Operation $40K

This is about when I got the call that Ms Sarah was throwing up...my Mom was watching her while I was working today and then, tried to sneak in a Copps run for the Double Double day. Happy Mother's Day to me - a sick kiddo, LOL! She is now resting on the couch watching a Land Before Time video -- So I can recap my trip today. It's pretty much like the plan I had shared with you-- two transactions. Transaction #1   3  packs of hot dogs @$2 (normally 2.49) 3 bags Temptations cat treats @$1.99 1 package Angel Soft TP @$2.75 (normally $2.99) Kraft Singles $2 (normally $2.99) Newman’s Own Lemonade $1.50 (normally $2.09) Pepperidge Farm Layer Cake @ $2 (normally $4.15) 2 Artichokes @ $1 (normally $1.99 each) Coupons used: Three $1/1 cat treats (doubled), Three $1/1 hot dogs (doubled), $1/1 TP (doubled), $.55/1 Cake (doubled), $1/1 Neumans (doubled), $0.75 Kraft (doubled), $4 Wags RR $30.04 and I paid $.02 - Yes, they got my two cents worth.... Transaction #2 3 packs

A Special Thank You to the gals who made it to the Stockpile Swap at the Sun Prairie Public Library today -- I also thank you for the new yummies I brought home! =)

Tuesday I hit Wags and got this: Razors $5.99 - $3 coupon, get $2 RR Fixodent $3.99, get $3 RR Used $4 RR from Flossers... Spent $.52, got $5 back Then I got Razors $5.99 - $3 coupon, get $2 RR Candy for $1 (for mini Oreo apple project) Used $3RR from Fixodent... Spent $.34, got back $2 I ended up with a $6.14 PROFIT Then, I went today, but their truck was running late  so I couldn't get a few things that I had planned on.  (sigh) I ended up with this: The Bayer was on clearance - instead of $5.99 it was $1.59 I used a $1 manufacturers coupon the last pack of Razors $5.99 - $3 coupon, get $2 RR --NO RR to use as I used them at Copp's Today! Spent $3.99, got back $2RR Then I got the Nexcare Bandages $3.49 (x2) Used the $2 RR   two $1/1 coupons Paid $5.36 BUT they have a Mail In Rebate offer for the FULL VALUE on them! I get $6.98 back for a PROFIT Total between the two runs: I was paid $4.13 to take it home **4 pack of razors are going to the food pantry. Here is my ma

Carefree pantiliners 20/22 ct $.99 -$.99 Carefree pantiliners 18-22 ct Free up to $1 (exp 6/30/11) 5/08/11 ss ***If you don't need them, this is a GREAT item to donate to your local pantry! Clean & Clear morning burst body wash 16 oz $5.99 bogo -bogo Clean & Clear Body Wash, up to $5.99 (exp 5/15/11) 3/27/2011 SS This gets you TWO FREE! ***If you don't need them, this is a GREAT item to donate to your local pantry! Colgate Total Gum Defense or Advanced Toothpaste 4oz., Toothbrush 2/$6 - get $4 RR Use two $1/1 Colgate Total Toothpaste 4oz+, Diabetes & You Spring 2011 x5/30 This gets you TWO FREE ***If you don't need them, this is a GREAT item to donate to your local pantry! Deals with Mail In Rebates : Nexcare waterproof 20 ct, or soft 'n flex or active 30 ct bandages $2.99 get $2.99 MIR limit 1 rebate each, 3 total -$1 nexcare, any (exp 12/31/2011) This becomes a $1.01 Money Maker! Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotic 30 ct $15 get $15 MI

It's no surprise that going to the movies now a days can be an expensive experience. Just Miss Sarah and I can run almost $30 if we go to a matinee, get a popcorn and a soda. Insane. The popcorn isn't even fresh! They pop it, put it into a bag, drag it into the back room. They bring it out of the back room and warm it up as they need it. (blech) I am NOT opening a discussion about who smuggles what into the theaters in their purse or diaper bag...it's between you, and your family. Just rethink the cans of soda that we can all hear you open in the dark - yes, we know what that sound is, LOL! We love the Kid's Series as it is CHEAP, they show Kid Friendly shows and it's great for either a super hot day or a day with so much rain that you feel housebound. Here are the details: Keep it cool with Marcus Theatres® this summer! MARK YOUR CALENDARS: There are now THREE DAYS a week for you to enjoy your favorite family friendly films for just $2! Join us Tuesda

This is a rough plan for what I am after this Saturday at the store. Transaction #1 2 packs of hot dogs @$2 (for the picnic) Using 2 $1/1 coupons that will double to make them free 2 bags Temptations cat treats @$ (no clue - I think they are $2.25 a bag) Using 2 $1/1 coupons that will double to make them almost free 2 Nivea Lip Care @ $1 Using a $1/2 Nivea Lip Care printable (Facebook offer) Free after doubled coupon 1 package Angel Soft TP (smallest they have) Using a $1/1 coupon that will double to make it almost free Kraft Singles $2 Using a $.75/1 coupon that will double to make it just $.50 Newman’s Own Lemonade $1.50 using the "Like them on Facebook for a $1/1 Newman’s Own printable" better than FREE after doubled coupon Pepperidge Farm Layer Cake @ $2 Using the $.55/1 coupon that will make it $1.10 when doubled 2-3 Artichokes at $1 -- weigh them to get the heavier ones. Should be about $5 -- I will use about $4 in RR Transaction #2 3 pa

Last year, Miss Sarah and I made the Berry Special Teacher Gifts. Our school made it pretty simple for us this year - they sent home a sheet that told us what to do. Each day this week, there was one thing we were supposed to bring in for the teachers... I'm not sure how the teachers rated above Mom this year - they got five days of gifts and goodies at our school and Mom only gets that one Sunday... (enough said) Day one : bring a flower for your teacher. We choose to make them. We cut out "petals" and used a sucker as the center. Ms Sarah was proud of her handy work: Day two: the printed flowers (that were sent home) needed to be colored, cut out and have "I love my teacher because...." written on them. Day three: give the teacher some original artwork from your child. We put it into a limited release Express Yourself Tupperware Tumbler. (yes, the other parents rolled their eyes at me...) Day Four: bring some chocolate for your teacher. I had scored a

Here is a list of this weekend's city wide garage sales -- Keep in mind the gas prices: It may or may not be worth it to you to drive too far to hit a sale where you drive around that town. Make your list, pack your snacks, get their map and GO FOR IT! Annual Howards Grove Garage Sales 5/5/2011 5/7/2011 Fox Lake City Wide Rummage Sale 5/5/2011 5/7/2011 17th Annual Eagle Community Rummage 5/5/2011 5/8/2011 Boscobel City Wide Garage Sale 5/6/2011 5/6/2011 Belleville Village Wide Garage Sale 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 Chili Area Wide Garage Sales 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 Lake Mills City Wide Rummage Sale 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 Suamico Village Wide Rummage 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 Waunakee Village Wide Garage Sale Days 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 Weston Village Wide Garage Sale 5/6/2011 5/7/2011 100-Mile Garage Sale (Southwest WI) 5/6/2011 5/8/2011 Palmyra City Wide Rummage 5/6/2011 5/8/2011 Tomah Spring City-Wide Garage Sales 5/6/2011 5/8/2011 Amherst Village Wide Garage Sale 5/7/2011 5/7/2011 Green Lake

Here is a list of fun, frugal things to do with the kiddos this weekend - remember to take care of Mom on Sunday! =)                                 Saturday                      Madison Farmer's Market Capitol Square, 6AM - 2PM, rain or shine, no pets, The largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country. All items are produced locally by the vendor behind the table. No resale allowed! March for Babies Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Madison Join the annual walk to benefit March of Dimes. Raise pledges, coordinate a group, or simply participate as an individual. Online registration available, or day of race 8:30 registration, 9:30 start time. Pledge information and registration at www.marchforbabies.org or call (608) 243-7764. Henry Vilas Zoo IF YOU GO: To protect animals, the zoo does not provide straws (or lids) when purchasing beverages. You may want to bring your own cup that fits in the stroller cup holders, and transfer a beverage you might purchase while there

Thank you for coming to my class tonight and stopping in to check us out! I saved $40,000 in less than one year from just making a few simple changes in our family budget - you can too! Couponing is just the tip of the iceberg - but accounts for over 25% of my savings! You will find my class schedule, recipes and most importantly, printable coupon links all on their own pages, at the top of my blog...along with tabs for the different stores and the local coupon policies. If you want to schedule a class, or have any questions, please just shoot me an email at op40K@aol.com I hope you are able to put your new knowledge to good use quickly! Blessings, Dannelle

You can get a FREE Pringles Speaker can when you buy 4 Super Stack Pringles and submit the rebate form and your original receipt.  Products must be purchased between April 15 and October 31, 2011 and rebate must be postmarked by 11/31.  There is a limit of one rebate per household or address. We will have a new $1/3 Pringles Snack Items ETS Target Coupon coming for some of you tomorrow in the 5-1-11 Target P&G Insert, plus if you have the P&G Everyday Savings Booklet there is a $1/2 Pringles MQ you can stack with. (thanks Chitown Cheapskate and Tottaly Target!)

I told you here that I was going to the Waunakee City Wide Garage Sale with $40 in my pocket. I had cell phone numbers for my buddies (Hi Kelley and Katie!) and grabbed a copy of the map right away. I have to say, Waunakee has the most AWESOME garage sale map of ANY place I have ever shopped: it is an actual booklet, complete with advertising. It has the basic map of town in the center, and shows the subdivisions. The other pages list the specific sales (and their contents) by subdivision. I could tell right off the bat my target sales - I had fifteen streets marked off, out of four subdivisions. If I hit a particularly good sale, I wrote the addy in the booklet for NEXT year. I will only hit THOSE three houses in those four subdivisions, and branch out to a few different ones. I know: a little crazy. You will understand when you see the following pictures - everything came to $26.75 . Seriously. I only hit six of the fifteen streets...ran out of time and space in the car! F

Tyson has started a new rebate program called Thanks Mom . You will earn FREE items when you purchase Tyson Chicken Nuggets or Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips between May 1 – 31st. The offers include: Purchase (1) Tyson product and receive a free Kodak Photo Book. Purchase (2) Tyson products and receive a free Fun Pass. Purchase (3) Tyson products and receive a free salon treatment. Love getting stuff for me from purchasing our favorite chicken nuggets. (Thanks Kansas City Mom)

  Walgreens is offering a FREE 8×10 Collage Print thru Saturday when you enter the code FREECOLLAGE at checkout. You can pick it up at your local Walgreens when you are ready (don’t have to be same day). ***  You can also get a second 8×10 collage when you use the code FORMOM at checkout (Thanks Couponing To Disney!)

***New items have been added . An updated local list of which stores double and which don't is coming soon! Sentry Coupon Policy is here ***Keep in mind that you can NOT stack at some Sentry stores, that means you can't use a manufacturers coupon on top of a store coupon that is in their sale flier. Check with your particular store to see. Other than that, here are the deals: Produce Deals: Sweet Jumbo Vidalia Onions $.69/# Fresh Green Beans $.99/# Fresh Broccoli $.99/# Mangoes $.89 EACH - weigh them to get the heavier ones. Dairy Deals: ***New: Sargento Shredded Cheese $1.99 Use $0.55/1 from May All You magazine Total: $0.89 after double coupons Fiber One Yogurt 4-pack $1.99 Use $.50 coupon from the 4/17 SS Or $.50 coupon from the 3/27 SS Final cost: $.99 after doubled coupon Meat Deals ***New: Trans Ocean Imitation Crab or Lobster Classic 2/$4 Use $1/1 Trans Ocean Classic printable coupon Total: FREE after double coupons Sirloin End Roast

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 Air Wick Scented Oil twin refill pack Save $1/1 or single refills Save $1/2 (6/19) Air Wick Get Double Fresh warmer unit free wyb any Scented Oil refill up to Save $2.50 (6/19) Allegra 24hr 5ct & 15ct, 12hr 12ct, Allegra-D 12hr 10ct, 24hr 5ct, or children’s 12hr Save $2/1 (7/9) Allegra 24hr 30ct+, Allegra-D 12hr 20ct or 24hr 10ct Save $4/1 (7/9) Arm & Hammer toothpaste, whitening booster or mentadent product 2.5oz+ Save $.75/1 (8/31) Carefree Free 18-22ct Save $1/1 (6/30) Clear Care twin pack cleaning and disinfecting solution Save $3/1 (7/15) Clear Care 12oz+ bottle of cleaning and disinfecting solution Save $1/1 (7/15) GenTeal any Save $1.50/1(9/30) Hanes apparel item Target coup

It wasn't posted in our store sales fliers - but IS listed on the Copps.com website: THIS Saturday, you can double TEN coupons (up to a $1 value) with your $25 base purchase, instead of just five. Make the most of it! :)

I skipped Copps today - simply didn't need enough to warrant a $25 transaction...and I have the stockpile swap coming up on Saturday. I DID pick up that pizza at Kwik Trip ($1.05) and stopped at the Village Hearth Bread Outlet for a loaf of cottage bread and bag of Cinnamon Bagels. Both were $1.69, but today was 25% off day, for a grand total of $3.06 Here is my math for the month: $100.00 -18.39 at Aldi - 2.72 at Wags ------------ $78.89 - $4.11  - Kwik Trip and Bread Outlet --------- $74.78  to go Not bad -- 25% of my budget on the first week, but we have a LOT of fresh fruit to enjoy! How did YOU do at the stores?

Here is the list from Pocket Your Dollars, I have it updated with OUR pricing and flier - my changes are in RED . Happy planning! --> Buy $100 in Kohl’s and/or Cheesecake Factory Gift Cards, Get $10 Off a Future Purchase Spend $100, get $10 back Final price: $90 after money off a future purchase** **If you do lots of back-to-school shopping at Kohl’s and you have the cash on-hand, consider the Kohl’s gift card for that purpose. Produce Deals Roundy’s Baby-Cut Carrots (1 lb) $1.00 Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $1.00 Green Asparagus $1.99/# -- make sure they are slender stalks, with firm tops. The larger they are, the tougher they are. **This beats Aldi's price! Artichokes $1 -- weigh them to get the heavier ones. Meat Deals Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Family Pack or Flavored Chicken Breasts $1.99/lb (Limit 2) Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $1.99/lb Whole Trimmed Beef Tenderloin Roast or Steak $5.99/# This is a GOOD price on a tr

I first talked about Kwik Trip here and shared their awesome $0.38 a pound deals on bananas, etc. I stopped today to get gas and my FREE cappachino...and saw a sheet at the counter about their May Specials. First of all - today is $1 pizza day! Slices of pizza for just $1 - I was temped by the breakfast pizza. Sausage, bacon, ham, egg and onion under layers of cheese. It was a large slice with a crisp crust and yummy!   You can see, from the box, what other flavors there are. Here is the rest of the deals for May (It looks like Wednesdays will be the one dollar deal day.) 6-9 Kwickery Muffins for $0.79 11 Cheeseburgers $1 13-19 Glazers Donuts 18 Burritos $1 20-23 Kwickery Cookies $0.25 (they all taste the same, no matter what flavor you get) 25 BBQ Rib sandwiches $1 25-31 Cheese Mountain (not a clue what it is yet...will research it) 27-30 Crispy Treats $1 Since I KNOW I cam make Crispy Treats for almost nothing (free cereal, $.29 for a bag of bunny marshmallows and $0.50 of

Last summer was all about saving money. Granted, we are still saving, but I am planning to hit the sales this summer! I simply missed it, LOL! I do not just go from sale to sale to sale and collect random things to fill our house. I have a plan. 1) If it is a city wide sale: get their map! I don't need to stop at a "Tupperware sale" as I sell it. I don't need to stop at a sale that has a lot of "great baby gear". I don' t need to stop at a sale that has a "ton of boy clothes". Etc.  A map helps you plan WHERE to go. 2) Have a list! I stock pile clothes for Miss Sarah to grow into. I will buy up to two sizes ahead - and shoot for a variety of items: church dresses, holiday outfits, winter shirts, summer shirts, jammies, etc. I keep a rough inventory so I know what I need to fill in the gaps.      I also have a book list, educational toy list, a DVD list, cake pan list, and a "what the heck" list - for those super cute outfit

Family Dollar accepts Manufacturer’s and Family Dollar issued coupons (including Internet coupons) that meet these requirements: - Coupons must be original (no photocopies) - Coupons must have a scan-able barcode or valid promotion code - Coupons must have a printed expiration date - Coupons can be redeemed only for items sold at Family Dollar, and can be redeemed only for the exact same item (package weight, size, etc.) - Coupons for free items are only accepted if a purchase is required to get one free - Maximum of two coupons per item. One coupon must be a Manufacturer’s Coupon and the second coupon must be a Family Dollar Coupon as long as neither coupon states that it is not valid with other coupons Family Dollar will NOT accept coupons that: - Are from other retailers - Are expired - Are Internet coupons without a scan-able barcode and/or promotion code - Contain the combination of an invalid barcode that won’t scan and promotion code that the register will not accep

I had to drop off the garage sale money at the bank today, and since my bank is close to Aldi - I thought it perfect timing for a quick visit! I got; 2 packs strawberries @ $0.99 Veggie Chips @ $1.69 Caramel Rice Snacks @ $1.99 2 Grapefruit @ $0.59 1 Cantaloupe @ $0.99 1 pack baby carrots @ $0.99 1 box powdered milk @ $5.99  (It goes in my emergency kit-- another post for another day) 1 avocado @ $0.89 1 3# bag of Gala apples @ $2.69 For a total of $18.39 We were running low of snacky stuff so carrots & dip, apples w/ peanut butter, guacamole, broiled grapefruit, fruit salad, and the bags of chips should hold us the next week or two. Then I hit Walgreen's . They were out of all the deals and their Tuesday delivery truck was VERY light so I only got the flossers. I now have $4 in RR and might hit another Wags tomorrow when I am taking my FIL to his eye appointment. I spent $2.72 here. New month = new budget! $100.00 -18.39 at Aldi - 2.72 at Wags --------

The Knack Card Make-It Take-It : This event it FREE - with purchase of flower. Honor mom this Mother’s Day with a heartfelt card that you design yourself. While supplies last. Ages 3 and up.

In my Meal Planning 101 Class, I talk about casseroles as being a good way to stretch the budget, not only by using oftentimes FREE pasta to be your base, but using leftovers to be your building blocks. So, we are going to start with a one pound box of pasta...cook as the package tells you. Then you need some protein. Here, we used some tuna (FREE from couponing). Of course, my four year old thinks we used Diplodocus Meat (it's a dinosaur...ask your four year old, they will know). **spell check does NOT like Diplodocus...just an FYI =) Now some veggies: leftover green peas and  Sauteed onions. Now you need some kind of sauce. I used two of these (again, FREE from coupons):  Mix it all together, add a little salt and white pepper. As this was seafood, I also added a bit of garlic powder and dill.  You should have enough to fill TWO casseroles (cook once, eat twice). Our second casserole went to the Peterson family. Cover with some cheese and bake at 350 for an hour or so.  Now rip

Occasionally, you score a really good deal when you are just driving down the road: things that are on a curb. Usually, this happens at the beginning of a  month, if people have been evicted and the landlords are simply pulling out what didn't get moved by the deadbeat tenants. This bed, was in a pile on a curb, with only half of it's screws. It's been in our garage for over a year. The hubster assembled it quick to get an idea of it, and the measurements, for Ms Sarah's room. This was going to be BIG for that little room.  The problem was going to be the base - it was for a full sized futon, that folds up into a couch. Since we didn't have room for it when it was fully extended, Hubster removed the entire base supports. This turned it into a loft bed instead!  She seems to like it - what do you think?  It isn't ready yet - we still need things like sheets - but she didn't care! Her "nest" is complete with all the stuffed animals she could carry