. Make a $1.01 profit on each one! Happy Shopping!

Last Summer, I shared my list of cool things to do in the summer and I realized, it was time to do it again for the summer of 2011! I KNOW that we have a little over a month of school left, but it goes quickly -- it pays to plan a bit! So far our list: *swimming *make Popsicles (I shared my recipe list in the recipe section!) *library and bookstore reading programs (I blogged about this earlier) *Going to the Dells *A Jurassic Birthday Party for Miss Sarah *Going to Cousin Eric's Wedding in Colorado *Going to the Voss's cabin with my inlaws *crafting *Church Drive In Movie Night *taking Miss Sarah to Florida to see Aunt Brenda &; Uncle Sam - with a visit to Disney! *make homemade ice cream (I got a machine free from TW a few years ago and we didn't use it ONCE last summer and found a pretty cool recipe for SnickerDoodle Ice Cream to try!!) *homemade bubbles with dish soap and white corn syrup *summer karate lessons for Sarah *Visit the local county fai...

Please pray for all those that were affected by the storms. One had a mile wide tornado that was on the ground for one hundred and fifty miles...it missed a nuclear power plant by two miles but did a TON of damage. Many people have been killed, many injured, tons of businesses destroyed... Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Blessings....

OK, not a place that jumps to the top of your head when thinking about your family groceries. I will give you that one...LOL!   They have really been trying to market themselves lately, even a monthly flier - the new one is called "Spring into Savings".   8 pages of fun, on the cover a reminder that they have some GREAT prices on a few things: Baking potatoes $.38/# Bananas $.38/# --cheaper than Aldi !! Jumbo Onions $.38/# Large eggs for $.99 a dozen A gallon of milk for under $2.79 That all makes it a great place to get some basics when you are just looking for a quick run! Sure other things are in there like promotions for their car wash, beer, cigarettes, and hot food - none of it all that great for you or your family, along with a few coupons for a FREE donut or FREE pound of produce. One thing: stay away from their bread and cookies! Seriously - I wouldn't even take them if they were FREE. That is how bad they are, LOL!! Happy shopping!

Everyone knows that produce is seasonal...we have had that talk before as I have stocked up on Clementines in November, Navel Oranges in December, Granola Bars in January and currently, Easter Clearance items! We still follow the seasonal items at our local store so we know when the fruit is in season, and thereby at it’s lowest annual cost. A savvy shopper waits until a product is on sale and then stocks up! The idea is to create a stockpile that will last you 3-12 months, or until the product again reaches its lowest price. (Not that you can do that with fresh produce unless your process it!) Convenience/Packaged Foods are seasonal just like produce! Every month we have new things to look for. Here is what is "hot" for April - keep your eyes out for the sales and have your coupons ready! Thanks for to Memorial Day, we have certain things to keep an eye on this month. BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips. Don't forget Paper P...

5-1 Smartsource Coupon Preview #1 Sunday coupon preview Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected! (/X) after coupon = expiration date () before coupon = multiple of same coupon ETS = excludes trial sizes DND5 = coupon states Do Not Double, but barcode starts w/a 5 Smartsource coupon insert #1 Alpo cans Save $1/8 (6/13) Alpo 13.2 oz can B1G1F upto $.89 (6/13) DiGiorno Small Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza 8.5-9.2 oz Save $1/1 (6/30) Lean Cuisine Save $1/4 (8/7) Nestle Bars, Sandwiches, Nestle Drumsticks or Push-Up Frozen Snacks 4 ct+ Save $1/2 (6/25) Nestle Purelife Purified Water .5 liter multi-packs (20 pack+) Save $1/2 (6/12) Nestle Purelife Purified Water 8 oz Multi-Packs 24 pack+ Save $1/2 (6/12) Purina Tidy Cat Save $1/1 (8/1) Purina Kitten Chow or Cat Chow Save $1/1 (6/26) Purina Whisker Lickins Save $1/2 (8/1) Purina Dog Chow or Puppy Cho 17.6 lb Save $1.50/1 (5/28) Purina Dog Chow or Puppy Chow 4.4 lb Save $1/1 (5/28) Purina Moist ...

5-1 RedPlum Coupon Preview Sunday coupon preview Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected! (x) before coupon = multiple of same coupon ETS = excludes trial sizes RedPlum Coupon Insert Advantage brands Save $1.00/1 (8/1) Ball Park, any products Save $1.00/2 (6/4) DND, DNT Ball Park Buns Save $.55/1 (6/4) DND DNT BALL Park Deli Style Beef Franks Save $.75/1 (6/4) DND DNT Carolina or River Rice Save $.50/1 (8/31) Cesar dog treats any Save $1.00/1 (6/12) Citrucel Bulk Fiber Therapy Save $1.50/1 (8/1) Dove any bag of chocolate (8.5oz – 9.5oz) Save $1.00/1 (6/12) DND Dove any chocolate large bars (3.3oz) Save $1.00/2 (6/12) DND Dove any Dovebar multipack, Dove miniatures, or Dove ice cream 8.67 fl oz or larger Save $1.00/1 (8/31) Dry Idea or Right Guard product product Buy One Get One FREE Up to $4.49 (5/31) DND Ecotrin Aspirin product Save $1.50/1 (8/1) Emerald any Breakfast on the Go! product 7.5 oz or larger Save $1.00/1 (6/11) DND Eucerin an...

5-1 P&G coupon insert Sunday coupon preview Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected! (x) before coupon = multiple of same coupon ETS = excludes trial sizes ***P&G coupons usually hit our marked the week AFTER they give us this info - it MAY or MAY NOT be in the paper this Sunday. $3.00 Align (5/31) $0.50 Always Pad, Clean or Feminine Cleansing Cloth (5/31) $0.50 Always Pantiliners (34 ct. or higher) (5/31) $1.00 Always Infinity (5/31) $0.25 Bounty Towels or Napkins (5/31) $0.25 Cascade (5/31) $1.00 Cascade Rinse Aid (5/31) $0.25 Charmin (5/31) $1.00 CoverGirl (5/31) $10.00 Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express or Professional Effects Whitestrips (5/31) $0.75 Crest Rinse 440mL or larger (5/31) $1.50 Crest Pro-Health or Crest Sensitivity Treatment and Protection Toothpaste 4.0 oz. or larger (5/31) $1.00/2 Crest 4.0 oz. or larger (excludes Crest Cavity, Baking Soda, Tartar) (5/31) $0.20 Dawn (5/31) $0.50 Dawn PLUS (5/31) $0.25 Downy Liqui...

(or VHS tapes, if you are like me and still low tech, LOL) Yesterday, I taped a few Coupon Clipping segments for Madison's WMTV NBC15 with the amazing Amy Carlson. The first segment will air THIS Sunday, may 1st, on their Morning show, at 8:40.* I don't talk about the coupon binder this time, but you will see Ms Donna's soon to be famous binder on the counter - thanks again Donna for lending it to me! =) *taping, instead of being a live guest this time, let me be at my church for the last service that our head pastor is doing before he retires. I LOVE his sermons immensely and will miss him dearly. I couldn't miss it.

Double Double Saturdays are gone - BUMMER!! Here is the list from Pocket Your Dollars, I have it updated with OUR pricing and flier - my changes are in RED. Happy planning! Produce Deals Green Beans  $.99 /# Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $.99/# Extra Large Green Bell Peppers $.99/# Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $.99/# Del Monte Ripe or Green Bananas $0.49/lb Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $0.49lb** **Aldi’s regular price for bananas is $0.44/lb Iceberg Lettuce $0.79 (Limit 1) Use in-ad coupon to get sale price Final price: $0.79 after coupon Roundy’s Baby-Cut Carrots (1 lb) $0.99 Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $0.99 California Fancy Navel Oranges (4 lb) or Florida Red Grapefruit (5 lb) $3.49 Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $3.49 ($0.87/lb for oranges and $0.70/lb for grapefruit) Meat Deals Bar S Meat or Turkey Franks $0.69 (Limit 1) Use in-ad coupon to get sale price Final price: $0.69 after c...

It's that time...my big annual sale! I will update you as the weekend goes -- and will share pictures tomorrow. There are a few, fun ways to keep it cheap, like advertising! I list it on Craigslist.com, the local Mom's yahoogroup, and Facebook too - instead of paying to put an advertisement in the local paper. I also do it the same weekend as the citywide garage sale and have my hours piggy backed on the same hours as the church up the street - so I can use THEIR advertising, LOL! Here is what my ads say: HUGE garage sale -> something for everyone~! Little girls items -Clothes 6 months to 4T -Convertible Crib/Toddler/Twin Bed -Stroller -Radio Flyer Wagon -books and misc toys -VHS movies -Vaporizer Yard items -Broadcast Fertilizer Spreader -40# bag of lime -Towable Dethatcher Dog items -large crate -dog house -training collar with remote -misc supplies Adult Bikes Electronics -Stereo equipment -Box Fans -Collectible Bar Signs/lights This...

Simple. One transaction today: I got one of the Angus beef roasts to test my theory. They do NOT count for the Angus perks - ONLY ANGUS STEAKS do. 1 Angus roast @$2.99/# = $9.84 (was 14.77) 2 boxes Rice Krispies @$1.99 (was $3.38) 1 Rhodes rolls @$2.59 2.26# gala apples @$.99/# = $2.24 (was 2.92) 5# bag Idaho potatoes @$2.99 2 gallons Skim Milk @$3.09 Coupons used: two $1/1 Deans Milk (doubled), $1/fruit WYB 2 Kellogg's Cereals (doubled), $1/2 Kellogg's Rice Krispies (doubled), $1/1 Rhodes (doubled), $1.50 off produce, $3.50 off meat, $3 (from last week's OYNO). Total: $36.21  for $9.82 - saving 73% The roast went right into the crock pot with carrots, potatoes and onions - a bit of onion soup mix and bottle of beer. It's been simmering since 9AM and should make a wonderful dinner with those garlic Rhodes rolls. I plan to get another meal out of that roast -> we will have beef stew, created out of the leftovers, probably on Tuesday of next week! What d...

Spend $100 on any Angus Steak items and get $10 off your next Angus Steak purchase of $10 or more! ***Program runs April 24th - June 18th. You need to use our Roundy's Rewards card! You have until June 25th to use your $10 reward! It says Available only at Madison Pick N Save and Copp's stores...so CALL YOUR STORE to see if they are running the promotion. They usually track this kind of thing automatically on your receipts for you - like the jingle cash and ham perks offers. Match the original $100 purchases up with sales specials and you should come out alright on this. Example: Through tomorrow Black Angus Boneless Run Roast or Sirloin Tip Roast is $2.99/# (normally $4.69). Get two or three roasts (average of four pounds) and you are already at about $45, halfway there (if it goes by shelf, not sale price)! I know it's higher than my normal meat price, but beef has gone up. (sigh). Ground beef is usually $2.49/# now so, for just fifty cents more to get a roas...

Mr Peterson, who I have been talking about, passed away last night. Please keep his family in your prayers -- Karate America of Sun Prairie is organizing a fund for the family, as you local gals are AWESOME for the goodies you have dropped off for the family so far. Thank you.

If you had a slightly smoky ham like we did - it's PERFECT for making crock pot bean soup! Start with that ham bone and a bag of assorted beans (approx one pound) Add 3-4 diced carrots, one small diced onion and 1-2 stalks diced celery   Toss in one can of petite dice tomatoes, along with a pinch of sugar to counter their acid. Use that can to add water to the crock pot - four to five cans worth. That's it! Cover, set on low and let it rip overnight. You will wake to an amazing smell, simply remove the ham bone, add a little leftover diced ham to the soup, and then serve. I would show you an "after picture" but it was gone too fast for the camera - sorry! (but it was gggggooooooooooodd!)

Yup. I hit the stores today. Are you surprised?? (I didn't think so) I started at Target, which had a large selection and then finished at Walmart, who had barely anything left. Some of the loot is for summer car/plane rides like:   Dora paint by number set Dora bubbles (at the cabin, not in the car) Egg shaped Doodle Pro Velveteen Rabbit DVD Some of the bounty was for next Easter like: Basket Basket filler Easter Egg Play Do Easter Egg Jump Rope Easter Bunny Mrs Potato Head Easter Little People Butterfly Sidewalk Chalk Some of the haul is for the gift stockpile like: 5 Princess Puzzle Tins Thomas the Train Easter Express set Polly Pockets Assorted pencils Some of the haul is for me like: Mini spring form pan set Bunny silicone mold - wouldn't it make the cutest soaps?? Easter Kitchen towels Cookie decor shaker Now the food: The candy Smarties are for the summer picnic, parade and breakfast with Santa  The bunny marshmallows will go into ...

This is SOOOOO cool !!! Using those old, outdated plastic mini blind shades to make a beautiful window decor statment and the best part? No sewing is involved. =) I was actually thinking something like base cove trim, vertically on the sides of the window, on snap hinges to "seal" the edges when the shade is down to help insulate the windows a bit - good for those Wisconsin winters, and my billion year old house, LOL! Check it out here - SUPER easy instructions, and now - something else to add to the list of things to hunt for at garage sales this summer! (thank you une bonne vie!)

Things to look at this week: Leftover Easter Clearance!!!  Stock up NOW on baskets and fillers for next year...skip the candy, it won't keep well. There is another 10 for $10 sale -- keep in mind that you can get ONE items for just ONE dollar too =) Produce Deals Chilean Red Seedless Grapes $.99/# Washington Jazz Apples $.99/# Kiwi Fruit 4/$1 Atauliro Gold Mangoes $.88 EACH -- weigh them and get the heavier ones. Meat Deals Country Pride Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.59/# (sold in a 2.5# bag for $3.99) Bar-S Hot Dogs (1 lb) $.88 -- this is cheaper than the Cub Food's price Other Notables Van Camp's Pork and Beans $.39 (limit of 4) Pepsi Products 2L bottles $.69 each Right Guard deodorant $1 They have four pages of candy bar/etc adds, some good deals on candy bars if you are looking for that kind of thing. A good place to find coupons for these are tear pads at the gas stations like Mobil It's a pretty light flier this week -- not a ton o...

All You magazine is a great source for coupons. You can pick it up at your local Walmart store for $2.49 per issue. Or, grab a 1-year subscription from Amazon.com for as low as $1.42 per issue. Here are the coupons you'll find inside this issue: $1 off (1) Advil, Advil PM, or ThermaCare HeatWraps product (excludes Advil Migraine) (exp. 6/30/11) $2 off (1) Amdro Ant Block, Amdro Kills Ants & Roaches Syringe with 2 refillable Bait Stations, or Amdro Kills Ants Stakes, 8-ct (exp. 9/30/11) $.50 off (1) Aqua Net Silver Beauty (exp. 8/31/11) $1 off (1) Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, 12-lb (exp. 7/31/11) $1 off (1) Banana Boat Sun Care product, 4-oz or larger (exp. 5/27/11) $.50 off (1) Birds Eye Voila! family size item (exp. 8/31/11) $.50 off (1) Brach's product (excludes holiday products) (exp. 8/1/11) $1 off (1) Caltrate or Centrum product (exp. 6/30/11) $1 off (1) Carapelli Olive Oil, 17-oz or larger (exp. 6/30/11) $10 off your purchase of $25 or more at Catherines...

I had put out an S.O.S. last week to the local gals here regarding a family in the area that needs help. It's gotten worse for them...he had a CT scan and it showed that the cancer has accelerated - I am sadden to say there is a dramatic downturn in his condition. Please keep him and his family in your prayers and continued support.   Blessings.....

The weather is starting to finally come around - it might actually be SPRING! =) This means I can delegate some of the cooking to the grill master: my husband! I have been CRAVING a beer can chicken, so you see it on his list...and I think he can make another meal or two, LOL! Any time you see ** it means it was something pulled out of the freezer. Here is the list: Breakfast will include: -toaster waffles (we are down to one box!) -Yogurt (I still have 8 packs left...but have her thinking they are "pudding", LOL) -hard boiled eggs (yes, I am slowly thawing them out) -boxed cereal (might as well, we have 27 boxes in stock!) -fruit crepes Lunches as normal (sandwiches, soup, left overs, tappas plates) and for dinner... Monday - Calico Bean Soup, breadsticks (using up that leftover Easter Ham!) Tuesday - Fridge Clean Out! Wednesday - (Breakfast night): Pancakes! Thursday - Italian night: Polenta Lasagna Bake (recipe coming) Friday - Fish sticks**, mashed ...