Free Sample of Woolite Extra Dark Care

Go on over to the Woolite Facebook Page where you can sign up to receive a FREE sample of Woolite Extra Dark Care.  Just  "like" them and click on the "dark Friday" tab to find the form.  You'll also be entered into a drawing for a black Friday shopping spree!

Thrifty Thursday 11/10

We didn't need much this week thanks to a few recent "stock-up" trips, so I went to a some stores that I don't always have time to go to...including the Goodwill store and Ollie's Bargain Outlet.  I know it's not grocery related, but I LOVE to go to the Goodwill to look for books for my kids.  At $0.35 a piece, it's an inexpensive way to treat them!  I found some bargains today...including books by Tommie de Paola and Eric Carle, plus a hardcover Fancy Nancy book!  Ollie's didn't have much except for Betty Crocker fruit snacks for $0.99 a box.  We were out and my husband LOVES fruit snacks, so I bought a few boxes.    

My best deal of the day was at Walgreens where I got 2 cans of Clabber Girl baking powder for FREE after coupons!  (Well, I paid $0.03 for tax, but that's about as close to free as you'll get!)  :)

I also went to Kroger for one set of Mega Sale items (Kleenex, Nestle water bottles, Doritos -a sick present for my hubby-, and a carton of half & half) and some veggies, milk and eggs.  

And, unfortunately, I was FORCED to go to Walmart for a few non-grocery related items, so while I was there, I picked up a bottle of honey.  :) 

Here are my totals for the day...

Total value of all purchases (22 items from 4 stores - not including Goodwill) : $56.53
Total amount spent oop after sales and coupons :  $34.63
Total amount saved : $21.90 or 39%

Money (& Time) Saving Idea: Make Your Own Baking Mixes!

Recently, I was reading a post on HeavenlyHomemakers, and came across an idea that I had never thought of before but was such a great money-saving and time-saving idea!

If you're a person who likes to bake often, or if you've ever needed to whip up a quick batch of cookies or brownies or muffins and didn't have a boxed mix on hand, (or if you just don't like boxed mixes) then this tip is definitely for you!

Take some of your favorite baking recipes (I've listed a few of mine below), and place all of the dry ingredients that you need for the recipes in individual freezer-safe zip-top bags.  Label the bag with all of the wet ingredients you need to finish the recipe and baking directions.  Throw it in your freezer and, whala!, you have your own baking mixes that are ready to go when you need them.  Not only will it save you time and money, but you will have less dishes to wash and these recipes will more than likely be much healthier than the ones you buy in a box! 

I would put together several mixes at once to save you time later on.  Or, if you're planning on making something anyway, while you already have the ingredients out, go ahead and make 2 or 3 bagged mixes.  Here are a few of my favorite baking recipes:

Whole Wheat Cocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes

Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins  (This is one of my daughter's favorites!)

Cocoa Brownies

Dry Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

On Bag, Write...
Add 1/2 cup oil, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla to dry ingredients.  (Mix in nuts or chocolate chips if you wish.)  Pour into an 8x8 in pan (or mini muffin tin) and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 min.  (Baking time will be less if using muffin tin.)


Basic Muffins

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar

On Bag, Write...
Add 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 large egg, and 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp milk to dry ingredients.  (Add in berries or chocolate chips.)  Pour into 10 muffin cups and bake at 400 degrees for 18 - 24 minutes.

Walgreens Deals 11/6 - 12

There are a few nice freebies at Walgreens this week!


Get $1.99 RR wyb Blistex Revive & Restore Lip Care, .4 oz @ $1.99
*makes it FREE!


Get $1 RR wyb Crest Toothpaste, 6.4 oz @ $1.99
-$1 mc (PG 10/30)  (This coupon has restrictions, and I have not been to the store yet to see if any of them apply to the toothpaste on sale, so make sure you read the fine print before using it!)
*makes it FREE!


Clabber Girl Corn Startch, 6.5 oz @ $0.50 w/ in-ad coupon
-$0.50 mc printable  (no longer available?!)
*makes it FREE!



You can see the rest of the Walgreens weekly deals here. 

CVS Deals 11/6-12

Here are my favorite deals at CVS this week...including Jif peanut butter for $1 with no coupons needed and more FREE greeting cards!  Yay!


Get $3 ECB wyb (3) Hallmark or American Greetings cards (limit 1)
-If the $0.99 cards are inluded, makes 3 FREE!


Get $3 ECB wyb (2) Jif Peanut Butter, 18 - 20 oz @ $2.50 ea (limit 1)
-makes it $1 each!


Get $10 ECB why $20 worth of select Playtex and Schick Products:
Buy (2) Schick Slim Twin Disposable Razors, 10 pk @ $7.99 ea
-B1G1 mc (SS 11/06)
Buy (2) Edge Shave Gels, 6 - 10oz @ $2.19 ea
*Pay $12.37, get back $10 ECB....makes it $0.59 each!


Libby's Canned Pumpkin $1.50
-$1/2 mc (RP 8/28)
*makes it $1 each!


Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, 5.5-8.5 oz @ $0.99
-$0.75 mc (SS 10/30)
*makes it $0.24!


You can see all of the other CVS deals here.  Let me know if you find any other bargains!

New Kroger Coupons in my Mailbox = FREE stuff!

Have you gotten any new coupons from Kroger in the mail recently?  If not, be watching your mailbox!  In the past week, I have gotten 2 mailers from Kroger including 5 FREE product coupons!  Yay!!  I'll be getting free eggs, frozen veggies, frozen fruit, and Pepperidge Farm cookies!  (Not that we need cookies after all of the halloween candy the girls brought home...)

In addition to the FREE product coupons, I also recieved some great manufacturer coupons for things I buy on a regular basis.  If you do not yet recieve coupons in the mail from Kroger and want to start getting them, you can sign up for an account here.

Weekly Menu 11/6-12

Unlike last week when I hardly cooked at all, this week I will be cooking almost every night!  But, I'm planning on making the most of it by making double batches of a few things!


Sunday
Breakfast:  breakfast basket
Lunch:  Out!
Dinner:  spaghetti & meatballs (from the freezer) / salad / garlic toast

Monday
Breakfast:  muffins (from the freezer)
Lunch:  PB&J / chips / fruit cup
Snack:  Brownie Bites (from freezer)
Dinner:  Country Fried Steak / mashed potatoes / steamed broccoli

Tuesday
Breakfast:  cereal
Lunch:  Lunchable (from recent Kroger sale) / yogurt
Snack:  apple slices (from local orchard!) w/ peanut butter
Dinner:  Chicken Empanadas (using bread recipe from here -I'm planning on making extras to freeze.  If it goes well, I'll let you know!) / steamed corn / salad

Wednesday
Breakfast:  scrambled eggs / toast
Lunch:  turkey sandwich / pretzels / applesauce
Snack:  Mudballs (we never got around to making these last week!)
Dinner:  Out with family!

Thursday
Breakfast:  pancakes
Lunch:  school lunch
Snack:  Peanut Butter Honey Bars (from freezer)
Dinner:  chilli (making a double batch to freeze - of course!) / baked potatoes

Friday
Breakfast:  potato cakes (from freezer)
Lunch:  school lunch
Snack:  Mudballs
Dinner:  Out!

Saturday
Breakfast:  cinnamon rolls (from recent Kroger sale)
Lunch:  sandwiches / pretzels / fruit
Dinner:  Chicken w/ garlic sauce / green beans / seasoned rice

Freezer Cooking Plan
applesauce bread (using homemade applesauce)
mini chicken meatballs (didn't get around to making these last week either!)
whole wheat oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes

FREE Sample of John Frieda Hair Care!

Right now, you can get a FREE sample of John Frieda Full Repair Full Body shampoo and conditioner here.

Dollar Tree Deals

The next time you're in your local Dollar Tree store (probably buying your Sunday paper or items for a Busy Bag!), you may want to take a stroll down the food/snack aisle!  Lately, I have been finding lots of great snack items - especially things that have been nice to have for my daughter's lunchbox and for after school snacks!

And, of course, you can't beat the price!! :)

Here are a few things I've found recently:

In addition to these items, I have also seen 10 ct. bags of Snyder's mini pretzel twists AND Nature's Own bread (loaves, buns, sandwich things, bagel thins, etc.)!

Just another reason why I LOVE my Dollar Tree store!

Money Saving Tip: Make your own reusable Swiffer Sweeper cloths!

I don't know about you, but I love anything that saves me time (and effort!) when I'm cleaning the house.  It is, of course, one of my least favorite things to do!!  That's why I LOVE my Swiffer Sweeper.  I have had it for years and it still picks up dust and dirt off my floor better than anything else I've tried. 

The only bad thing about my Swiffer is that the dusting cloth refills are so darn expensive!!  I refuse to buy them unless I find them on a great sale, which means that I run out a LOT!  Recently, however, I had one of those "aha!" moments and realized I could make my own Swiffer cloths that I can wash and reuse!

Here's what you do...

First, head to one of my favorite stores...you guessed it....the Dollar Store!!!!  Look in the kitchen section for any kind of microfiber dusting cloth.  (I've tried several times to upload a picture of the one I bought.  It isn't happening...sorry.  They had several different kids to choose from.)

Next, attach the cloth to your Swiffer Sweeper just like you would one of the dry refills, and start sweeping!!

See how much it picked up?!  (WOW!  My floors were dirty!)

At this point, I usually shake the cloth over my trashcan to get rid of all the large clumps of fuzz, hair, etc.  Then, I throw it in the washing machine and it's ready to use all over again! 

No more need to buy expensive refills!  Hooray! 

Have any money-saving tips of your own?  I'd love for you to share them!