Operation $40K

Welcome to Consultant "Week" (that really lasts TWO weeks, LOL)! -We already did Pink Papaya -- and the winner was: Taber! -We already did Mary Kay -- and the winner was Dorinna ! -We already did PartyLite -- and are winner was  Kathy ! - We already did Paparazzi -- and are waiting for the winner to claim her prize...(we had to repick and repick...) - We already did Miche -- and the winner was Trish ! This is our LAST one in the series -- Pampered Chef!     Miss Amy is giving away a Salad Chopper - retail $26 :) Make fresh chopped salad or salsa in the bowl! Recesses on titanium-coated stainless blades keep foods from sticking. Spring-loaded soft-grip handles are ready on your hands. Great for boneless chicken breast too! The Pampered Chef® is the premier direct seller of high quality kitchen tools and part of Berkshire Hathaway. At in-home Cooking Shows, guests see and try products, prepare and sample recipes, and learn quick and easy food preparatio...

It's Lent! Seafood deals like crazy :) Here are this week's produce deals : Grapefruit $.29 each Gala Apples $.66/lb. in a 3lb. bag for $1.99 Strawberries $1.49/lb. (up $.30 from last week) Navel Oranges $.32/lb in a 4lb for $1.29 Blackberries $.69 for 6 oz Green Grapes $.89/lb. in a 2lb. clamshell for $1.78 Now, the seafood! Fish Fillets or Fish Sticks (Crunchy or Battered, 19-24 oz.). $2.49 Fish Tenders (Battered, 18 oz.). $2.49 ($.50 less than last week) Stuffed Clams (12 ct., 20 oz.). $3.29 ($2.63/lb.) Wild Caught Salmon Fillets (1 lb.). $3.99 Tilapia Fillets (24 oz.). $4.49 ($2.99/lb.) Shrimp Ring (1 lb.). $4.99 - comes with sauce

Need office funiture or equipment? Get it for a great deal! Our Friend Jill from Madison Consumer shared this info this week - check out her post HERE . Thanks Jill! :)

So Miss Melanie is here! She is getting me all organized today -  here you see her sorting Coupons for the Military that we are mailing out today. :) I wish I could give ALL of you a day with Melanie - She helps with my blog, my Tupperware, my Crops, and more! Her hair is SUPER cute -- she just donated over a foot to Locks of Love and is NOT used to having it so long that she can practically sit on it. Yes, I hang with good people. :)

A GREAT question from a blog follower who was at my coupon class last night: I follow you blog, see your transactions and don't see you buying meat! It kills my budget, how are you doing that? Easy: I shop with the stockpile system. I look for the low price and get enough to ride it out until the next time that price drops. When ground turkey is on sale for $1 a pound, I will buy 10-20 pounds of it, instead of just 1-2. I can eat ground turkey, once a week, for four months without having to buy it. Now, this DOES require a chest freezer! Inside my very full freezer, if you lifted the lid, you would see: 5# hamburger gravel 5# hamburger patties 5# Meat for pasties 3# meatballs 2# mini meatloaves 2# Swiss steak 22 # ground turkey 1 whole turkey 2 whole hams, sliced and shaved 8 bacon wrapped turkey fillet 2 pork tenderloin 2# pork chops 2# pork ribs 2 whole chickens 3# bone in breasts 3# drumsticks 6# boneless skinless 2# Italian sausage 2# polish sau...

I asked for Box Tops and several of you have replied! Collectively, you have sent in over 500 of the little buggers for Miss Sarah. We thank you! I have several manila envies going out today with my bribe thank you gift. The coupon is part of the box - so don't miss it! It will be a bit before we know how her class did as they have a little time yet to collect them...but I will update you with the news. =) Blessings- Dannelle

I am a Pinterest Junkie. Seriously, I might need a support group! More on that another time but one thing that has been popping up all over is stuff made from pallets. I get it - they are usually FREE and with the skyrocketing cost of wood, they are an alternative to budget friendly  building supplies. This is for pallets you "rescue" from the trash, not ones you buy new... Just look at some of these fun projects: Here's the problem: the wood is usually tainted in some form. It can happen several different ways: 1) They are usually treated with chemicals. Pallets are usually made of engineered wood and cardboard. They're oftentimes loaded with formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). I am old enough to remember the treated wooden playground structures that used to be in almost every city park - that were dangerous to children for that reason - they were treated with toxins like arsenic, etc. They are also usually fumigated (see #3). Fumigation is often per...

Friday is my birthday! I used to think (well, actually I still do) it was funny when women would lie about their age and say that they were younger than they were. -If I told you I was going to be 34, you might be thinking - "Dang, life's been tough on her - she looks so much older than she is"! If I told you I was going to be 54, you would say "You look great"! (And for 54, I would look pretty darned good, LOL) I fall right in the middle - I will be 44. Yes, I am 44 and have a 5 year old. She goes to bed at 8PM and I go to bed at 8:05. (sigh) Age is a privilege denied to many - so every candle you earn on a birthday cake is a good one. =) March 9th is also Facebook Flash Friday around here SO....that means a few fun flash giveaways! If you don't follow  my FB page, it is HERE. I have a bunch of prizes, already in envelopes and ready to mail out - ranging from coupon envelopes to Walgreen's gift cards! I will have some during the morning...

Here are the NEW ones out today in the world of printables - enjoy! Health & Nutrition $1.75 off when you buy any One A Day Multivitamin Product Foods BOGO Van de Kamp's or Mrs Paul's get Birds Eye Health Care $4.00 off Non-Drowsy Claritin-D Allergy $4.00 off Non-Drowsy Claritin Allergy Product $1.50 off one bottle of Emetrol for Nausea Home Entertainment $5.00 off any Footloose (2011) Blu-ray™ or dvd Personal Care $2.00 off renu fresh™ multi-purpose solution

This Sweepstakes is sponsored by Freetail Therapy , Operation $40K , Dazzling Daily Deals , Super Kids Resale , and Naddez's Tidbyts . There will be 3 winners, and each will get a $10 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate. Enter in the Rafflecopter below, and good luck!

Welcome to my site! I LOVE helping people save money at the stores so they can put it to a more effective use for their families! I saved $40,000 in less than one year from just making a few simple changes in our family budget - you can too! Couponing and Meal Planning are just the tip of the iceberg - but account for about 50% 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 stores' coupon policies . I am on Twitter and Facebook too (under Operation 40K) if you want to schedule a class or have any questions, please just shoot me an email at op40K@aol.com . Blessings, Dannelle

**Remember, Piggly Wiggly stores are independently owned and their ads occasionally don't match up as prices may vary per store. (YMMV). If you shop at  Frank's Elkhorn Store - they double up to $.50 every Wednesday - no limit as to how many but, limit of 2 like items Thanks to Ashley from Coupons for Wisconsin for the great match up! See it HERE

It was pretty much like I had planned -- 6 transactions of fun! Transaction #1 20 StarKist Tuna Packs @$1.19 (was $1.49) - 1 pack flour @$1.28 --coupons used: ten $.75/2 coupons (doubled), $6.00 in Catalinas/Register Rewards, $.05 bag refund $27.28 for $4.03 Transaction #2 20 Barilla Pasta @$1.15 Milk @$2.59 --coupons used:  ten $1/2 Barilla (doubled) , $3.49 milk Catalina, Store coupon for $.30 off milk $25.59 for $1.80 Transaction #3 20 Barilla Pasta @$1.15 flour @$1.28**original price of flour is over $2 --coupons used: ten $1/2 coupons (doubled), $2.00 RR $25.33 for $2.28 Transaction #4 20 Barilla Pasta @$1.15 flour @$1.28 **original price of flour is over $2 --coupons used: ten $1/2 coupons (doubled), $2.00 RR $25.33 for $2.28 Transaction #5 20 Barilla Pasta @$1.15 flour @$1.28 **original price of flour is over $2 --coupons used: ten $1/2 coupons (doubled), $2.00 RR $25.33 for $2.28 Transaction #6 10 more Starkist Tuna Packs @$1...

We have an art cart - a large rolling cart with drawers full of projects and crafty stuff, just for Miss Sarah. She is now WAY into headbands and found a headband "skeleton" in her cart. I think it was a New Year's Eve tiara base but could be wrong....  She picked out a ribbon and we wrapped it - she chose purple "velvet". THEN it needed a flower... felt scrap box to the rescue! Two goofy shaped "circles" were stacked on top of each other and stitched to the headband. She picked out a few beads for the center of the flower and we sewed those in too... It turned out pretty cute and took less than 30 minutes to do. She is now on the hunt for MORE skeletons and lining up ribbon/felt combos, LOL! I might have to place an order through Oriental Trading!

On the 29th, I hit the bread outlet - for a whopping total of $3.08! Monthly Budget $100.00 -$7.90 (Miss Sarah having one school lunch a week) +14.38 Copps Trip 2/4 $106.48 +$4.19 Copps Trip 2/8 $110.64 - $4.87 Copps Trip 2/11 $105.77 -$16.47 Sentry Foods Run $89.30 -$42.00 Dinner Out 2/14 $47.30 -$13.14 Copps 2/16 -$3.51 bread outlet 2/15 $30.65 to go -$2.10 Pet Food -$.31 Walgreen's -$3.00 Sal's -$5.00 Egg and I +16.00 Walgreen's (2 RR's left from meds) $36.14 to go +$1.18 Copp's 2/22 -$17.06 HyVee 2/24 $20.26 + .73 Copps -$10.00 Walgreen's (Catalina's taken off their next shopping trip) -$3 Pizza Hut (we used a gift card and Sarah's Book It Voucher but needed to tip) -$4.00 Laredo's Lunch - used up a gift certificate and treated myself yesterday! $3.99 to go -$3.08 Bread Outlet 2/29 $.91 Under Budget for the month! =) How did you do?

If you have a Pawn America by you - they have Tuvies Tuesdays -- where you could get two DVDs for $3! I have mentioned this before -- but we have found some GREAT RARE movies there and seriously, they have THOUSANDS of DVDs. The price is right - if you are in the market for something new to watch. For the price of a movie rental, you can OWN the DVD. :) They have a 7 day guarantee - so you can bring it back if they don't play, but we check them all before paying. Happy shopping!

We had talked about keeping things budget friendly by using the local Parks And Recreation Programs to test things out before making that large investment. Once you decided that you do want to really "do" a sport/thing, try asking the family for the "gift of activity" for birthday or holiday presents. A little money from a few people can really add up and counter that $125 a month Karate Fee or that $600 a year Ballet class. Even $60 a month for piano lessons adds up! It is SO much better than that toy with a billion parts (that they only play with for a few weeks) and is an investment in their future. Sarah did Karate for 2 years and jumped up a few belt levels. Her schedule is simply too hectic - especially with modeling jobs being added in - so something had to go. This was it - we didn't renew when her contract ran out. She simply needs some time to be very FIVE. I can say that it has been AMAZING for her - my little high "I" personal...

$1/1 Florida Grapefruit or 59oz Grapefruit Juice (can get you a FREE 5 pound bag of grapefruit at Roundy's Stores this weekend) Breakfast $1.00 off when you buy any FIVE Balance Bar® Singles (1.76 oz) Health & Nutrition $1.75 off when you buy any One A Day Multivitamin Product Beverages $1.00 off one 11.5 oz. 6-pack of V8 juice. Health Care $5.00 off on any Nicorette Mini Lozenge Household $1.00 off Wisk Deep Clean™ Personal Care $1.00 off Kiss Premium Lash Product $1.00 off off Kiss Artificial Nail Product $2.00 off any Sally Hansen Lip Product $1.00 off Kiss Nail Dress

I know ya'll like to know where I am going and what I am getting - so here is the plan of the week! Aldi, HyVee and Walgreen's are pretty darned close together on East Washington Avenue in Madison. By "cluster" shopping, you can save gas and time! I1) Free toothpaste at Walgreen's -- it's always a great donation item! 2) A tough call -- I might just hit Aldi for some produce (Avocados, Pears, a Pineapple and Strawberries) and check out HyVee for peanut butter (Peter Pan $2/jar). I will need milk too. I don't see myself hitting Sentry Foods or Copp's this week - I am really pretty well stocked up! That's the beauty of having a stock pile, you can almost "not" shop and it's OK :) Blessings- Dannelle

A GREAT 2 week Pet Sale -- and some screamin' deals this week - yippee!  ***Keep in mind my guidelines: $1/# for fresh produce and $2/# or less for meat If you go and something is out... , GET A RAIN CHECK - HyVee in Madison: rain checks have NO expiration date! You can check out the store coupon policy here Produce Deals Green Grapes $1.00/# Sweet Ripe Cantaloupe $2.00 - weigh them and get a heavier one Stemilt Red Delicious Apples $1.00/# Texas Rio Star Red Grapefruit $.50 each - weigh them and get heavier ones Jumbo Zeal Navel Oranges $1.00/# Meat Deals 7 Bone Chuck Roast $3.00/# Hy-Vee Drumsticks or Thighs $1.00/# Delightful Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $2.00/# - in a 3# bag for $6.00 **tip: weigh a few bags and get the heavier one Hormel Little sizzlers $1.25 Oscar Mayer bologna or cotto salami $1.25 Bar S hot dogs or bologna $1.00 All Month Long: L and O' Frost deli shaved meat $2.50 -use the $0.55 OFF on ANY variety of LAND O'FROST® PREMI...

I don't have a KMart close to me -- I have to drive at least 30 miles to get to one but DO occasionally shop there. I know that a lot of people in Janesville do, so I will try to cover it more often. :) Kmart will be doing the double up to $1 ($25 purchase and only 5 coupons double) every Wednesday and Saturday until 4/28. ***Make Sure You Get Their Card*** Kmart has a Shop Your Way Rewards Member Loyalty Card that you will want to make sure you are signed up for. It is FREE and just like any other loyalty card you will receive coupons and special offers. You can sign up at Kmart.com !!   Our Friend Ashley from Coupons From Wisconsin did an ad match up for us - check it out HERE

Here are the best of the Dollar General Match ups from this weeks ad Special thanks to Nicole's Nickles for the great work! You can see the list HERE

A goal is a work in progress -- especially if you break it down. =) I had a GREAT guest post from the Thrifty Social Worker on it a few months ago: HERE Here is my update on my annual goals -- you can check it out HERE How are YOUR goals coming along?

I like to start out by looking at our family calendar and seeing what nights are busier than others - and working my menu around that. It's not a bad week -- I have a Tupperware meeting, a Coupon Class in Verona and a weekend with my gal pals - scrapbooking! Miss Sarah has it easy, piano lessons. That's it now that Karate is over. Again, I use using up things we have - working through some of the stockpile...I am bound and determined to lower that freezer level, regarless of a potential repeat Target deal (It had already happened by this time last year and they haven't answered my inquirey). * Means it is something I pulled out of the freezer Here is our list for the week: Breakfast will include: - Breakfast Cookies Pancakes* - Egg Scrambles - Yogurt parfaits* - Circus Waffles (I make ONE batch of batter and leave it in the fridge for a few days, until it's gone) Lunches as normal (sandwiches, snacky stuff, wraps , left overs, tappas plates) and for dinn...

Coupons.com Grocery Coupons Baby & Toddler $0.75 off ONE Pampers Wipes 60 ct or larger $0.75 off any JOHNSON'S Baby Lotion product $1.00 off two Daily Renewal Naturals $1.50 off any JOHNSON'S NATURAL product $2.00 off one package of GOODNITES Underwear $1.50 off On Any Triple Wash $1.50 off On Any Triple Cream $1.50 off ONE Pampers Cruisers or Baby Dry Diapers $1.50 off ONE Pampers Swaddlers Diapers $1.50 off any Triple Paste Beverages $1.50 off any one 11 oz package Starbucks Coffee $.50 off any 1 or 2 pack Sol Bliss fruit purees $0.50 off one (1) package of any Tetley Tea $1.00 off one Silk Fruit&Protein $1.00 off one Silk Pure Coconut $1.00 off any flavor International Delight $0.55 off one Silk Soymilk or Almondmilk $0.55 off on NEW Almond Plus almond milk $0.75 off one box of Lipton Green Tea Entertainment $25.00 off Dish Network-12 months includes $75VISA Foods $0.75 off any TWO (2) Bagel-fuls (4ct) $0.50 off two Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts $1.00 of...