Showing posts with label saving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saving. Show all posts

Monday, April 9, 2012

DIY Louisville Monday Magazine Challenge

White Bean & Tortellini Soup
I didn't do much shopping this weekend so no real deals to be found and haven't really been through my coupons and ads yet since I spent the day yesterday with my Dad and kiddo's for Easter, so no Frugal Monday post. But I thought you might enjoy checking out the gals over at D.I.Y. Louisville who are doing a Monday Magazine Challenge. And of course I thought it would be fun to join them. I have TONS of magazine recipes cut out and full magazines with DIY cleaners, crafty projects, etc that I would love to accomplish, but yeah, like most they are sitting on a shelf or basket or in a binder. With the cooler weather coming in this week, I thought I would have one last round of great soup. Yesterday morning I pulled out the March 2012 issue of All You Magazine and threw together this yummy soup for me to eat on this week while I attempt to work on my blog and sewing projects. 


Here's the recipe White Bean and Tortellini Soup. I made my own chicken stock from a neck and back I had put in the freezer and added onion, celery, dried thyme and a couple bay leaves. I also wanted to use ingredients that I had on hand, so I made some minor modifications. I used some left over Rotel tomatoes and along with a can of diced tomatoes (and all the juices) with oregano, basil and garlic already in it. And instead of oregano, which I didn't have, I used up some fresh basil I had. The only thing I had to get from the store was the Tortellini and an extra can of beans (Great Northern beans) because I could extend the number of servings with this inexpensive add on. This is enough soup for me to eat on a couple times this week while plugging away at this Blog and finishing up the many sewing projects I have going and I am still able to freeze some for another cool down. You know we will get another before Summer gets here! 


ENJOY!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Grocery Sales Cycles - When things go on sale!

Here is a great list of when items go on sale throughout the year. Hope it helps you in your couponing and planning, especially if you like to stock up on items like I try to do. 

January

National Oatmeal Month: Quaker
Diet Foods: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs, Yogurt
Super Bowl Sunday: Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, Sandwich Items, Crackers, Snacks, Wings
Seasonal Produce: Oranges, Pears, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach
Clearance: Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Papers,
Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins

February

National Canned Food Month: Canned Fruit, Pie Fillings, Vegetables, Meats: Tuna, Chicken, Salmon
National Hot Breakfast Month:  Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup
Valentines:  Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc
Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles, Canned Water Chestnuts
Seasonal Produce:  Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

March

Frozen Food Month: Ice Cream, Frozen Vegetables (Boxed, Bag, or Steam), Frozen Meals, Foster Farms Chicken, Waffles, Pizza
Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Haas Avocado, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Spring Onions, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine

April

Easter:  Ham, Eggs, Spices, Baking Supplies: Sugar, Spices, Baking Mixes, Chocolate Chips, Butter, Coconut, Marshmallows, Brownie Mix, Cake Mix
Earth Day: Organic Foods, Energy Saver, Reusable Totes
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Haas Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb
Clearance: After Easter sales

May

Memorial Day: BBQ Sauce, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips, Grilling Meats, Hot Dogs, Hamburger Meat, Marinade, Salad Greens
Paper Products: Plates, Utensils, Insect Repellant, Sunscreen
Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, tortillas
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Peas, New Potatoes, Raspberries, Strawberries

June

National Dairy Month: Eggs, Milk, Ice Cream, Cheese, Cream Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, Whipping Cream, Whipped Cream, Cool Whip
End of June is Fourth or July Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips
Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon

July

National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips
End of July: Back to School Sales Begin: Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Valencia Oranges, Peaches, Sweet/Bell Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August

Back to School: Pudding cups, Lunch meat, Lunchables, Bread, Cold Cereal, Waffles, Lunchboxes
Disinfectant:  Clorox, Purell
Clearance:  Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal
Seasonal Produce: Gravenstein Apple, Haas Avocado, Green Beans, Beans, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Bartlett Pears, Bell Pepper, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomato

September

Back to School Sales through Labor Day:  Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders
Diabetes: Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chili Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Valencia Orange, Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash
Baby Items: Major Baby Equipment, Baby Safety

October

Halloween: Candy, Fresh Pumpkin
Beginning of the Baking Sales: Canned pumpkin, Evaporated Milk, Baking Chips
Daylight Savings Time Ends Promotions: Alarm Clocks, Batteries, Safety Equipment, Smoke Detectors
National Seafood Month
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina
Seasonal Produce: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams

November

Hot Cocoa, Coffee, Tea
Baking Sales in Full Swing: Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Coconut, Cake Mixes
Canned foods: Soup, Broth, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce
Thanksgiving Items: Turkey, Canned Pumpkin, Stovetop Stuffing, Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice Pears, Cranberries, Kiwi, Lemons, Orange, Potato, Squash, Yams
Clearance: After Halloween Sales

December

Holiday Dinner: Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows. Sour Cream Dips, Crackers, Chips, Soda, Ham
Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake Mix, Brownie Mix, Muffin Mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream
Canned Foods: Soup, Broth, Condensed Milk, Vegetables, Fruits, Spaghetti Sauce
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Bok Choy, Bosc Pears, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Dates, Grapefruit, Haas Avocados, Kale, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Napa Cabbage, Oranges, Sweet Potatoes, Red Cabbage, Rutabaga, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Winter Squash, Yams, Turnips, White Potato
Clearance: After Thanksgiving and After Christmas Sales

Monday, April 2, 2012

Amazing Coupon Deals for 4/1-4/7

Be sure to read the coupon policies associated with each store found HERE. Remember, due to regional deals, some of the in-store prices may vary. These make great charity donated items if you can't use them!

Allegra Allergy 5ct 4/1 Smartsource $7 off, most places you can get this for free including CVS, Rite-Aid, Target, Walgreens and Walmart

Reach Floss 55yd 3/4 RedPlum $1 off, free at Walmart

Carefree Pantyliner 20ct. 3/18 Smartsource $1 off, Free at Walmart and Target

CVS
Depend Silhouette or Real Fit 3ct Click HERE for coupon $2, $3.99-$2 coupon = $1.99, Get $2 Extra Bucks Reward which makes them FREE

Complete Multi Purpose Solution 12 oz, $8.99, Get $8.99 Extra Bucks Reward which makes this FREE

Advil PM 4ct (in travel size section) 3/11 RedPlum $1 off, $.99 - $1 coupon = FREE

Mars Easter Singles 3/18 RedPlum $1/2, Buy 2 at $0.50 - $1/2 = FREE

RITE-AID
Scrunci Elastics 18ct $1.99. Get 1.99 Up Rewards make them FREE

TARGET (click HERE to print Target Coupons)
Tums Freshers 25ct. 4/1 Red Plum $1.50 off. $2.49-1.50- $0.75 Target coupon = $0.24

GE Ultra Soft Light Bulb 4 pack $2.39 - $2 Target coupon = $0.39

WALGREENS
Colgate Toothpaste 8.2 oz 2/$5 - (2) 3/25 Smartsource $0.75 coupons = $3.50. Get $3 back in Register Rewards = 2 for $0.25 each
    *MaxClean, Fresh, White, Cavity Protection, or Whitening Toothpaste.

WALMART
Kotex U liners 18ct 3/25 Smartsource, $1. $1.24 - $1 = $0.24

Freebies from week of March 26, 2012



These are the freebies I received in the mail last week! The Tide Pods, Purex and Green Mountain Naturals have been available multiple times through their Facebook pages. Tide and Green Mountain Naturals sometimes let you sign up for these every time they are available. While the Purex only lets you have samples one time. The free coupon is from my Kraft First Taste account. Marley coffee, a sustainable coffee, can be found at their website or Facebook page. It seems lately I have gotten something in the mail just about every other day! If I can't use it, I'll use in a gift basket or donate it! Oh yeah... I also reuse as much of the packing everything comes in as well! Wait until you see the cute business card holders I'm making later in the week! Great use of some of this packaging. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

20 Things you can do to lead a more frugal lifestyle...


20 Things you can do to lead a more frugal lifestyle . . . 
  1. Use your library.
  2. Eat the food you’ve bought, and eat then your leftovers.
  3. Shop from your closet instead of buying new clothes.
  4. Give gifts that you already own, like a couple of great books or an admired knick-knack.
  5. Go for a walk outside instead of on a treadmill.
  6. Cook from scratch.
  7. Send your kids into the backyard instead of taking them to a movie or arcade.
  8. Repair items instead of replacing them.
  9. Turn the thermostat down in your house and add an extra layer.
  10. Plant a vegetable garden. It’s amazing what you can grow in even a small space. 
  11. Make your own cleaning products, or better yet, clean with water.
  12. When a friend wants to get together, go for a walk instead of eating out.
  13. Choose a simple close-to-home vacation instead of a can-only-get-there-by-flying elaborate trip.
  14. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Always. And then make sure they give you that three cent per-bag refund.
  15. Minimize your garbage output, then go to a less frequent pickup service.
  16. Drive less, and then contact your insurance agent to get a discount.
  17. Hang-dry your laundry.
  18. Decline invitations to those Tupperware, Party-lite, Pampered Chef etc. parties.
  19. Buy used whenever possible. Better yet, join The Compact.
  20. Refuse to use credit cards for anything that’s not an emergency. (To avoid credit cards all together, you should have an emergency fund in place. But that is a personal choice.)
Thanks for reminding us Katy, The Non-Consumer Advocate  


You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Gandhi 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Free Target Sample Pack

Click below for your free Sample Pack. You need to have a code that you will find on a Target receipt. I got one of these last time and it was awesome!


FREE Target Sample Pack

This Weekend & Last Week's Freebies

Well... I didn't go out looking this weekend for any great deals...Friday we had horrible weather and a couple nasty tornadoes hit just about 10 miles north of here and Saturday I cleaned and worked on the throws. I did make it out to JoAnn's to get fleece for the throws and fabric for two purse orders. Then Sunday was spent on the soccer field and at the laundromat! I'll be couponing tonight and hopefully will be able to share with you any great deals I find. :)


But last week I did receive 3 more items in the mail free; Aveda Hair Repair kit (shampoo, conditioner and a leave in), a Tide Pod and OB samples and a nice plastic carrying case.  Only thing... no coupons. I thought that was weird. The hair products are great for camping trips, traveling, etc. And with soccer season coming up, the sample laundry detergent is nice to take with us so we can clean the wonderful mud and grass stains on the uniforms when we are at tournaments. And all are great to donate to local disaster relief if you don't use them yourself!


Vinyl Record Bookends
I did get some Mocha Chocolate Granola Bars made and I also played with my butane torch (cheap thing)... then broke it. I'll post pictures and the recipe for the granola bars Wednesday along with pictures of the finished throws. They are turning out better than I imagined. But here's what I did get made before I broke the torch. Enjoy!

Friday, March 2, 2012

DIY Friday - Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent
As you probably know by now, at the beginning of the year I took a pledge that I was going to become more frugal. One way I decided to accomplish this was to try various do-it-yourself projects, like make my own laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent and to do a lot more scratch cooking. I made a list of  items I intend on trying this year. Mostly these are cleaners, homemade beauty products, etc. But there will also be new recipes, cooking tips and short cuts, and other creative DIY projects that I would like to tackle. 

First on the list is laundry detergent. After I had a weird, major allergic reaction this fall (unsure what but I ended up at the emergency room), I was leery of trying anything new like this. But the ingredients are natural and there are no weird chemicals/fillers in this, I decided to try it. If I couldn't use it, then the local family shelter would have a nice supply of laundry detergent donated. I found I had no allergic reaction to it. And my son who does occasionally break out in a slight rash from various detergents has not had any problems either.

This recipe makes a 5 gallon bucket full for just a couple bucks! I have shared this with my family and they seem to absolutely love it! Three simple ingredients...  a bar of Fels-Naptha, Washing Soda and Borax, all found in your grocer's laundry isle. (NOTE: The Fels-Naptha can be substituted with Ivory soap if you prefer.)


What you will need....
Empty 5 gallon bucket, with lid
Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda (I used Arm & Hammer)
1/2 cup Borax 
1 bar Fels-Naptha
*I highly recommend using an old, odd pan for this and I would  NOT use a non-stick one. I wasn't thinking and used a Teflon coated pan (well it was all I had) and now I can't use it for anything except for making this and as the bottom pan for a double boiler.

  1. Grate the bar soap and put it in a small to medium sauce pan with enough HOT water to cover. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until soap is completely melted.
  2. Put the Borax, Washing Soda and melted Fels-Naptha into the 5 gallon buck. Stir well until completely dissolved. Then fill the bucket up with HOT water. Stir well.
  3. Cover and let sit overnight. It will turn into a gel-like substance. Stir well again the next morning.
  4. Using an old detergent bottle, I just fill as needed. The original directions say cut in half with water and use 1 full cup. My thought is why waste time with that step. Just use 1/2 a cup full per load. It's going to mix with water anyway, right? Be sure to shake the bottle well before each use.
Have a great DIY household cleaner you would like to share? Feel free to email me or to comment below! Enjoy!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Free Quart of Paint - Ace Hardware Facebook Offer

Click here to get your coupon for a free quart of paint, your choice of colors at Ace Hardware this Saturday only! Great to have in your craft stash for creative moments!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Creative Reuse: My Story


Creative reuse is the process of taking used or recycled materials and turning them into creative pieces of art, home decoration, or other useful items. (Wikipedia)

Upcycle, Recycle, Reuse... All words associated with taking various materials and giving new life to them. I first started 'upcycling' a few years ago when I started sewing. I had this really cute skort given to me by my Mother-In-Law. It was not really something I would wear. It had Toucans and Parrots on it. Just not my style. But I held on to it for some reason. During a cleaning session at the house I tossed it into my sewing room. I decided it was too pretty to be given away and possibly thrown away. 



I carefully ripped the seams, saving everything I could, including the zipper. I searched online for a purse pattern that would work for the amount of material I had. I cut and sewed, and ripped and resewed (remember, I was still teaching myself how to sew). Finally, I had created a purse and it was pretty impressive for my first one, especially for being made from upcycled material. I returned it to my MIL who loved it and was excited to see one of her favorite pieces of clothing able to live on.


I have crafted many purses and totes from old t-shirts, skirts and jeans. I also turned sweater sleeves into boot socks, old vinyl albums into bowls and attempted fusing plastic bags together so I could use them in various ways, but not had much success with that yet. Think it is the iron, couldn't be the user. ;)

During all this I have found a passion for making sure things find a second (third, fourth, etc.) life. I have also found a love of FreeCycle and the free and the Arts & Crafts sections of Craigslist. I have gotten quite a few things from both to use in various ways and I have also given scrap, extra thread, fabric, etc. away to teachers and other artist. While doing this somehow I came across creative reuse centers online. 

I believe the first one was SCRAP in San Francisco. I started following them on Facebook. I loved the concept. A store that served teachers, artists and the city with what they did. They collect donations from manufacturers and public, much like a Goodwill does, except these items are for reuse in art. 

During more research I found SCRAP PDX in Portland, Oregon. They also have sister stores in D.C.Denton, TX, and Traverse City, Michigan. This is when I decided that I really would love to have one of these type stores right here in Louisville. I have communicated with the Director in Portland and the Co-Directors in DC. They have been helpful in getting me pointed in the right direction. I am currently working up a plan and looking for people who would like to make this a reality!  Keep a look out, as I plan to post my journey through this winding path of trying to make this happen. 

If you are interested in helping out, please feel free to contact me via my email, sewfrugalscrap@gmail.com.  Hope you enjoy watching as I run through the trials, tribulations and I'm sure a few tears along the way and even better yet, I hope you will get involved!

Monday, February 27, 2012

A Few Deals & Freebies Found on the Web

Below are deals and freebies I have found across the Internet this week. Just a note...When I sign up for these types of free, promotional items, I usually use an email account I have created just for these types of offers. You can use any of the free emails from Yahoo, Gmail, etc. Most advertisers will flood you with advertising emails, especially if you forget to opt-out when signing up. I have found this the best way to control the emails. Every once in a while I will go in and clean it out. I would highly suggest this unless you just want to receive all the emails in your normal account. With the Facebook offers I usually just select "Hide All" for the advertisers I don't want to receive updates on. If you find great Freebies or deals, comment below or email me and I will be sure to get the word out! Enjoy! 


Kleenex - Send a free to Share Pack a friend and get a free sample of Kleenex Cool Touch Tissues


Free Sample of Miracle Whip


Celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP tomorrow with a free short stack and help Children's Miracle Hospital Networks.


Get a free night on a video game rental at RedBox celebrating Game Week.


Free new Tide Pods Facebook Offer


Marley Organic Coffee Free Sample