Deal Squirrel

Long time no blog

2012-01-24T12:48:00.001-06:00

I can't believe its 2012 already! one of my goals for the year is to get back to blogging. We'll see. Just wanted you to know I'm still here.

Yankee candle deals

2010-10-28T10:34:00.004-05:00

Its fall here in Michigan which means that the house has to be closed up to keep us nice and warm. Sometimes though, it can get a little stuffy and musty. My favorite fix is to light a candle. The scent makes everything so much more homey. I've found that Yankee candles smell so good and last much longer than the cheaper brands. Fortunately, there is a new coupon for $10 off a $25 dollar Yankee purchase available here

If you do not live near a Yankee candle store don't worry! Bed, Bath, and Beyond will accept this one. I stopped today to see what clearance candles were available. I was able to find two large size candles for close to the $25 dollar total. I added a .99 tart to bring the total up to use my coupon. All total I got two big candles and a tart for $15.98 plus tax. That is well over half price! They even have little lighthouse pictures on the "Sea Harbor" scent that match my home decor.

A Garden variety surprise

2010-10-28T10:26:00.002-05:00

This summer I haphazardly worked on a small backyard garden. There were some successes like purple beans that grew everywhere and yielded far more than we could eat. I was a little bummed that my cucumbers didn't do a thing. My husband surprised me today by discovering this little guy in what I thought was a dead plant. He is so excited to eat the giant cucumber! Just goes to show that we shouldn't give up on the garden because it is the end of the season. Who knows what else might pop out?

Goodwill find of the week

2010-10-27T20:25:00.005-05:00

I shared recently that I moved into a new home this summer. We have a wonderful back porch to enjoy the summer sun. However, there are no shade trees near the deck. Needless to say, most of the day it is too uncomfortable to use. This is a major bummer. I was pondering how to correct this situation without major renovations.
Fast forward to my favorite store Goodwill (or GW for those of us who are super chic!). I found a brand new outdoor pop up gazebo that fits my porch perfectly for only $40! (See picture from the current Walmart website for the same one currently priced $75) Half price and exactly what I needed. I can't wait to test it out.

I'll be back soon I promise.

2010-07-17T20:48:00.002-05:00

The last six months of my life have been hard and crazy. I lost my Mom to cancer, quit my job, my husband was transferred across the state, and we are now proud owners of a new puppy. It's time for a new start. It's also time for new deals and to get this site up and running again. In the weeks to come there will be pictures, deals, etc. as soon as I unpack my digital camera anyway. Oh and I have been yard saling...including a Coach purse and matching wallet!

blog break

2010-02-25T11:06:00.001-06:00

I'm going to have to take a blog break due to my mother's cancer. It is very difficult right now. Please pray for my family.

Free All Bran sample pack

2010-02-06T17:21:00.004-06:00

If you have a subscription to Martha Stewart Living, there is a great sample offer available this month. There is an ad for All Bran products with an attached card to send in for a free seven day supply. This is part of the All Bran 7 Day challenge. See the picture above for the cover of the issue and a visual of the postcard to send in. This sounds like a really good freebie!

Great sales to use your Limited coupon

2010-01-27T15:48:00.005-06:00

There is a great coupon for Limited stores right now. It can be used for $15 off any purchase of $15 or more. (click here for a printable coupon. I visited a store that had many sales items for 60% off the lowest marked price. Altogether, I purchased three shirts and a purse. After coupon my total was $1.08 and this was mostly tax. Crazy good!

Some stores aren't accepting this coupon for sales, however, there were quite a few nice shirts for $19.50, which would only be $4.50 after coupon. I hadn't been into this store in years, but it has some nice basics and cute accessories. I would have included a picture, unfortunately, I am out of town and forgot my camera. Rats!

Michael Kors at Goodwill?!

2010-01-16T14:38:00.006-06:00

I was so impressed by the selection at Goodwill earlier this week, I decided to go back for another round. It was pretty picked over except for this one top. I thought it was pretty cute so I took it to the dressing room. When I put it on, I absolutely loved the look. Then I noticed the original tags were still attached. It is brand new from Macy's Michael Kors petite collection (I had to add the picture of the price tag). Retail price? $109.50.
Whoa!! Talk about sticker shock! It is 100% silk and even cuter than the picture. Goodwill price? $9.99. Seriously, why should I ever shop in a normal store again?

Thoughts on being prepared

2010-01-15T20:35:00.005-06:00

The nation of Haiti is experiencing a horrible nightmare right now. Chaos rules. People and even governments were unprepared. Think about your life at this moment. If something like this happened in your community would you be able to fend for yourself? Would you be able to care of you and yours?

I have been blessed to discover a blog called Safely Gathered in. To view this site, click here. The focus of "Safely Gathered In" is helping average folks prepare for the worst. There are printables for 72 hours emergency kits, food storage options, and other resources. I can't fully endorse everything, but they have some wonderful pointers toward emergency preparedness.

I can take care of me, but I can also give to those who don't have the resources I do. Because of my coupons and smart shopping, I was able to donate from the overflow to help the people of Haiti. I sent lots of supplies to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to be added to health kits for the Haitian people.

In this time of tragedy, we should be giving to those who need it most. However, we should not overlook the fact that a situation like that in Haiti could happen at any moment anywhere. There are tangible steps we each can take to prepare for whatever may come.

Goodwill deals and squeals!

2010-01-14T19:24:00.009-06:00

I had the best Goodwill trip today. Thought I'd show you some of the deals that made me squeal with delight! I got these Converse One Star shoes for $4.99. They were brand new with tags still on them from Target. They are so cute and remind me of my fave show Chuck.

I also got this great Tignanello wallet for $2.29. The leather is so soft, it has that great buttery feeling.

Next up this amazing bowler handbag from Victoria's Secret. Price just $1.99. It will be a great purse for February and Valentine's Day. It has LOVE embossed all over. Super cute.

To end my bragging, I found this top from Charter Club. It still had the tags on it from Macy's! Cost: $2.99. Holy moly! Hope this inspires you to try thrift store shopping. I honestly never know what I will find, but always come home with something special.

FREE Dole salad at Meijer

2010-01-12T17:20:00.002-06:00

Several types of bagged salads are part of the 10 for $10 sale this week at Meijer. There is coupon available here in the Meijer Mealbox widget. Click on the specials tab and search for the Dole salad coupon. You can choose to print several copies. I got four bags today for zero dollars!!

24 cent Pictureka at Wal-mart

2010-01-05T19:14:00.003-06:00

There were lots of deals this week to be had at Wal-mart. One highlight is the Pictureka card game priced at $5.24 at my local store. There was a coupon for $5 off several Hasbro games in the PARADE magazine in last week's newspaper. This coupon works both the board game and the card game. This game is for ages 6+, can be played four different ways, and is educational. If you are interested in the board game, it was priced at $15. Two great deals for a super fun game.

FREE make-up at Victoria's Secret

2009-12-22T16:09:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm done with my Christmas shopping so its time to do something nice for me. I signed up here for the Victoria's Secret Rewards program which has lots of coupons and freebies which they even mail to my house. A few weeks ago, I got one for $10 off any Pink purchase of $10 or more. The store I visited had several kinds of PINK makeup on sale 2 for $10. I got two Chubby eye crayons in colors called Remix and Shake it (or white and gold if you're not so fancy). After coupon, the price was $0.00. It also came with the cute bag which I plan to re-purpose as a gift bag for Christmas. So much fun, so little money!

FREE Princess and the Frog soundtrack downloads

2009-12-16T20:44:00.003-06:00

There are four free downloads from the Princess and the Frog soundtrack available here. Enter code RK4F3TM in the box. This would be a good CD to burn for a kid's Christmas stocking.

Thanks Couponing to Disney blog!

FREE Batteries

2009-12-10T13:50:00.006-06:00

There is a coupon available here that will give $1.00 off any Rayovac batteries. Simply enter code: 74016761. You will then see the coupon. It appears there are unlimited prints for now.

My friends in the blogosphere indicate that both Target and Wal-mart have $1.00 small packs available. I will check my local store this afternoon. Here's a chance to get some batteries for all those holiday gadgets that will need them.

Many thanks to fellow blogger, Living Rich with Coupons, for the heads up. You can visit her website here for more fabulous deals.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

2009-12-08T22:02:00.003-06:00

We are expecting a foot of snow and blizzard like conditions over the next few days. My husband and I are snug in our little house with the woodstove cranking out free heat. Family and friends were generous to us this year donating firewood and kindling which should last us through the cold spell. It never ceases to amaze me when I put the word out for something I need, it seems people line up offering help. Today a great woman for church let me fill my car up with wood. Just a reminder that it never hurts to ask. Especially when people are so eager to give.

I haven't really been posting any deals because I haven't gotten out much lately. Between caring for my mother and getting ready for the Christmas program at church, there simply hasn't been time. I'm very glad I already have my Christmas shopping done. So, here's to all the snowed in folks. Enjoy a day to wrap presents, bake cookies, and just pause to enjoy the fire.

Dollar DVDs at Dollar Tree Stores

2009-12-05T12:35:00.004-06:00

Whew. It has been busy around here with Christmas shopping and getting ready for winter snow. I wanted to share a great deal I came across yesterday. My local Dollar Tree had a rack full of DVDs with some great titles. There were people buying multiples of these for stocking stuffers, and for just a dollar they are a great buy. Some titles I saw were: A Guy Thing, Barbershop 2, Madison, and many more. Around the holidays, dollar stores get in lots of one time only merchandise from close out sales and bankrupt mega stores (Circuit City perhaps?). It would be a good habit to check your local stores regularly for these kinds of finds especially if you are watching every penny. I know one person who is going to be glad I got this!

My New Camera

2009-11-27T21:57:00.004-06:00

Yippee. Black Friday pays off. Check out my new camera. I got this awesome Simple Flix flip digital video camera at Menard's. (They usually have the most interesting selection of Black Friday items.)

It came with a bonus carrying pouch, 2GB SD card, and a tripod. I've been experimenting with it today. So far, it is easy to use and convenient to take along wherever you go. Plus it plugs directly into your computer through the USB port. (Also comes with USB cable and A/V cable so you view your videos on a television.)

And the price? Nice, just $24.99. They were gone very quickly too. Getting up so early isn't that bad when you snag great deals like this one!

Rite Aid freebies 3 day sale

2009-11-26T17:46:00.002-06:00

Here's some great deals at Rite Aid for Black weekend, which is what I think Black Friday has morphed into. All the above are on sale with rebates, add together coupons from recent inserts, and this lovely $5 off $25 coupon and you have yourself a handy little moneymaker after rebate. Some of these would even make good stocking stuffers. Have fun out there!

Make sure to submit online too so you can get credit for the holiday gift of savings program and possibly score a $20 gift certificate.

Amazon Blu-Ray never strikes the same place twice

2009-11-25T17:00:00.003-06:00

Why fight the crowds for that Blu-ray player on Black Friday? Shop now from the comfort of your own home and avoid getting pummeled. A lovely LG Blu-ray is on special today for $99. This product has near five star reviews and a great price tag. Use my Amazon lightning deal bar located on the right side of this blog to give me props for helping you out. Or click here

I bought mine...not for me unfortunately. For a gift. I need the fancy TV before I purchase this one. Remember this is a lightning deal so it won't last forever. Get it while you can.

FREE Amazon downloads until November 30th

2009-11-23T13:52:00.004-06:00

Go here to get $3.00 in free Amazon music downloads. I'm planning on using mine for a little Michael Buble Crazy Love and possibly Harry Connick Jr. The possibilities are endless. Love it.

Benevia Money Maker at Rite Aid

2009-11-22T15:47:00.002-06:00

Benevia four packs are on sale at Rite Aid this week for $7.99 with a full rebate. Use the $5.00 off coupon from last week's Sunday paper to purchase this. You can fill your rebate out online at riteaid.com. You will get the full purchase price back from Rite Aid, so it is a $5.00 moneymaker. Actually, the cranberry lemon juice is pretty tasty. It also has 9 grams of protein which is a nice pick me up with breakfast.

Your purchase will give you credit toward the Holiday gift of savings rebate program which can add up to lots of gift certificates in the next month.

My Kmart doubles my way trip

2009-11-19T18:36:00.003-06:00

Here's what I got today for free at Kmart during their Michigan super doubles event. Simply present your Shop Your Way card to have 5 coupons doubled per day until December 19.

2 two pack Viva paper towels on sale 2 for $4
$2.00 off any two pack or larger Viva coupon doubled from here

2 40 count canisters of antibacterial Wet Ones $2.29 each
doubled $1.50 off any 40 count or larger from here

2 Kotex lightdays $1.29 each used coupon from Sunday paper $1.50 off two doubled

All six products for free, all I paid was .51 in tax.
Will add picture soon, hubby ran off with camera!

Monthly Financial Check up

2009-11-18T13:42:00.004-06:00

I'm joining in Money Saving Mom's blog as we hold ourselves financially accountable. This month I added $250 dollars to our savings account. I also filled out the forms to have $20 dollars per month automatically withdrawn from checking to put into savings. I did this because my intentions are good, but I never seem to make the time to deposit extra into savings. I figured if it is done automatically I don't have to think about it and it will be budgeted in. I'm starting with a small amount to begin a good habit. I plan to increase saving as my other expenses decrease. My bank offered special incentives for savings accounts this month too, so I was able to get double the interest. Every little bit helps!

I was blessed to be able to give thanks this month through a donation to a local food pantry. I gave twelve tubes of toothpaste, 15 deodorants, and two bags full of various food items. All from my couponing and bargain hunting. It's great to save, but also to give to others who don't have the resources I have. All in all, another good month.

FREE candy at Kmart

2009-11-18T09:58:00.004-06:00

The last time Kmart offered super doubles there was a catalina coupon that spit out at the registers for $2.50 off any holiday candy purchase. The catch was you couldn't use this coupon until after November 15. I remember because I went to snag discounted Halloween candy, but couldn't use this coupon!

I saved that catalina in my coupon binder until this week. Low and behold, Three Musketeers minis bags are on sale 3 for $7. I was able to use my coupon for a FREE bag of candy. Yummy.

FREE paper towels

2009-11-17T19:57:00.004-06:00

I found Viva two pack paper towels at my local Kmart for $4.00. There is a coupon available here for $2.00 off any two pack or larger Viva redeemable at Kmart. This was doubled at my local Kmart after I used the "Shop Your Way" Rewards card. Net result: three packages of FREE paper towels. This should come in handy for holiday gatherings.

Kmart doubles in Michigan

2009-11-16T12:18:00.005-06:00

Kmart is offering double coupons up to $2.00 everyday until December 19th at all Michigan locations. In order to double those coupons, you must sign up for a Shop Your Way Rewards card. It is NOT a credit card, but a customer loyalty rewards card that will give a percentage back when you are a frequent shopper. There is a 5 per day limit on doubled coupons. I plan on making several trips since Kmart is close by and I can't pass up all those freebies.

FREE Kindle and ebooks for your computer

2009-11-13T10:44:00.005-06:00

Anyone who knows me, knows my love for a certain female talk show host whose name begins with "O". She featured the Amazon kindle electronic book reader on the favorite things show last year. I was desperate to have one, but short on cash. Good thing I waited to buy. This week Amazon offers a free download of the Kindle program for your PC. If you have Windows XP, Vista, or 7 simply click here to download.

Next search kindle books using the words "kindle freebie" in the search engine and begin downloading thousands of free books. It is really fast too. I can download most books in less than a minute. I got several Jane Austen, Nancy Ortberg, and lots of other titles for FREE. I am now officially hooked on Kindle!

This is far better than having to lug around another electronic device. My netbook is now a kindle as well. This will be great for those of you who travel over the holidays. No books to carry and thousands available on demand at the touch of a button. Isn't technology amazing?

FREE Nexxus at Walgreens

2009-11-13T10:31:00.003-06:00

Another fun freebie at Walgreens this week. There is a $4 off one Nexxus hair product in the Walgreens November coupon savings booklet. Currently the 2 ounce size Nexxus mousse is priced $2.99 each or 2 for $5.00.

This product will ring up free after coupon. Simply pay tax. I got four products for free yesterday. This would make a nice stocking stuffer as well.

Enough Kleenex to last through flu season?

2009-11-10T17:45:00.005-06:00

There is a great deal at Walgreen's right now on ultra soft Kleenex tissue. This week's sale flyer has a store coupon for $1.09 a box. This can be combined with a manufacturer's coupon. There is also a manufacturer's coupon available in store in the November coupon book. It will take $1.00 off any box. After both coupons your cost per box is only .09. You don't even need a stash of coupons to do this deal.

However, if you do have Sunday newspaper coupons, it gets better. There was a coupon for .75 or .50 off of three boxes. If you buy in groups of three, they will generate overage. This means you have about .23 credit toward other items you purchase! Above is a picture of some of my Kleenex, all in all I think I purchased over 35 boxes for FREE, my favorite price!

Reminder: Always give your manufacturer's coupon first, then the Walgreen's savings, and then the weekly ad coupon. For some reason, this seems to enter into the computer correctly and keeping it from beeping and causing headaches.

FREE Herbal Essences at Rite Aid

2009-11-08T11:48:00.003-06:00

This week Rite Aid has Herbal Essences shampoo, conditioners, and stylers on sale buy one get one free. There was a coupon in the Proctor and Gamble Sunday insert that offers one free shampoo or conditioner when you purchase one styler.

I had three coupons today. I walked out of the store with three bottles of conditioner and three stylers for free after combining coupons with the BOGO sale! I did have to pay tax :(

For maximum value, watch out for bonus sizes that will work. For example, I got one bottle of conditioner labeled 40% more free. This means I got even more product free. I love Rite Aid this week!

Emergency Preparedness or Getting ready for Black Friday

2009-11-07T10:40:00.003-06:00

I'm dreaming of a free Christmas. Seriously.

How will I make this happen you ask? Well, my family signed up a few years ago for a rewards debit card through our bank, Fifth Third. Every purchase we make adds points toward a variety of gift cards. We even get points added for using direct deposit. There is no fee for this wonderful perk. We make sure to use our cards for every purchase possible, even on-line bill pay can garner points.

This year they added a feature that allows us to use the points toward a Visa gift card. As of right now, I have two $25 cards in the mail. This adds $50 to my Christmas budget for Black Friday's amazing sales. I chose the Visa cards so they could be used at any store. I love going to Menard's on Black Friday, they have the strangest mix of deals, but always seem to have great stuff. There are also smaller local retailers that take Visa gift cards too. Really, the possibilities are endless.

Also, I finally cashed in some swagbucks toward a $10 gift card. Haven't heard about swagbucks? Click on the swagbucks ad on the right side of this blog and start earning every time you search the web. Believe me, those bucks add up over time. If you start now, you'll be on the road toward some serious cash for Christmas next year.

So far, I have $60 in free money for Christmas gifts! Whoo-hoo!

Black friday ads

2009-11-05T13:58:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to let you know that Black Friday ads are beginning to pop up on the internet. The best place I have found to view them early is blackfriday.org

They already have Kmart's ad up as well as Lowe's, Old Navy, and Sears. I'm sure in the next week nearly every ad will be available. That means its time to make a plan. I'll be the one outside of Menard's shoving through the crowd. Watch out!

Socks brought to you by Oprah

2009-10-29T18:11:00.003-05:00

If you are going to Payless to use the coupon from my previous post, keep your eye out for good deals on socks and slippers. Pictured you will see a few of the warm winter socks I'm adding to my stocking stuffer collection. I also got several pairs of ballet type slippers. I can't show everything because my crazy family tends to read my blog and I don't want to spoil what Santa has for them.

The brands that are marked down were called Minicci. They were all regularly priced at $7.99 marked down to $4.99. The 50% off Oprah show coupon then brings them to $2.49 per pair. They had lots of sizes, colors, and styles. Make someone happy and warm this Christmas!

The Queen of Talk meets the Queen of Deals

2009-10-29T16:34:00.005-05:00

Oprah, the queen of talk, has a great coupon available today (10/29) and tomorrow (10/30) for Payless Shoe stores. Simply click here for a coupon for 50% off every item in the store. Print out and run to your local store. Can't wait to see what you will snag. If you get a great deal, take a picture and add to the comment section. Wouldn't mind a little online dress up party today.

The Non-Consumer Advocate blog

2009-10-29T16:26:00.005-05:00

For a different perspective on money and life, visit The Non Consumer Advocate blog. Written from this viewpoint: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” A phrase none too familiar to grandmothers the world over. It makes you laugh and it makes you think.

Today Katy is featuring favorite fall recipes on the advocate. My recipe for chocolate bread pudding is featured here. Check it out and get cooking!

Aquamarine $3.00 at Walmart

2009-10-22T13:45:00.002-05:00

Walmart has Aquamarine on DVD for just $5.00 right now. There is a printable coupon for $2.00 off the DVD here at the Smartsource website. You can print two copies of this coupon per computer and add to your stocking stuffers. This a great movie for tween girls with the theme of friendship and growing up. I'm in for two!

Knox gelatin free plus overage

2009-10-21T17:53:00.003-05:00

There is a coupon available here for $4.00 off any Knox product. (If you don't see it, enter zip code 90210) Wal-mart has Knox gelatin in the baking aisle for $1.67 per box. Use your coupon to get free gelatin plus possible overage to spend on other things. You can print two coupons per computer. I would hurry to print these out, they tend to disappear fast with deals like this!

Cheap Progresso soup

2009-10-16T16:33:00.005-05:00

Progresso high fiber soup is on roll back at my Wal-mart for $1.50 per can. There is a coupon available when you click here. This will bring up a yahoo news story with an ad for Progresso soup. If it does not appear, refresh your page a few times. It is on the right side of the page. You should be able to print two coupons for $1.00 off one can. This brings the cost of a can of soup down to .50 per can. I could find enough coins in my couch to pay for that!

I am trying out the Chicken Tuscany soup. Really, you put the word Tuscany on anything and I'll buy it. Sad, but true.

Some FREEbies from Wal-mart

2009-10-16T16:26:00.004-05:00

I had some high value coupons to use before they expired, so I figured I'd brave Wal-mart on a Friday afternoon to see what I could find. Here are my freebies:

1 Travel size Skintimate shave gel: $1.47 (used $1.50 off coupon from magazine ad)
2 boxes Kashi Go Lean cereal: $3.00 (used $3.00 off Vocalpoint coupon from mailing)
2 Kotex liners: $1.00 (used $1.00 off coupons from sample mailer)
1 Airwick i-motion: $6.00 (used $6.00 off coupon from Sunday paper)

Out of pocket: Nothing but tax! Thanks Wal-mart!

Stocking stuffers start today...

2009-10-16T16:18:00.005-05:00

Well, I've been down the last few days with a monster cold. Seriously, I'm bored to tears out here. So I've started planning for Christmas stocking stuffers.

The Proposal just came out on DVD this week. Wal-mart has them at an introductory price of $16.72. There is a coupon available by clicking here that will take $5.00 off the purchase of the Proposal until October 18. $11.72 for a fun chick flick is a great price!

Hurry for this one since its only available until Sunday.

Making money at Rite Aid

2009-10-13T16:46:00.005-05:00

Wow. Buy the above items at Rite Aid this week, use this coupon, get all items for free, plus make $10, plus earn $10 in gift certificates for future use at Rite Aid! Here's how:
Get to your local Rite Aid to see the items on the back page of this week's ad which are labeled free after rebate. Buy them in $25.00 increments and use the $5.00 off $25.00 dollar coupon above for each purchase. Submit your rebates online at www.riteaid.com. If you buy all items, you should also generate a gift certificate from the Gift of Savings Program which has a link off the Rite Aid site. Click to request your gift certificate and rebate check.

(P.S. There are more free items which will be available next week to do the same thing so keep an extra copy of the coupon.)

Good blog reading

2009-10-13T13:26:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd add a new occasional feature to Deal Squirrel, a featured blog. I will only choose blogs I actually read and enjoy. Today's focus is Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, a great site for thrift store finds and furniture makeovers.

The Frugal Fashionista is my fave part of this blog. It has lots of great tips for bargain hunting. She also has lots of great crafts you can make cheaply to decorate your home called "Trash to Treasure". You can visit this site by clicking here. I am always reading and learning more about the frugal life. Enjoy!

FREE Once a month cooking meal plan

2009-10-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

Hi lovely readers!
Time has slipped away with the busy-ness of fall. I've been running around stacking wood, storing furniture, bringing in plants, and doing everything to get ready for winter in Michigan. With last night's temperature dipping into the 30s, it's a good thing I did.
Didn't want you to get too out of the loop with deals and freebies. Once a month cooking is offering a free week long cycle to get you involved in meal planning. It is an interesting concept for the busy cook. Click here to access this free resource to help make dinner time less of a chore. Believe me, there is no question I hate worse than "What's for dinner?". I'm printing mine right now.

Big Lots spoils me

2009-10-01T10:43:00.004-05:00

We have a nice Big Lots in our town, but I don't go very often. I tend to find better deals using coupons in full-price stores. However, I had to buy some art supplies for my Sunday school class, so I decided to check out Big Lots stash.

I found an entire rack of DVDs for $3.00 a piece. Rentals in our town cost $2.49 per night, so I figured after two views I would come out ahead. I found the romantic comedy Wimbledon among the titles to add to my collection.

I also snagged a Green Canyon Spa grape seed face scrub for two bucks. I feel pretty spoiled with my $5 purchase at Big Lots. I plan to go back when I have more time because I saw some great deals on organic foods and some Wii games. Yippee!

Salvation Army purse find

2009-10-01T10:37:00.003-05:00

While Mom was napping in the hospital this week, my sister and I took a quick trip to the local Salvation Army. Let me tell you, it was awesome. I got lots of great books to read, a gorgeous weekend bag (it is red snakeskin leather from last year's Christmas bonus at Bath and Body Works), and the gorgeous purse pictured above.

I've been looking for a good fall purse, but couldn't find one within my price range (i.e. free to $10). It has a deep teal color that is hard to capture on film. There are lots of pockets for cell phones, iPod, etc. The brand is Aldo. It cost $7.99 and for this season it is my dream handbag.

I'll be back soon

2009-09-30T13:05:00.003-05:00

Update: Things seem to be settling down and mom should be out of the hospital today. I have lots of things to post and haven't forgotten you. Thanks for your patience. Look for new posts and another giveaway in the next few days.

time off from my blog

2009-09-20T10:19:00.001-05:00

I'm taking some time off from blogging due to health issues related to my mother's cancer. Please pray for our family.

Money making mineral make-up

2009-09-18T18:56:00.003-05:00

Stay that one three times fast! Rite Aid has lots of Cover Girl make up on sale this week buy one, get one free. They also allowed me to combine this sale with the buy one, get one free coupon in a recent Proctor and Gamble Sunday insert.

I searched the shelves to see what make-up was available and was excited to see they have a version of mineral make-up. My sister has been raving about Bare Minerals, but it's a little out of my price range. I ended up purchasing a mineral foundation and blush which was free after coupon.

Keep that receipt from anything you purchase this month at Rite Aid to enter online at the gift of savings holiday promotion. Spend $100 and earn a gift card for up to $20.

SSSShhhh! Here's a secret...Coupons count too. That's right. My make-up purchase although free to me, added up to $12.99 in credit toward this program. I'm adding all my receipts together from the freebies I hope to score this month. (Like the Airwick i-motions listed below) We'll see, maybe I'll get the $20 gift certificate and make money off this stuff. Wouldn't that be great?

CROP Walk

2009-09-17T19:14:00.007-05:00

Everyone knows that saving money on a little things can add up to big savings, right? Well, I'm putting my share of savings into helping hungry families. Church World Service has a multi-denominational effort to help food pantries and the hungry around the world called CROP Walk. It is a walk through my community that raises funds to go to our local pantry Project Starburst.

If you've enjoyed the deals from deal squirrel, why not give back to this great program? You can donate through this link. You can donate any amount large or small.

Scroll down to the red button to "Support This Walker" or join a walk in your own community. Many blessings to all as we fight hunger together!

FREE Airwick i-motion at Rite Aid

2009-09-16T15:50:00.004-05:00

Buying the Sunday paper pays off once again this week at Rite Aid. Airwick i-motion scent dispensers are on sale for 50% off this week. They are regularly $9.99 but this week sell for $4.99. The Sunday paper had $6.00 off any Airwick i-motion coupons. My Rite Aid was nice enough to give me $1.01 overage for each purchased. I got two along with a candy bar and juice.

FREE film developing tomorrow at Walgreen's

2009-09-15T20:53:00.002-05:00

There is a coupon in this week's Walgreen's ad for 1 roll of film developed for free on Wednesday September 16 only. Bring the coupon to your local Walgreen's photo center and enjoy your memories for less.

Nearly free Ghirardelli Luxe bars at Walgreens

2009-09-15T17:49:00.003-05:00

Hi everybody--
Missed you on my short blog break. I've been busy at work and at home with the onslaught of fall activities. I did find a good deal today in Walgreen's that I wanted to share.

Some varieties of
Ghiradelli Luxe Milk candy bars are on clearance for .65. There is a coupon in the September savings brochure that will take $1.00 off the purchase of any two Ghirardelli candy bars size 3.0 oz to 3.5 oz. Here's the math:
.65 x 2 = $1.30
$1.00 off 2 coupon= -1.00
= .30 for two bars or .15 per bar!!

What a deal for these super yummy snacks. These are great for gifts and with Halloween coming up, you may want to stock up. I got twelve which cleared the shelf. Feed that sweet tooth for less.

FREE Smoothie at McDonald's = yummy

2009-09-10T15:13:00.004-05:00

This weekend's newspaper did not have any manufacturer's coupons because of the holiday weekend. However, they did have restaurant coupons. McDonald's have a big coupon page which featured a free small fruit smoothie, no purchase necessary.

I got mine today and it was refreshing on this lovely 80 degree September day. The strawberry banana flavor is great, but watch out for brain freeze! Check your local free papers too, there were several copies in the local gas station. Enjoy!

Giveaway winner

2009-09-08T14:46:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all who entered my labor day giveaway. I enjoyed a great weekend with family and friends. Our winner is......

creativity4life

Contact me at dealsquirrelblogger at gmail dot com with contact information so I can send out your prize. Congratulations!

Labor Day Giveaway

2009-09-04T18:31:00.005-05:00

You asked for it, you got it! A handbag giveaway. This cutie is a Way Bag of eastern North Carolina, new with tags. It has a fun beach theme with an adorable pink bow. The lining is spillproof/waterproof material. The straps are the perfect length to fit nicely under your arm and are a stylish plaid. The pouch of the bag is palm tree and flower pattern. Can you think of a better way to celebrate resting from fruitful labor than this little beauty? As a bonus, I will include a random assortment of coupons as I have an overabundance right now. Who knows what might be included?

To enter, please click on an ad link and leave a comment letting me know which one you clicked. I will announce the winner next week and sent it out promptly. Good luck frugalistas!

FREE Dannon crush cups at Meijer

2009-09-04T17:16:00.003-05:00

Wow. What a great deal on Dannon yogurt at Meijer this week. Crush cups are on sale 2 for $4.00. There is a Meijer mealbox coupon available here in the widget under specials for $1.00 off any Dannon yogurt packs. There was a coupon in several recent weeks of Sunday papers for $1.00 off Dannon crush cups. Combining the Meijer store coupon with the manufacturer's coupon plus a great sale equals free yogurt. I got nine packs. (Don't worry I'm going to share them!) How sweet it is.

FREE Grands biscuits plus overage

2009-09-02T20:25:00.004-05:00

Hot Deal Alert!! There is currently a printable coupon for $1.00 off any one Grands biscuits found here. Wal-mart has Pillsbury Grands Jr. Golden Layers Buttermilk biscuits 6 oz (5 flaky biscuits) for .74. Available in the refrigerated biscuit section. Check out the picture to see what the package looks like to make it easier to find. This will lead to .26 of overage per tube. I got six today!

Kmart shoes are cool...really!

2009-09-02T14:31:00.007-05:00

So, I stopped into Kmart to score some more super doubles deals. There was a flyer in the front advertising the summer shoe sale. Well, any sales piques my interest, especially when it involves shoes.

I was pleasantly surprised to see what cool shoes they had. The brown Mary Janes were too adorable to pass up. I have to tell you that I was drooling over a similar pair at Birch Run Outlet Mall's Clarks store this week. I just couldn't wrap my brain around spending 69.99 on a single pair of shoes at a "discount" outlet. These are almost identical to the Clarks pair, but the price was nice. Just 29.99. I'm glad I followed my gut instinct to wait on buying the more expensive pair.

I also found these sneakers for 40% off 10.99 for a total of 6.59. Again, I've been looking for these type of shoes, but the price just wasn't right until now. They are so cute on my feet.

AAAaaaahhh. The sweet bliss of a shoe sale minus the guilt of overspending. What could be better than that?

FREE entertainment

2009-09-02T14:15:00.004-05:00

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows how much I love theater, stage shows, and all things cultural. However, living in the north woods often makes it difficult to find good entertainment locally. We end up driving hours to see a good show.

We lucked out this week though. The Golden Dragon Acrobats presented their Cirque D'Or at our local university. Believe me, they are almost as good as Cirque du Soleil, but with a Chinese twist. Since this was a community event to kick off the school year, it was also free. The artistry and stunts were amazing.

They are currently touring the Midwest, and beyond. Check their website here to see when they might be nearby. I see several Michigan dates coming up. Don't miss out on this great production. You will not be disappointed!

As we pursue a frugal fun lifestyle, remember that with a little ingenuity you can find great entertainment locally. Check your local college's website for events and you never what you may find for little to no money.

Vera Bradley deals at eBags.com

2009-09-01T15:13:00.004-05:00

If you know me, you'll know I am a deal squirrel, but also a purse squirrel. I've been desperately seeking a new purse since I visited the outlet mall yesterday. Even at outlet prices, I found Coach and Fossil to be a bit out of my price range.

Today, however, I found a great deal on Vera Bradley purses through eBags.com. Today is a free shipping day too! I got a Mediterran White Bucket Tote for $33.99 shipped. I love Vera Bradley bags because they are so easy to clean. They are machine washable and come out of the wash looking as good as when they went in. Durable and fashionable to a T.

Plus, I shopped through my ebates.com account which will yield an 8% rebate check. I can't wait for it to ship.

Check out all the great clearance Vera Bradley and don't forget to sign up for ebates if you haven't. New customers get $5.00 just for signing up. Use this link to give me credit for finding you a great deal. Happy handbags to all!

I'm Superwoman... Super Doubles that is!

2009-08-30T15:56:00.006-05:00

Okay. Calm down. It's going to be okay. There might not be Super Doubles at Kmart until next year. But there are super doubles again this week. You can see my picture above...grand total -.20 (I had to throw on a candy bar to bring the total above negative to check out, which I promptly ate so it is not pictured.) Note: Kmart has the 2 oz. Glade candles that had FREE coupons in a recent Sunday paper and they smell great.

2 FREE Playtex gloves (1.69) (1.00 off coupons doubled)
1 rubbing alcohol (2.29) (Kmart coupon for free item with $20 purchase)
1 Ponds wipe $3.00 ($1.50 printable redplum coupon doubled)
2 Johnson and Johnson First Aid $1.05 ($1.00 off any first aid coupon doubled)
2 small Chinet plates 2.99 (2.00 off any Chinet manufacturer coupon doubled)
2 Glade 2 oz candle (FREE 2 oz. candle coupon from Sunday paper)
3 Dove deodorant 3.99 (2.00 off Vocalpoint coupon doubled)

I'll be going every day this week again. I have to stock up to last through 5 months without double coupons!

Walgreens super snack deals

2009-08-28T18:24:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm in full squirrel mode. I can feel fall coming on. That's means I'm scrambling to get my stockpile together for winter. That's a lot of nuts to collect.

Speaking of nuts, there are some great deals at Walgreens on Planters trail mix this week. It is on sale for .99. There are several coupons out there for $1.00 off any two Planters products (if you received the $55 Nabisco/Kraft coupon book there are several that can be used for this sale). You can score two bags for .98. Not bad for a quick snack that is much better for you than a candy bar. Great for school lunches too! I scored ten bags for myself.

If you're a fan of Poppycock, you can get a bag for .24 as well. They are on sale for $1.99. There is a Walgreens store coupon for $1.00 off any bag in the back to school coupon flyer. Pair this with the .75 off coupon from recent Sunday papers. Another great deal for snacking. Only had enough coupons for four bags, but that should tide us over for a while.

FREE Reese's king size candy bars

2009-08-26T18:16:00.002-05:00

Wow. I went to Rite Aid today to get more free dog food. (I bought every can in the store.) At the checkout, I noticed that all the king size Reese's peanut butter cups were on sale buy one, get one free. There was a coupon in last weekend's Sunday paper with a coupon that was buy one, get one free. Combine the coupon with the sale at your local Rite Aid to score two king sized Reese's peanut butter cups for free. Sweet! (quite literally.)

FREE Chef Michael's dog food

2009-08-25T18:29:00.005-05:00

I was in Rite Aid today checking out the Benevia posted below. I found an endcap full of Chef Michael's dog food mini pate' packs. The package size is two 3 oz. containers. They are labeled as 2 for 1 packs. Each pack has a coupon attached to the top for $1.00 off any Chef Michael's 3 oz. size. They were priced at $1.29. If you have the $5.00 off $20.00 coupon from the Ad perk website here (just watch enough short commercials to ad it to your rewards), here is what your deal will look like:

16 packs at $1.29 each ($20.64)
- $5.00 (5 off 20 adperks coupon)
-16 $1.00 off coupon from package=
Total: -.35 which my cashier allowed me to use toward tax

AWESOME! That's 32 small cans of dog food for free. Fido will be so spoiled.

If you don't have the Adperk coupon, you can get a 5 off 25 coupon here (scroll through coupons to find it). You'll just have to buy more cans and spend a little out of pocket).

FREE card from Wal-mart

2009-08-25T14:38:00.003-05:00

Wal-mart has a new freebie available from their website, click here It is a sample of a Connections by Hallmark card. I love getting these for free to put in my stash for unexpected card occasions (new job, housewarming, thinking of you, etc.) Just click on the free sample logo, fill in the information, and you should receive one in your mailbox in four to six weeks. I love getting something in the mail other than bills!

FREE Benevia at Rite Aid

2009-08-25T13:14:00.004-05:00

Remember my post about Rite Aid Adperks? Well, it is going to pay off again this week for some free Benevia drinks.

Four packs are on sale at Rite Aid this week buy one at $7.99 get one free. There is a manufacturer's coupon available here. If you watch two short videos about Benevia on Adperks here, you will be able to print two $2.00 off Benevia 4 packs which are Rite Aid store coupons. Combining manufacturer's coupon with store coupons should yield two free four packs of this great product.

The ads say it boosts energy with vitamins and protein. I don't know about you but I could use an energy boost right now! Thanks to hip2save for the tip!

Back to organized!

2009-08-24T19:39:00.002-05:00

Fall is rapidly approaching. I even noticed leaves changing color today. blah. That's means its time to get organized for back to school, back to work, and simply back to a somewhat normal schedule.

I took some time this weekend to evaluate some of my home organization or lack thereof. I got my office in much better working order and actually saw my carpeting again. I got together some books and CDs that will be making their way to paperbackswap.com, and found some great things that will become part of the many giveaways to come.

I also did a rough inventory of my closet to see what needs to be updated, tossed, replaced, or ironed. Actually, it looks pretty good. I do need a few things like pants that actually fit for work.

Next, I plan to get a better inventory on our stockpile of food. I need to start shopping from my cupboard to use things up before they go out of date. I want to look into Once a Month cooking or some sort of meal planning. Between work and caring for my Mom, cooking is one thing that has really been on the back burner. For health, sanity, and budget, we need to eat at home more.

These are just some of my organizing ideas. I find it helpful to do this the last few weeks of August to get a leg up. It helps take away the stress and helps things run more smoothly. What are you doing to make your transition to fall easier?

Walgreen's deals 8/23/09

2009-08-23T14:37:00.004-05:00

I'm not that impressed with the sales at Walgreen's this week. Just a few to mention.

The Reach prevent toothbrushes are free (I got nine!). They are on sale for .99 with the Walgreens store coupon in this week's ad. There was a coupon in the paper recently for 3.00 off the purchase of 3. Give the cashier the manufacturer's coupon first and then the Walgreen's coupon when you check out.

Also, Velveeta shells and cheese cups are 3 for $3.00. Buy at least four to use the Walgreen's coupon in the back to school flyer. This coupon takes off $1.00 for every four cups. Then use two coupons from the Sunday paper for buy one, get one free Velveeta cups. Then a register reward for $1.00 off your next purchase will print out after you make your purchase.

Clear as mud? Okay, maybe a little bit of work to get those coupons together, but you'll end up with some free toothbrushes and quick snacks for back to school.

The perfect T

2009-08-22T19:00:00.003-05:00

Dear frugal fashionistas,
I know we've all been on a search for the perfect T, the shirt that fits perfectly and matches everything. I've found it, thank God, I've found it!

It is the L.A. Blues t-shirt at Fashion Bug.

It has the perfect sleeve length, not to long to look like you're wearing your husband's T, not to short so as to expose jiggly arm fat. It is soft. It is tagless. It is bliss....It is on sale 70% off.
Yes, that's right. Check out the racks at your local Fashion Bug and for $2.69 plus tax, it can be yours. I got mine in white and black. Soldier on in the fight to be cute and under budget.
Dreaming of another sale already,
Squirrel

Frugal Chicago

2009-08-22T11:45:00.009-05:00

Most summer vacationers choose something outdoorsy, even nature filled. However, they don't live where we do, which is prime resort country in Michigan. Hiking, boating, tubing, enjoying nature, we can do all this right from our backyard. We just really needed to get away. So, this summer we opted for a city-cation in beautiful Chicago.

We paid cash, of course. We were surprised to see how far our money could go. I used hotwire.com to book a hotel room at the Palmer House Hilton for just $89.00 per night. I also got 3% back by booking through ebates.com. This was the most amazing four star hotel. Check out the snuggliest bed ever...

We visited Shedd's Aquarium (which gave me free admission because I am a member of the MEA teacher's union and my husband a discount because he has a student ID as he is in seminary pursuing his doctorate.) I love the dolphin show and seeing the beluga whales.

We brought a bag of food from home to save on breakfasts and snacks in the city. The Art Institute of Chicago was very close to our hotel. We got discounts on admission again like we had at Shedd's. We ate dinner at the Corner Bakery Cafe which has great food and good prices for being in the most expensive part of town.

Our biggest splurge was on tickets to see a show called Cavalia (check it out at here) from one of the creators of Cirque du Soleil. I can't say enough good things about this show. If you are going to be in Chicago this summer, it is a must see! Our concierge at the hotel (I know we had a concierge isn't that crazy?) got us tickets to the sold out show. When we arrived, my husband's seat had a broken chair back. The head usher was wonderful and said, "Follow me." She upgraded us to the most expensive seats in the house, 4th row center stage. What a blessing!

Then, of course, we had to visit the Magnificent Mile. That place is the most budget busting temptation. We did well though. There was a stop at the Lego Store just to take pictures of all the cool things made with Legos, the Hershey's store which had super tasty cupcakes for only $1.75, and Borders bookstore. Wow, that bookstore was huge with lots of titles to browse. Hubby found a Tolkien book, but nothing for me.

We headed home via a stop at the Brookfield Zoo. No discounts, but enjoyed a great day in the sun with all the animals.

Our vacation was relaxing, fun, and a refreshing change of pace. We set a budget, used discounts, and did a little research to get the most bang for our buck. I heart Chicago! (Although hubby is glad to be away from the traffic.)

FREE Walgreens photos

2009-08-19T19:46:00.004-05:00

Walgreens is cranking out the deals this week with lots of different photo deals. These are great and easy to do. Just upload your pictures to the Walgreens online photo department. Use coupon code 20FREE4ME to score 20 prints for free. Offer is good through tomorrow.

Today you can also take in one roll of 35mm film to be developed in store for free. This includes those disposable cameras from trips/weddings/etc. My husband and I took in two random old ones we had lying around. I'm kind of excited to see what pictures may come back! (weird huh?)

Along with these two deals, we took advantage of yesterday's offer of 25 digital prints for .25 to get all of our pictures from vacation developed. Another deal to top off a super deal vacation.

Financial check-up for the summer

2009-08-18T18:48:00.005-05:00

Accountability is key to keeping on track financially. Several bloggers I read make it a point to put monthly savings and financial planning updates on their sites. I'd thought I'd stick my toe in the water as well.

As of July, my husband and I are free of credit card debt. woooooooooooooooooooo!

We have maintained our emergency fund CD without touching it since last April. Therefore, we are earning interest on that fund. We have not added any money lately due to the number of car issues/cost of maintaining older cars.

We continue to contribute $300 monthly to an IRA for retirement.

One car we own outright, the other car is 35% paid off. We hope to finish paying this off by the end of the year.

We paid for a summer vacation to Chicago completely with cash and had a blast! It is great to enjoy yourself without having to worry about a bill!

All in all, good progress and some well needed time away.

Giveaway winner

2009-08-18T15:10:00.002-05:00

The Dwelling book giveaway winner is.....

udollsbabygirl

Contact me at: dealsquirrelblogger at gmail dot com to claim your prize. Please contact me in the next week so I can send it out. Thanks to all that entered. There will be more drawings to come...next time it will be a new handbag...

One more plug for my giveaway

2009-08-16T15:25:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the deadline for entering my giveaway for the book "Dwelling: Living Fully from the place you call home" by Mary Beth Lagerborg. Scroll down to my post about this giveaway and follow the directions for entry. Good luck!

Almost free Nexxus shampoo

2009-08-16T15:21:00.004-05:00

One more deal for the road, courtesy of the Krazy Coupon Lady, visit her here.

You know how I love high end anything. Well, this is a great deal for high end shampoo Nexxus Diametruss and Therappe at Rite Aid. It involves watching a few commerical videos from adperk, but it is well worth it. Check out the link to get all the details! Note: This deal is available until the end of the month of August. Take advantage before it's too late.

What happens to your coupons when you vacation

2009-08-16T15:16:00.002-05:00

Help! I can't find my desk beneath my coupons. This is what happens when you let them pile up. I will be digging my way out this week to take advantage of Super doubles at Kmart. So don't feel guilty if you get behind sometimes, living frugally is about enjoying life, not spending all your time with your coupons!

Birthday bash and vacation

2009-08-16T15:12:00.003-05:00

My birthday was yesterday. I celebrated all week with my husband on a vacation to Chicago. I'm thinking about blogging about our frugal trip this week when I have time. My family also had a cook out and got me a Dairy Queen ice cream cake which I had been hinting about. It was so yummy.

I love birthdays, free cake and presents, how much better can it get? Also, I got to celebrate my birthday with my Mom, who not that long ago was told she wouldn't live long enough to be there for me. So blessed, so loved. I really am spoiled.

Super fun Super doubles

2009-08-16T15:05:00.006-05:00

They're baaaacckkk! Super double up to $2.00 at Kmart stores. I got everything pictured for free after doubles. (did have to pay tax though, rats!)

2 boxes Kotex pads $1.49 (.75 Sunday paper coupon)
2 Dove deodorant $3.99 (2.00 Vocalpoint coupons)
4 Huggies Shea butter baby wipes $1.09 (.75 Huggies wipes coupon) (This is my favorite makeup remover, works great, smells good. Why pay for the expensive stuff?)
2 Ponds wipes $3.00 ($1.50 printable coupons.com coupon from last month)

Not bad, but since they are only accepting 10 coupons per person per day, I will have to make multiple trips this week to really rack up the savings.

FREE Softsoap bodywash at Walgreens

2009-08-16T15:01:00.003-05:00

Walgreens has one free item after register reward this week. Softsoap nutri serum bodywash smells great and will moisturize your skin like nobody's business. The cost is $3.99 plus tax with a $4.00 register reward that prints out.

Then I used my reward to buy the Sunday paper to feed my coupon addiction, try out some coconut M&Ms, and some dried cranberries. Total: $5.01 for all I purchased.

The Clothes fairy makes a visit...

2009-08-10T15:56:00.005-05:00

I got a great coupon from JCPenney in the mail on Saturday. It was for anyone who is a member of their rewards program. If you sign up, you get $5.00 off any purchase. Then they will send you other coupons periodically. This week's coupon is $10 off any purchase of $10 or more. You know me, I wanted to spend as close to $10 as possible so I would not have to pay much out of pocket.

I found this cute shirt for $5.99 on the 70% off rack. The sandals were $5.39 after all discounts. This will make a cute outfit paired with summer capris. Final cost=
$1.38 out of pocket.

I love it when the JCPenney clothing fairy leaves a gift in the mailbox.

Giveaway

2009-08-10T13:40:00.004-05:00

I'm taking a short vacation before summer ends. While I'm gone, I don't want the lights to go out here at dealsquirrel so its time for my very first contest.

I have a new copy of "Dwelling: Living Fully from the Space You Call Home" By Mary Beth Lagerborg. She is the coauthor of the bestselling Once a Month cooking, as well as several other books. She is director of media for MOPS International as well.

All you need to do is click on one of my ads and then leave me a comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Help bring in some ad revenue and maybe win a free book. Pretty cool huh? All entries must be received by Monday August 17. Good luck!

Luxury for Less

2009-08-06T20:42:00.003-05:00

I have a secret...I really do enjoy life's luxuries. Sometimes I do drool over the Tiffany's website. I definitely love a great perfume. Wandering a yard sale today, I spotted the beauty pictured above brand new in box for $5.00! It smells divine like citrus, vanilla, honeysuckle sweetness. Okay, just for fun I looked up Burberry perfume on the Neiman Marcus website for a cost comparison and it was....drumroll please...$68.00. Yikes. The finer things really do cost, but apparently not for me. LOVE IT!

Why rent when you can own?

2009-08-06T20:36:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am bored to death with none of my TV shows on this summer. You can only play Wii so many hours a day before you long for the pithy humor of Corner Gas, the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the delusional queasiness of LOST....
So to fill the hours hubby and I have been watching lots of Redbox movies. They are a great price, just $1.00 per daily rental. However, our machines are a bit picked over right now.
At a yard sale today, I found the DVD Robots, which I haven't seen yet (I know I live in a cave or something). It cost me a whole dollar. I could have rented Redbox today or purchased a movie that I can watch over and over again and eventually resell at my own yard sale. hmmmm. I think there's a financial lesson here somewhere...

FREE squash

2009-08-06T16:03:00.003-05:00

I went garage saling today with my Mom and aunt. We found a few good deals (posts to come). While we were driving around I saw a little veggie stand by the side of the road. As I drove up to check it out, there was a sign that said "FREE produce as is available". Wow. There was one beautiful yellow squash left. I grabbed it and brought it home for dinner. It is cooking right now in my toaster oven. (why heat up the whole house when it will fit just fine?) I sliced it up, then marinated it in Italian dressing (free after coupon of course!). This will be one super yummy and free side dish. You should smell it cooking! I can't wait to eat it.

Rite Aid clearance deal

2009-08-05T13:28:00.003-05:00

Stopped by Rite Aid to gather up the many, many freebies from rebates this week. While I was there, I saw a lot of health and beauty stuff on 75% off clearance. They had Bayer Heart Advantage (60 count)marked $11.99 down to $3.00 and the 30 count was $1.75. I also had coupons in my binder for $1.50 and $1.00 off any Bayer Heart Advantage. To top it off, there were coupons online here for 10% off any Rite Aid purchase. After all coupons and sales, I paid $1.30 for the 60 count and .58 for the 30 count. This a great price for OTC medication that my husband has to take anyway. It always pays off to buy at the lowest price and stock up. I now have five bottles in stock at the right price. I'll fill up the stash at the next great sale.

Walgreens clearance finds

2009-08-02T11:49:00.008-05:00

Stopped at Walgreens to get the free after register reward shampoo. I thought there might be some deals on the clearance aisle. I got lucky again! Softsoap body wash was on sale. I got four full size body butter apricot scented scrubs. They were marked $2.24 clearance. I had a coupon for $2.00 off any Softsoap body wash purchase here (may not be available in all zipcodes, but check just in case). That means they were .24 each after coupon! And they smell delicious.

There were also Glucosamine/Chrondroitin supplements marked down to $22.00 per bottle. In this week's Walgreen's ad, there are coupons for $20.00 off any 180 to 240 count size Glucosamine. When combined, each bottle is $2.00. Any of you that buy this product know it costs a lot. All told, I saved $92 with coupons on this single order! Check your clearance aisle and bring along your coupons you never know what might pop up.

closer to freedom!!!

2009-08-01T12:35:00.004-05:00

Hey Dave Ramsey, guess what???
WE PAID OFF OUR CREDIT CARD!!!!
Yahoooooo!

And thanks to having an emergency fund, we were able to pay cash for a car repair that Murphy sent to us the day after we paid off our card. Let me tell you, this is a good feeling!

Next goal, pay off our car by the end of the year. I'll let you know if we make it!

Just hangin' out

2009-08-01T12:24:00.003-05:00

This winter was so cold up here in the north woods. My husband and I moved into a house that is heated by propane last summer. We had never heated with propane before and were shocked at the prices. Last winter we spent almost $3000 to heat our home and dry clothes. Insane!

This year we are determined to cut that expense to the bone using several strategies. First, we have taken to hanging out clothes out whenever possible. The weather has been pretty cooperative this summer. When it rains, we use drying racks and a handy fan pointed directly at the racks. This has dramatically cut our propane use just from drying clothes alone. It doesn't heat up the house during the hot days too. And it has cut the time it takes to actually do laundry. Instead of waiting for that next load to dry before washing the next load, we can do several loads, hang them out, and go about our business. I love the smell too, no dryer sheet can compare to the hung outside smell.

Next, we have a wood stove in the basement that we plan to rely on this winter for heating the place. My Dad was generous enough to give us a couple ricks of wood from trees he trimming around his own property. This gives us a head start for fall. We also plan to buy a few ricks when it gets closer to fall.

Lastly, propane costs have dropped this year. We pre-purchased at a cheaper rate per gallon ($1.79 vs. $2.09 last year). This price drop may be a big savings this winter. We simply had to sign up at a fee of $69 to get the low price.

Hopefully, thanks to these steps our heat bill will be much lower this year.

Garage sale $20 per carload?

2009-08-01T12:06:00.007-05:00

I slept in this morning and was kind of bummed thinking I'd missed out on some great garage sales. I knew there was one just a couple minutes away that had some promising stuff yesterday, but I was a bit short on the cashola. I decided on a whim to check it out again today. When I pulled in it looked like they were in the process of closing. I begin my routine of making a big pile and then making an offer on the entire pile. The lady was so nice and took $20 for the pile. It filled the entire backseat of my Oldsmobile.

So check out my table filled with the stuff, most that was brand new in the box with the tags on!!! Here's the list...an autographed Longaberger basket, a Christmas candle set, a Christmas plate set, a summer chips and dip set, 3 pillar candles with striped holder, a wooden picture frame from Kohl's, an etched glass candle hurricane, a brand new stuffed bear, nine Christmas scented candles (tags says $9.88), birthday cakes candles, a bamboo storage bin, a parmesan cheese grater from TJ Maxx, a candle lighting gift set, a Laura Ashley hatbox, a book light (new in box), an oil candle, a glass serving tray with wire holder, a baking set with terra cotta pots and baking mixes, a toaster oven (not pictured, wouldn't fit) and two boxes of cat toys.

Wow. This is good even for me. Here is my yard sale advice, if you want the best prices, show up when the sale is about to close. In this case, the sellers would rather take a loss than pack up their stuff to take to Goodwill.

The mail fairy dropped by....

2009-07-25T15:55:00.005-05:00

When you get all kinds of cool freebies, it makes getting the mail so much fun. Today there were loads of little packages in my mailbox. One came from here, a great website that has monthly giveaways. This month, the first 100,000 people to enter their contest received a sample sized bottle of Nature's Source natural all-purpose cleaner and packet of forget-me-not seeds. I got a cute little sample from the Wal-mart free sample website here of Nivea Active 3 for Men. Then, Vocalpoint surprised me with a mailer from Rice Krispies, when I say surprised I mean scared me to death with their talking mailer! After the initial shock wore off, I noticed the coupons inside which included a coupon for one free box and several dollar off coupons as well. To become a Vocalpoint member check out vocalpoint.com for more information. All in all, a great mail day and not a bill in sight to spoil it!

Music lovers rejoice!

2009-07-24T18:50:00.002-05:00

Okay, this has to be the top deal of today's trip. I bought this CD case filled with 46 CDs for $10!! It included lots of Christian CDs including five years of the Wow! greatest hits, a bunch of movie soundtracks, some soothing spa sounds, and even Barenaked Ladies (my favorite Canadian band). I can't wait to load up my iPod!

Christmas in July

2009-07-24T18:05:00.004-05:00

Its been all about candles in my recent yard sale posts. Today is no exception. I found this super cute Yankee candle Christmas set. It will make a great gift, or I may just keep it for myself. Marked at $3.00, it was brand new with tags and included two wax tarts which were also brand new with tags. They smell great too with a fragrant mistletoe scent. Yeah, I'm so keeping this one.

Practically free at Target

2009-07-24T17:57:00.003-05:00

I don't live near a Target, but happened to be near a store on a night out with my little sis. I wasn't even organized this time, but happened to have a few coupons in my purse. The Breyer's yogurt is regularly priced at .64. (in a yummy Oreo flavor too). There is a coupon here for $1.00 off any two Breyer's products. After coupon they were .14 each! Then found single serving Honey Nut cheerios (nice size for snacking) marked $1.00. There is a $1.00 off coupon here. Some nice deals on snack food for those long summer drives.

A few deals despite the rain....

2009-07-23T14:37:00.003-05:00

I just went to one garage sale today before the rain started. This summer has just been a cold wet one for Michigan. I picked up a CD-Rom to learn Conversational Spanish for .50 (I've always wanted to be more fluent in a language besides Biblical (Koine) Greek). It will be part of my self-improvement program. Also, got a brand new Yankee candle in Scented Jasmine. These are my favorite kind of candles, but they never go on sale! Price: $3.00.

Wii Fit for less

2009-07-22T16:22:00.002-05:00

My husband and I decided we wanted to buy a Wii Fit, but definitely did not want to pay the $89.99 price tag. So, we explored the best ways to get one. The cheapest we found in the store was $79.99. Then we checked GameStop. If you haven't checked this store yet for all your Wii needs, you are missing out. The Wii Fit (game only) was $14.99 used. We also have an EDGE discount card which takes off an extra 10% off any used game. It also has includes a free subscription to a gaming magazine which reviews all the newest games. So the Wii fit game only cost $13.49. Then we needed a balance board to complete the Wii Fit. Vaughn found a board on eBay which we snagged for $41.00 (including shipping). Now we have a great fitness game for only $54.49. Always be persistent in looking for the best deals. A little bit of shopping around netted us a great game for a great price!

sidewalk sale shoes

2009-07-18T13:08:00.002-05:00

I love shoes, especially comfortable ones from Naturalizer. They tend to be a bit too champagne for my water budget however. This week I decided to try out the sidewalk sides in the little shopping area downtown. This great shop called "The Sole" had tables full of shoes marked down to $5.00. I got this great pair of dressy to casual shoes that will be perfect all summer long. They are also magical shoes. When I put them on my feet, I grow two inches taller.

Mail call

2009-07-18T12:58:00.002-05:00

Somehow getting freebies in my mailbox seems to offset the bills. Today's freebies were: a sample of Viva paper towels (use link here), a bag of microwave popcorn from Yahoo!, and a coupon book from Home Made Simple that includes a coupon for a free Cascade dishwasher rinse aid. (click here for coupon book). Enjoy finding those free samples. It really brightens up that walk to mail box when you have the expectation of getting something good.

pillow talk

2009-07-18T12:48:00.004-05:00

The back seat of my car was filled up yesterday as a result of hitting a great yard sale. I wanted to show off the cute little pillows I got for $3.00. They match my couch and living room so well! Note: even the cat seems mildly amused by them. I believe I was drooling over them last year in Kohl's but thought they were a little spendy for my budget. That's why it's good to learn to control that impulse spending because you never know what you might find at a yard sale. I don't know how many times I've paid top dollar only to see my item in the .50 bin in someone else's garage.