Operation $40K

I forgot that I had sent for the FREE Target Beauty Bag offer...so it was fun to see it show up! Even the little coupon booklet was great - I am all set for my trip to Cousin Eric and Katie's wedding now, LOL! Even Ms Sarah had some fun mail today - Aunt Janet and Uncle Bob sent her a special package with musical bunny ears! (which she wants to wear to church...I am working on this one...) Have you gotten anything fun from the mailman lately?

Yes, I managed to squeeze in a run today and score some deals on DOUBLE Double day! =) I wasn't sure I would make it as I left at 6:30 AM for a Tupperware Training in Green Bay, and then we got home and I had to pick up Ms Sarah at my Mom's. We made it though - three transactions and stayed under $10 total! Transaction #1 1 gallon milk @$3.39 1 pack Chips Ahoy Cookies @$2.00 (normally $2.99) 3 packs Uncle Ben's Garden Veggie Ready Rice @$1.75 4 packs OreIda Sweet Potato Fries @$2.50 (normally $3.15) Wonka bar @$1.88 (normally 2.39) Coupons Used: FREE milk voucher, $1 off Chips Ahoy when you buy milk (doubled),three $1 off Uncle Ben's (doubled to $1.75), four $1 off OreIda Sweet Potatoes (doubled), $1 off Wonka (doubled) Total $26.67 for $.93 ````````````````````` Transaction #2 2 packs Uncle Ben's Garden Veggie Ready Rice @$1.75 3 packs OreIda Sweet Potato Fries @$2.50 (normally $3.15) 5 Wonka bar @$1.88 (normally 2.39) 1 Mint Chocolate Jell-O Temptations @$2.99 (no

Here is a list of some things in the Madison area to do this weekend - you Just let me know if I missed something! =) We already have our tickets to see the Cinderella Story at the Waisman Center on Sunday - maybe we will see you there! Saturday: Kids in the Rotunda Every Saturday October thru May - Overture Center for the Arts Overture Center offers free arts programs designed for children and families at 9:30 AM, 11 AM and 1 PM. The popular performing arts series for children and families offers a relaxed, kid-friendly environment in which to enjoy a diverse lineup of local and regional musicians, storytellers, jugglers, theater troupes, magicians and dancers. The 1 PM performances are sign language interpreted. Kids in the Rotunda takes place on the Rotunda Stage. Performances begin October 3rd, see website for schedule www.overturecenter.com Michaels – 10am-1pm, The Knack Crayola Event FREE Make-It Take-It: Create Vivid Art with Crayola Neon Explosion. Toys R Us – 11am-1pm, Thomas

(sigh) Another sad aspect to that show Extreme Couponing...aparantly, the one lady is being looked at for coupon fraud. Check out what Jill had to say: Was coupon fraud shown on TLC's Extreme Couponing? (Thanks Anne)

Print it for your binders/boxes! Yippee - a real policy in print! Cub Front End Operations – Customer Facing Coupon Policy Revised: 3/7/2011 Customer Facing Coupon Policy Cub Foods promotes a coupon friendly shopping experience and encourages customers to participate in store, manufacturer and internet coupon usage. The following policy guidelines are current, but Cub Foods may change this policy at any time and policy changes may not be advertised. Coupon redemptions are subject to the policy in effect at the time of redemption. The current policy information can be discussed with individual store management but is not posted in each store. General Coupon Acceptance Guidelines • Coupons are accepted in accordance to the stated requirements on the coupon at the time of purchase. These requirements include, but are not limited to: product type, flavor(s), size(s), quantities and minimum/maximum dollar purchase limits. • Coupons are intended for one time use and cannot be redeemed more t

Welcome to our Penny Pincher Series! Today we are going to look at ways to entertain the kiddos, without breaking the bank, just in time for summer ! I have shared a few ideas over the past year -- Using your Library Checking out your local Parks and Recreation department of your city where you can ask for the "gift of activity" from the grandparents. Instead of a bajillion tiny little toy parts to get lost, they could reuse a Zoo membership or fitness class! Getting out of the house. How about DIY Treats? Make your own sidewalk chalk, playdo, or Popsicles with the help of the little hands! These are EASY recipes: Let's start with the sidewalk chalk: 1 cup plaster of Paris 1 cup water Powdered tempera paint Mold for chalk (small paper cups, ice cube trays, tissue rolls, etc.) Mixing bowl and spoon In a large bowl, mix the water and plaster of Paris together. Add the powdered tempera paint to the mixture. Once the paint has been mixed in well, set it aside for a few minut

4-10 Smartsource Coupon Preview 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 A.1. $1/1 bottle steak sauce or marinde 10oz or larger (5/8) Air Wick FREE warmer unit wyb your favorite air wick scented oil refill fragrance (5/22) Air Wick $1/1 scented oil twin refill pack or (2) single refills (5/22) Air Wick $2/1 freshmatic compact odor detect starter kit (5/22) Bob Evans $1/2 sausage items (5/22) Bob Evans $1/2 refrigerated sides (5/22) Breakstones $1/2 sour cream 16oz or larger (5/31) Cheerios $1/2 boxes of Frosted, Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut, Fruity, Chocolate, Oat Cluster Crunch, Yogurt Burst, or Cinnamon Burst (5/21) Chex Cereals $0.50/1 box of Rice, Corn, Wheat, Honey Nut, Chocolate, Multi-bran or Cinnamon (5/21) Chex Mix Treats, Golden Grahams Tre

I talked about them last year - here . Some things are changing in the big world, that could be in your favor and make these veggies CHEAPER than you shopping at the store! Rebates. Check your local insurance, to see if you get any credit for connecting to a CSA. Some companies offer up to $250 for a year! That would take the $396 I was talking about down to $146. Now, talk to your employer. Some companies offer up to $150! Your veggies could be FREE for 6-9 months, and then, safely store some of them for winter. Check it out - it couldn't hurt! You would be supporting your local farmer, be more environmentally friendly and be trying new, FRESH, organic items! Let me know how it goes for you. Hugs!

I learned last night that my Pop was having surgery today -- so I am off to the hospital shortly! Nothing life threatening, other than having to be put out for it, but kind thoughts are always appreciated. =) I will get the Sentry deals of the week uploaded when I am home tonight -- they don't have many bargains this week and are high on produce! I personally, plan on Aldi and Copp's -- the best bang for the buck with the Saturday DOUBLE double day and the great pricing. I might be changing my meat "bottom price" to $2.50/# as it has been steadily climbing...and shows again this week with Sentry having their 80% lean ground beef for $2.49/# (normally $3.39/#) Don't just have a good day, make it a GREAT one!

I shared my thoughts on the pilot version of the show in December here... And still think it's a poor view of the real world of couponing. The average person doesn't buy 1500 tubes of deodorant or 2500 boxes of cereal in one visit. The average person doesn't get $5,000 of groceries for $5 in one transaction. The average person doesn't convert their home into a mini warehouse. The average person in Wisconsin doesn't have access to stores that TRIPLE coupons and have no limit as to how many you can use in one transaction - or a store that will waive their policy for you that one time so you can be on TV! Enough said. =) Keep doing what is best for YOUR family and taking great joys in knowing that you are saving MORE than you were before you started couponing. Blessings~

This Saturday, April 9, is Double Double Daze at All Roundy's Stores! That means you can double up to ten coupons, instead of five, on Saturday; all other coupon doubling rules and restrictions apply. If you are new to shopping Double Daze, be sure to read Roundy’s (Rainbow Foods, Copps, and Pick N Save’s) double coupon policy before you get started to understand all the restrictions of their double coupon promotion. Two things to remember about this list of deals. First, it does not include every sale-priced item that has a coupon. It only has those items whose final price is low enough for us to mention it. Second, it is a starting list: as we learn of more deals whose final price is low enough, we will update this list. Items that are added throughout the week will be noted as NEW. Items whose final price changes as a result of a new or modified coupon scenario will be noted as UPDATED. At least once this week we will send out a reminder to come back and check this list for the

I told you I was going back to Walgreen's to get a few more things...ALWAYS double check your receipts! I try to do this while I am in the car, before I end up at home. The Color Wonder paper deal doesn't ring up at $1.50 each -- one did at $1.50 and one did at $1.99 under stationary. Grrr......back inside for a price adjustment! I have a picture here of my bounty from this trip - 4 transactions...less the two Hershey Kisses, LOL! #1 Always's Pads $6.99 Colgate $2.99 Two Color Wonder sets $3 Coupons used : $1 off the Always, two $1 off the Color Wonder -->Paid $11.21, got $2 RR for the Always and $3 for the Colgate #2 Same as #1 but I used a $10 RR to bring the total paid to $1.21 #3 One $.05 piece of candy (Hershey Kiss) Tampax Pearl @$6.99 Coupons used: $2 off Tampax, $3 RR from Colgate -->Paid $2.42, got $2 RR #4 Same as #3 Total spent OOP: $17.26 but I got back $1.04 from the over-ring...so it was $16.22 and i got $14 back in RR! (I spent $6 of it by rolling them

I hit one Walgreen's and got Colgate $2.99 - $1 coupon for the the $3 RR deal three times and use $3 in RR for a total OOP of $3, but profit of $6! These will go to the food pantry this weekend with the case of animal crackers! That left me $9 in RR for Copp's today! Transaction #1: 3 boxes of cat food @$2.49 Chips Ahoy Cookies @$2 (normally $2.99) 4 boxes Tornadoes @$2 (normally $2.49) 1# green beans @$.99/# (normally $1.48/#) 2# bag of carrots @$1.49 (normally $1.69) 1 gallon skim milk @$2.49 Coupons used: Four $.75/1 Tornadoes (doubled), $1/1 cookies when you buy milk (doubled), three FREE cat food coupons, FREE milk coupon, $3 RR Total $26.49 for $1.88 and that should finish the collection or Tornadoes for my hubby, in the freezer for a while, LOL! The cat food was added to the pile for the Humane Society =) Transaction #2: 1# dried beans for soup @$1.49 (normally $1.99) 4 boxes Creamette Bow Tie Pasta @$.79 (normally $1.16) 6 pack of Musselman's Applesauce @$2.39 (stil

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 ALL $1.50/1 any free clear oxi-active laundry detergent (5/22) ALL $1/1 any laundry detergent (5/22) Covergirl $2/1 any lipperfection product (5/31) Fixodent B1G1 FREE any denture cleanser (5/31) Folgers $1/1 any coffee, 3oz or larger (5/14) Folgers $1/1 any bag gourmet selections coffee (5/14) Hefty $0.55/1 any waste bags (6/30) Hefty $1/2 any packages (7/31) Keebler $0.50/2 any packages or ready crust pie crusts any flavor, size, mix or match (6/5) Kellogg’s $1.50/3 any packages of corn pops, apple jacks, froot loops, honey smacks, frosted mini-wheats little bites, cinnamon and/or kellogg’s frosted flakes cereals 10oz or larger, any flavor, mix or match (5/22) Mach3 Buy (1) disposable, sensor3, customplus3, good news, or custom plus and get (1) FREE of equal or lesser value up to $7.13 (5/31) Mars $1/2 a

It's that time again, to log into Sample Showcase and see if you qualify for the new boxes they are mailing out! It's FREE to join if you aren't a member and the FAQ's are listed below. One of my favorite things about sample/trial sizes is the ease of packing for trips - they make it SOOOO easy! =) Good luck! Why do companies offer free samples? Companies, large and small, provide StartSampling with the product samples we make available to you. Why? Because they believe they have great products and that if people have a chance to try them, they will start to buy them. Many of these companies are also very interested in reaching and gaining the feedback from specific groups of consumers. So they "target" samples accordingly in the hopes of getting the information they think is most valuable for their brand needs. For instance, a company may select a group of consumers based on prior sampling feedback, or based on the information provided by a set of questions.

I shared info about their Rebate program last year ... see here. This is kind of like the Register Rewards at Walgreen's but you have to mail in the form to get your perks back...even though you can still roll them along. What is nice is the simple fact that these do NOT expire, soyou can be patient and roll them over when you find the right deal. I LOVE the FREE after rebate items, but will settle for less than free, if I can use up old rebate checks to make up the difference. =) (must purchase by 4/17) 23″ x 42″ Vinyl Mini Blinds (White or Ivory) $2.00 (Limit 2) Spend $2, then submit for $2 mail-in rebate Final price: Free after rebate Vortex Paint Mixer $3.50 (Limit 2) Spend $3.50, then submit for $3.50 mail-in rebate Final price: Free after rebate House Wash $6.00 (Limit 4) Spend $6, then submit for $6 mail-in rebate Final price: Free after rebate Wood Claw Hammer $2.99 (Limit 2) Spend $2.99, then submit for $2 mail-in rebate Final price: $0.99 after rebate 100% Silicone S

I am not going to be able to do Double Double Day on Saturday, so I have a quick visit planned for this Wednesday: I only spent $1.89 so far this month and have a lot left! This is a GOOD week for fresh produce at several of the stores and I will pick some up today or tomorrow, along with a Tuesday visit to Walgreen's for some FREEBIES! I am using up a few FREE coupons at Copp's and a couple of Walgreen's Register Rewards to round it all out. Here is what I am planning for tomorrow: Transaction #1 1 gallon of milk (using the $3.59 Kellogg's voucher) 1 package Chips Ahoy Cookies @$1.99 (I have a $1/1 when you buy milk - it will double) 4 packs of Tornadoes at $2 (Normally $2.49) 2 packs of Carrots (2 lb)@$0.98 1-2# of Green Beans @0.99/lb 1-2 boxes of FREE cat food (using the coupons I still have) This puts me at about $25 of items for about a OOP cost of $4.00, unless I use my last $2 in RR. What is YOUR plan this week?

Here we are, in year four of the recession (which the experts say have been over for a year...) and people are seeing prices continue to creep up on everything from cereal to gasoline! OUCH! It's time to take a look back to the days of the "great depression" and see how they made it through. They DID make it through...three generations later, we wouldn't be here if they didn't! =) I am going to do a series of posts, on the big lessons of the depression. I have had a nice long chat with my Grandmother (in her 90s) who was a girl and remembers her family's struggles pretty clearly as the oldest sister. She also shared a few things that, as a newly married woman, she needed to get creative with during World War Two, with all of the shortages. There wasn't a lot of money to play with - and, when compared to now, a lot less "stuff" that they could buy. They didn't have even one television (not invented yet) and now it seems like everyone NEEDS one

OK, it's the 80's - you have to have a HUGE entertainment center! One that holds your TV, VHS player, tape deck, turntable, , cd player, tuner, speakers and all the stuff to put in those! Seriously, this monster of a unit takes up 2/3 of one wall, in your family room! Fast Forward 20 or so years to the future (around our time) and everything is smaller! (shocker!) You can replace all four of those stereo items with an iPod who's docking station is smaller than one of those old VHS tapes. Tv's are totally different too! WHAT do you do with that old monster of a unit? I guarantee you that it won't sell on craigslist in the middle of 400 others that are listed! NO ONE will pick it up if you leave it out on the curb -- unless they are creative and can thing of alternate uses! I will share a few ideas on how to repurpose it - between this week and next: for the kiddos and to keep using in the family room. Check out what my friend Donna, from the Madison Coupon Connection

Sigh. It's cold again. I am SOOOOO ready for warm weather - anyone else?? Another fun week: A Monday night meeting, 3 days of Karate, two Tupperware parties, a class to teach, a Director Meeting, a play date for Ms Sarah and lots of phone calls to make. We have an abundance of food right now and NEED to work on the freezer some more so I have room for the DOUBLE DOUBLE day plan! 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 two boxes!) -Yogurt (I still have 14 packs left...but have her thinking they are "pudding", LOL) -had boiled eggs (yes, I am slowly thawing them out) -boxed cereal (might as well, we have 28 boxes in stock!) Lunches as normal (sandwiches, soup, left overs, tappas plates) and for dinner... Monday - (Meeting NIGHT) Fridge Clean Out Tuesday - Grilled pork tenderloin**, skillet potatoes and mixed veggies** (we skipped it on Sunday) Wednesday - (Breakfast n

We kicked this off a few weeks ago - the challenge info is here WHAT AN AWESOME START SO FAR!!! 63 baby items were reported as donated last week to their local pantry! Week #2 was 167 dental items reported to me! Week #3 was 153 shampoo and comb items reported! The last week was a tad low: 44 items reported in. The weekly winner has been emailed, and we are off to week #5! That makes a total of 424 items so far~! These week's focus : Donate before Sunday, April 10th: Children's items! Think juice boxes, animal crackers, microwave popcorn, books, fruit Roll Ups. **I am going to talk to my store manager and see if I can get a case deal on Animal Crackers. The poor kids are the ones that are really getting the short end of the stick in this tragic time, let's really make it a better week! =) In Tupperware, I teach my team that A Little, Often, Equals Much. When everyone helps a little bit, it adds up to an amazing outcome that more than rewards your heart. This is no different

Coupons.com has some great new coupons this week! Grocery: $1.50 OFF 1 NESTLE BUTTERFINGER 9.2oz Fun Size Bag $1.50 OFF 1 Kahiki product 24 oz. or larger $1.00 OFF 1 Newman’s Own Thin & Crispy Pizza $1.00 OFF 1 package of Hillshire Farm Lunchmeat (8 oz. or larger) $1.00 OFF any 1 lb. of LAND O LAKES Deli Cheese $1.00 OFF 1 Progresso Panko Crispy Bread Crumbs $1.00 OFF 1 Kahiki product 13 oz. or smaller $1.00 OFF 1 Pemmican Beef Jerky or Beef Brisket, 3.25 oz $1.00 OFF 1 McCann’s Irish Oatmeal product $1.00 OFF 1 Hidden Valley Salad Kit $1.00 OFF Power of Fruit Frozen All-Fruit Bars $1.00 OFF 1 Truvia Sweetener $1.00 OFF 1 Weight Watchers Frozen Novelty Carton $1.00 OFF 5 Totino’s Crisp Crust Party Pizza Products $0.75 OFF 1 Farm Rich Snack $0.75 OFF 1 Kix, Berry Berry Kix, or Honey Kix $0.75 OFF 1 Chex Cereal $0.75 OFF 1 any flavor/variety Cascadian Farm product $0.75 OFF 1 Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal $0.75 OFF 1 KRAFT 2% Milk Singles Cheese product $0.75 OFF 1 Roman Meal Bread

You can head to www.Iheartwags.com to see more - this is just the "hot" deals this week! COUPON DEALS Hershey’s Reese’s Candy – $0.39 with in-ad coupon Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon from the 4/3 SmartSource insert Free plus overage after coupon Lysol Neutra Air – $2.50 Buy 2 and use 2 $1.50/1 coupon from the 3/20 SmartSource insert Plus use $1/2 Walgreens printable $0.50 each after coupons Purex Detergent – $1.99 with in-ad coupon Use $1/1 coupon from the 3/13 RedPlum insert $0.99 after coupons REGISTER REWARD DEALS Buy 1 Colgate Maxfresh, MaxWhite or MAxClean Toothpaste at $2.99, Get $3 Register Rewards Use $0.35/1 coupon from the 4/3 SmartSource insert Free plus overage after coupon and Register Rewards Buy 2 Colgate Toothbrush at $2.50, Get $3 Register Rewards Use 2 $1/1 coupon from the 3/27 SmartSource insert Free after coupons and Register Rewards Buy 2 Pantene, Aussie or Herbal Essences Hair Care at $3.50, Get $2 Register Rewards *Deal Idea* Buy 2 Herbal Essences products –

Spring is here - we are all trying to get ready for summer - and short season. If you are working on shedding that winter storage ... please consider just joining us online! For each pound of weight you lose, 10 pounds of food will be donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank - up to one million pounds! I've joined and I'm asking my friends to get in on this as well. ..please pick Bethel Lutheran Church if you don't see your favorite pantry on the list, we have an extensive Homeless Ministry and reach out to a lot of people. If you were shooting for a two pound loss each week - you could help donate 160 pounds of food over the next 8 weeks. That is a LOT of help to those who need it. =) No worries - no one will see your progress online, but our group get to know the TOTAL weight loss of the group and how much food we earn for our pantry. God bless.... Join Now

For the entire month of April 2011, Kids Eat FREE at IHOP every day from 4pm-10pm! Here are the details (from the IHOP website): Receive one FREE Kid's Meal* with each adult entree purchase from 4pm-10pm every day in April. *Free meal valid for kids 12 and under on "Just for Kids" menu items. Drinks not included unless otherwise specified on "Just for Kids" menu. Dine-in only. Available at participating locations only for a limited time. Not valid with any other discounts or coupons. IHOP Locations in Madison 2825 University Avenue, Suite 1 608-236-4200 4614 E. Washington Avenue 608-244-5807 (thanks Madison Coupon Connection!)

Fun Stuff this week! HOT produce deals to be had! --Remember my price guidelines (Produce under $1 a pound and meat under $2 a pound) HyVee has another 2-Day sale this week. Yippe!! We are starting to see some of the Easter/Spring holiday prep items I was talking about on sale: Baking items and more! 10 for $10 deals are back - just remember, this also means you can buy just ONE item for $1. Work with your coupons - you don't need to buy 10 items when you only have coupons for 4. Produce: Stemilt Cameo Apples $.88/#) Melissa's Fresh Jicama $.88/# - this is crunchy like celery, yet juicy like a pear with a very mild flavor. Cut it into strips and serve with dip, like you would carrots. Yum! Fresh Green Peppers $.77 EACH -- weight them and buy the heavier ones! Three good peppers should be two pounds. You can CLEAN them, DICE them and FREEZE them for use later! Golden Ripe Cantaloupe $1.48 EACH - again, weigh them to make sure you keep to the $1/# Baby carrots $1/# Meat Deals: I