Saving Money...Living Better

Have You Made The Switch?

2010-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Have you subscribed to Simplified Saving through email or RSS feed? Are you following through Google Friend Connect? Some of you are missing out on what is being posted over there, so I thought I'd remind you that Saving Money...Living Better is now Simplified Saving. If you haven't visited yet, it's worth checking out.

Curse of the Spider King {A Review}

2009-11-17T04:39:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to remind you that Saving Money...Living Better is now Simplified Saving. Please make sure to head over there so you don't miss any exciting content! And now....Curse of the Spider King!

When I first looked at The Curse of the Spider King: Book 1 in the Berinfell Prophecies, I'll be honest with you, I wasn't too jazzed. The cover of this books has lots of gross looking spiders with knights riding on them. I hate spiders and I'm not a big fan of the fantasy genre either. This book by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper was written for ages 12-17. When I offered it to my kids to read, my 14 year old grudgingly offered to read it. I was pleasantly surprised when an hour later she came out of her room and told me "This book is amazing!" And from the time she finished the book, she has asked time and time again "Do you know when the second book is coming out?"

I'll let her tell you in her own words what she thought.

When I first saw the book Curse of the Spider King, I thought it was the lamest book ever, but I was just judging by its cover. As I started reading it, I couldn't pit it down. Curse of the Spider King was amazing. I just wanted to keep reading and never put down this mysterious book.

The book is about seven 13 year olds who live in our world, not realizing that someday they are going to save a world beyond their own. I love the characters Batson and Hopper created. The seven teens are my age and it sort of gives me something to think about...What would I have done if it was me?

The end of the book had a one chapter sneak preview of the second book. I'm so glad there is a second book!!! I can't wait to read it. And this time, I won't judge a book by its cover.

As a mom, it's comforting to know that books put out by Thomas Nelson won't be full of bad language and questionable morals. I can allow my teens to read them without having to read them first!

If you have a teen, this book would be a great Christmas gift! You'll definitely want to check it out.

The Curse of the Spider King: Book 1 in the Berinfell Prophecies
By: Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper
Ages: 12 - 17
Put out by: Thomas Nelson
Price: $14.99 (You can purchase this book from Amazon for $10.19 by clicking here or clicking on the image of the book in the left sidebar.)

Disclosure: This book was provided to me free of charge by Thomas Nelson in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own or those of my sweet daughter.

It's Time To Make The Switch...

2009-11-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

Simplified Saving is finally up and running...and it's pretty! So if you've been reading Saving Money...Living Better (my blog with a very long name), you can now switch to Simplified Saving (or www.simplifiedsaving.com) There are a few more things that need to be done, but it's functional! If you are currently reading this in a reader or via email, please head on over to Simplified Saving and subscribe over there. Thanks for your patience during this long annoying process!

FREE Beth Moore online Bible study every Monday!

2009-10-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

Join Beth Moore every Monday for a free online Bible study! Click here to listen and download the study guide!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-10-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

Today is Mega Swagbucks Day and that means you can earn Swagbucks in larger denominations (10,20, 50, 100). They guarantee over 10K Swagbucks will be awarded in Mega Bills! Make sure to head on over and do a few searches. Remember 45 Swagbucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can easily earn 1 or 2 Amazon gift cards a month with just a few searches a day!

For those of you who haven't heard of Swagbucks, it is a free way to search online (it's powered by Google and Ask.com) and earn rewards for doing it. You can learn more about Swagbucks in this post. Have a great weekend!!!

FREE Beth Moore online Bible study every Monday!

2009-10-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Join Beth Moore every Monday for a free online Bible study! Click here to listen and download the study guide!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-10-09T02:15:00.000-07:00

FREE Beth Moore online Bible study every Monday!

2009-10-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Join Beth Moore every Monday for a free online Bible study! Click here to listen and download the study guide!

Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado

2009-10-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado. It's not often enough that I read a book challenging teenagers to look at beauty differently, to redefine beautiful as "what God sees when God sees you. Although this book was written for teens, I think women of all ages struggle with "ugly days" and insecurities and would be encouraged by reading this. It is funny and insightful and although the subject matter is deep in places, it's an easy read.

Redefining Beautiful has great insights on the connection between a girls self image and her relationship with her dad. Jenna encourages girls to develop healthy relationships with their dads because so much of a girl's view of herself, others and God is shaped by this relationship. The good news is that even if your relationship with your dad isn't all it's cracked up to be, the ultimate relationship is the relationship with your Heavenly Father...God.

I asked my daughter to write down her thoughts on the book and this is what she shared.

For the past couple of weeks I have been reading a book called Redefining Beautiful, by Jenna Lucado with Max Lucado. My overall impression on this book is that it is extremely helpful, especially when times come when you don’t feel beautiful. I love books and I read a lot of them. Many of them have like a lesson learned at the end. But this book is like a guide through life. There are times when someone comments on our looks in a negative way and Redefining Beautiful has the answer.

From my point of view, as a 14 year old, I think there are two main points in this book. Number one: feeling beautiful just the way we are, because God created us in His image. Thinking about that just blows my mind. Number two: having a healthy relationship with our earthly father and our Heavenly Father. Dads are great. And I understand that many girls out there don’t have a father. I feel sad for those girls, but if that’s the case there is always, always our Heavenly Father. And I know that I can trust Him. I didn't grow up with a dad. I was adopted two months before I turned 12. Having a daddy has really changed the way I feel about myself. I have someone who tells me I'm pretty and makes me feel safe. Although I'm adopted, I even look like my daddy. People who don't know I'm adopted tell me all the time that I look like my dad. I am a lot more confident knowing that my dad is around. I don't have to worry about my weight or how I look, I know he loves me no matter what and I know that God is the same way!

I encourage moms out there to read the book and have their daughters read it too! I know it's sparked a lot of really good discussions in our house!

Thanks Jenna Lucado and Thomas Nelson! Keep up the good work!

A move and a makeover...my blog, not me!

2009-09-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

As much as I'd like to move and get a makeover, right now, it's the blog that's moving and getting a makeover. Saving Money...Living Better is about to become Simplified Saving!

www.simplifiedsaving.com

When I begun blogging, I had a hard time picking out a name that I liked...and more importantly, one that wasn't already taken. Since I'd never been a blogger, I didn't think about things like trying to remember a ridiculously long URL...and http://savingmoneylivingbetter.blogspot.com is definitely ridiculously long! I've also come to realize that as a mom, sometimes saving time is as important or more important than saving money. Simplified Saving is going to be about saving time, saving money, and saving your sanity!

Also, to kick off the new site, we'll be doing some fun giveaways! Although the blog makeover won't be complete for a few more weeks, the move should be complete in just a few days. Hope to see you there!

If you haven't been over to check out the new site...you're missing out! Check out the posts you missed!

A Thankful Heart- My challenge to you and to myself to look at things through the lens of thankfulness

Menu Plan Monday - This is my normal weekly attempt at menu planning.

12 Days Of Christmas Giveaway- Week 1 This is the first in a 12 week series of giveaways! The contest closes at 11:59 pm tonight!

www.simplifiedsaving.com

REMINDER: Tomorrow is FREE Museum Day

2009-09-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to remind you that tomorrow, Saturday, September 26th is Free Museum Day and you and a guest can receive free admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues! Click here to get all the details and print your admission pass.

VS Panties 10 for $25

2009-09-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you haven't registered for Victoria's Secret Pink Nation, you need to do it now! I was so excited to see an email last night from Pink Nation...these emails almost always have a great coupon! I received quite a few great freebies and deals in the past, but right now they are offering a coupon for panties...10 for $25. This is a great deal and a great opportunity to stock up for yourself or as a gift! Click here to login or to register to get your coupon!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-09-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

Free SweetFire Chicken Breast Entree at Panda Express 9/25

2009-09-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Print this coupon and take it to any Panda Express location on Friday, September 25th for a SweetFire Chicken single serve entree...no strings attached! You may want to call before you head over to make sure your location is participating. One coupon per person. While supplies last.

Thanks for the heads up Kiki!

80% off Land of Nod

2009-09-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

Definintely check out the Sale Merchandise...they have products that are up to 80% off! Lots of good deals for Christmas and birthday gifts! Don't forget to go through Mr. Rebates for 5% back.

I found quite a few things already! Happy shopping!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-09-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

Monday- Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
Tuesday- Fajitas
Wednesday- Hot Dogs and Mac N Cheese
Thursday- Italian Chicken and Pasta Salad
Friday- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Broccolli
Saturday -FFY

For more ideas or to see what everyone else has cooking this week, head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday!

FREE Beth Moore online Bible study every Monday!

2009-09-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Join Beth Moore every Monday for a free online Bible study! Click here to listen and download the study guide!

Sunday Newspaper Coupon Preview

2009-09-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

Wondering what's in this Sunday's paper? Wonder no more... Check out Sunday Coupon Preview!

SEARS Coupon is DEAD!!!

2009-09-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

I went to Sears today to use the coupon I posted about earlier this week and I was told by a Sears Cashier that these coupons are not being accepted as they were not intended to be distributed to the public. :-( Even though this coupon came from their own website, they aren't honoring it! Sorry for steering you wrong!!!

I may be wrong, but you can probably still purchase online from the Juniors Apparel section by using code 17SEARSAPPAREL at checkout! To get more bang for your buck, go through Mr. Rebates and get a 2% Rebate (plus an extra $2.50 sign up bonus if you're a new member) or go through Shop at Home for 4% (and a $5 sign up bonus if you're a new member)!

Click below to go through Mr. Rebates

Click below to go through Shop At Home

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-09-18T02:51:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to pick up your FREE mall gift cards!

2009-09-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

I hope lots of you were able to take advantage of the free mall gift card offer I posted about here. If you did, make sure you remember to go pick up your cards during the redemption date. I'd hate to see you waste free money! Also, you may want to use your gift card with the great Sears coupon I posted about here to pick up some free or super cheap Christmas gifts!

Free Health Benefits for Dummies book

2009-09-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

Sign up here to receive a FREE copie of Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies. You can choose to receive a hard copy or download a copy.

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

$10 off $10 Juniors Apparel at Sears: September 15 - November 14

2009-09-15T01:24:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: These coupons are not being accepted at Sears! Sorry!Looking for some FREE or very cheap stuff? Take this printable coupon and head to Sears where they will take $10 off your $10 Juniors Apparel purchase. There is NO minimum purchase!

If you don't want to brave the mall, you can also purchase online from the Juniors Apparel section by using code 17SEARSAPPAREL at checkout! To get more bang for your buck, go through Mr. Rebates and get a 2% Rebate (plus an extra $2.50 sign up bonus if you're a new member) or go through Shop at Home for 4% (and a $5 sign up bonus if you're a new member)!

Thanks Moms Need to Know!

Click below to go through Mr. Rebates

Click below to go through Shop At Home

$999 Emergency Fund Giveaway from Dave Ramsey!

2009-09-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Dave Ramsey is giving away $999 everyday between now and September 18th. You can get all the details and register here!

FREE Museum Admission - September 26, 2009

2009-09-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 26th is Free Museum Day and you and a guest can receive free admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues! Click here to get all the details and print your admission pass.

10% off Gap Outlet printable coupon

2009-09-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Twitter Moms has teamed up with the Gap Outlet to provide you with a great 10% off coupon! Go here to print yours!

Thanks Bargain Briana!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-09-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's another busy week at our house so we'll be keeping it simple yet again!

Monday - Fazolis
Tuesday- Taco Pie
Wednesday- Spaghetti with meat sauce and salad
Thursday- Italian Chicken and Mashed Potatoes
Friday - Pizza
Saturday- FFY (Fend For Yourself...there are always plenty of leftovers!)

If you're looking for some great ideas for meal planning, head on over to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Newspaper Insert Alert - 5 Inserts This Week

2009-09-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering whether you should pick up the newspaper this weekend, the answer is YES! At least for me it is. This week there will be 3 Smart Source inserts and 2 Red Plum inserts! It's always great to pick up a few extra papers on weeks with extra inserts...especially if you're new to couponing and/or stockpiling. You may want to check the Dollar Store in your area to see if they carry the Sunday paper for $1.

Also, remember that you can always print Coupons.com coupons from the left sidebar of Saving Money...Living Better! Check out this post to see some of my favorite places to get coupons!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-09-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

Where to find coupons

2009-09-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some of my favorite places to find coupons!

Printable Coupons

Coupons.com- You can also print coupons directly from my blog! Look in the sidebar on the left!
Red Plum
SmartSource
Meijer Mealbox
A Full Cup -Target Coupon Generator
Old Navy Weekly

E-Coupons

Shortcuts
Cellfire
Upromise

Great Places To Purchase Coupons

Coupons & Things by Dede
eBay

Restaurant.com Gift Certificates 90% off until September 12th

2009-09-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Restaurant.com is offering 90% off their gift certificates until September 12th (actually til 3:01 AM PST on September 13th, but who's counting?). That means you can get a $25 certificate for $1 or a $10 gift certificate for $.40. You can make this deal even sweeter by going through Mr. Rebates. They are offering 25% cash back which takes your gift certificate prices down to $.75 and $.30. To take advantage of this deal, enter discount code ninety at checkout and hit apply!

Happy Eating!

Tonight Is THE Night...

2009-09-10T09:45:00.001-07:00

Don't forget that there will be a Saving Money...Living Better seminar at the Eckhart Public Library tonight in Auburn, IN from 6:30-7:30 pm. This is your chance to ask all those questions you've been wanting to ask about saving money! I'll be talking about saving money on groceries, everyday purchases, and travel as well as planning for Christmas and birthdays throughout the year!

Can't wait to see you! If you haven't registered yet, feel free to leave a comment on the blog that you'll be attending!

Attention Target Shoppers - I Saved Over $175!

2009-09-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've posted before about how much I love Target and after today, I love it even more! My Target store is great about accepting coupons, they even told me that I could use their kiosk to print Target coupons. Today I purchased $220.50 of groceries and Christmas gifts for only $37.73! I also received a $5 Target gift card for purchasing 5 Fiber One products and I will receive a $10 Kellogg's Fuel For School rebate for purchasing 10 Kellogg's products! If you take those 2 off my purchase total that means I've only spent $22.73! Some of the items I purchased today weren't absolutely necessary, but they were pretty darn cheap and my kids were absolutely thrilled!!! Here's the breakdown of what I purchased:

3 Leap Frog Tag Readers ($49.99 each- marked down to $12.48 each clearance-used $10/1 coupon)
2 boxes Nutrigrain bars ($2.39 each used $1/2 from 8/2 Kellogg's Insert and $.50/1 Target Kellogg's Snack coupon)
6 boxes Yogo Bits ($1.75 each used $1/2 from 8/2 Kellogg's Insert and $.50/1 Target Kellogg's Snack coupon)
2 boxes Fruity Cheerios ($2.64 each used $2/1 Fruity Cheerios* and $1/1 General Mills Cereal)
2 boxes Pop Tarts (used $1/2* and $.75/1 Pop Tarts)
4 boxes Fiber One Toaster Pastries (used $1/2 Fiber One Toaster Pastries*)
1 box Fiber One Bars 8 stretchy book covers (clearanced for $.48 each and $1.38 each)
2 3-packs of paper book covers (clearanced for $.68 each)
10 10-packs Bic pens (clearanced for $.70 each used $1/2 Bic Stationery)
1 Crayola Twistables Crayons (clearanced for $.48)
6 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Cups ($.95 each used $1/1 General Mills Cereal)
12 Market Pantry String Cheese ($.40 each used $1/2 Market Pantry Cheese)

*I buy lots of my coupons off of ebay, so I'm not sure what the dates are on some of these coupons!

There are lots of great deals out there! Hope you can take advantage of a few of them!

FREE 2010 Wildlife Calendar

2009-09-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

My girls love calendars so I try to take advantage of the free calendars I find! Click here to get your FREE 2010 Wildlife Calendar!

Thanks Moms By Heart!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-09-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

As usual, I'm anticipating a busy week around here which means we're going for lots of quick, easy meals!

Monday- Labor Day Cookout at Mom and Dad's
Tuesday- Spaghetti with meatsauce, Salad, and Garlic Bread
Wednesday- Taco Pie
Thursday- BBQ Chicken, Pasta Salad
Friday- Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese
Saturday-FFY (Fend For Yourself...we always end up with plenty of leftovers!)

For more great meal planning ideas, head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday!

FREE DVD Rental from Redbox: Valid September 7th only

2009-09-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's the first Monday of the month and that means another free DVD rental from Redbox. Simply check out with coupon code T46T3Q7. This code expires 9/7/2009 at midnight.

Happy Labor Day

2009-09-07T02:01:00.000-07:00

I hope you are enjoying time off with your family and friends. I thought I'd give you a little background on Labor Day According to the US Department of Labor, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Most of you who read this blog are working hard to save money so that you can contribute to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of your family! And I appreciate that A LOT! (I also appreciate you taking the time to read my blog, so with that in mind, here are a couple things to take a little bit of the "labor" out of your day!

Saving Money...Living Better Time Saving Tools
Did you know you can sign up to have "Saving Money...Living Better" delivered to your e-mail. Look on the right side of the blog for a little box that says "Subscribe via email" and enter your email address. You will have to verify that it belongs to you and then you will begin getting the blog posts sent to your email. No more wondering if you missed a deal!

In addition, rather than typing http://savingmoneylivingbetter.blogspot.com into your web browser, you can simply type www.simplifiedsaving.com. Saves a lot of time and energy...ok, so it really only saves a couple of seconds, but those seconds add up quickly!

Swagbucks Tools
The Swidget is a Swagbucks widget that allows you to search, check for new swag codes, read the Swagbucks blogs, and you can even sign up Swagbucks if you haven't done that already (and if you haven't what are you waiting for??? Don't you like free stuff???) The Swidget is located at the bottom of the home page of my blog, simply scroll all the way down and check it out!

Also, if you haven't done it already, add the Swagbucks toolbar. It's great and they're giving away free swagcodes on the toolbar everyday during the month of September! Read my post on all the cool features the Swagbar offers!

I hope these will save you a little time! Enjoy the day with your family and friends and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

FREE 5x5 Photo Book

2009-09-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

Personalized Photo Books make great gifts and right now you can get a FREE 5x5 Photo Book from Memory Escape. Go here to create an account and use code ONPFREE5E at checkout. This offer expires on September 14th, so hurry and create your photo book now!

Thanks Centsible Savings!

Reminder: FREE Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich September 7th only

2009-09-06T14:24:00.001-07:00

Don't forget...Labor Day only, wear your sports team logo to Chick-Fil-A from 10:30 to close to get a free Chick-Fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich!

Happy Labor Day!

FREE MP3 Download at Amazon.com

2009-09-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the milestone of surpassing over 1 million followers on Amazon MP3's Twitter feed, Amazon is offering one free download priced at $1.29 or less. You have over 1 million songs to choose from! Go here to get all the details and get your song! This offer is only good til September 6th, so don't delay!!!

Thanks Centsible Savings!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-09-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

Get at least 30 FREE Swagbucks this month!!!

2009-09-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

Swagbucks has a new toolbar with great features! You can search online (duh!), listen to streaming radio, connect to your favorite social media sites (like Facebook and YouTube) and my favorite feature...SWAG CODES!!! Every day during the month of September, the toolbar will have at least one swag code for you! You don't even have to do any searches, but imagine how many Swagbucks you could rack up between the free codes and your searches!

What is Swagbucks?

Swagbucks is a site that allows you to earn gift cards, concert tickets, and other great prizes for searching the internet. For only 45 Swagbucks, you can get a $5 Amazon.com eGift card. If you're going to search internet, you may as well benefit! Plus, the searches are powered by Google and Ask, so you're getting quality results!

It's super easy to sign up! Click here and enter your info...then start searching!

FREE Audiobook Download from ChristianAudio

2009-09-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

I love to listen to audiobooks and I can't wait to download this one. Each month, christianaudio gives away a premium audiobook download for free! This month they are giving away GOD'S WORD Heard!, an unabridged New Testament audio Bible.

To get your copy, go here and add the download format of GOD's WORD Heard! New Testament to your cart and enter the coupon code SEP2009 when prompted during checkout.

20% Off Coupon for Coach Outlet (9/1-9/7)

2009-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

I love Coach purses and shoes! I really love the Coach Factory Store because I am often able to get $300 purses for under $100. This coupon will make any deal you find even sweeter! I'm planning on heading to our Coach Factory store on Thursday! I might even pick up some gifts while I'm there if I can find any steals! If you decide to use your coupon to shop for gifts, feel free to pick something up for me! I promise...I won't mind!

Thanks Hip2Save!

September 1st: FREE Baja Fresh Burrito with Drink Purchase

2009-08-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

Here is another great Facebook Freebie! I love the burritos at Baja Fresh...especially the Baja Burrito! Print off this page and take it to Baja Fresh tomorrow (September 1st) between 2 and 5:30pm to get a free burrito with the purchase of a drink. Make sure you read the fine print!

Thanks Kiki!

Crocs: Buy One Get One Free Sale PLUS FREE Shipping!

2009-08-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Crocs is having a huge Buy One Get One Free Sale on select styles. Although many of these are "summer" styles, quite a few of them would work for the other seasons! I love Crocs and pretty much live in the Sassari wedges and the Baja flip flops! I also love the Capri flip flops and both of my pairs were destroyed in the flood earlier in the year.

These are going quickly so you don't want to wait too long! Also, you can use code slx8797 to get 25% off and free shipping.

Don't forget to go through a cash back site like Mr. Rebates (6%), Cashbaq (5%) or Ebates (4%).

Thanks Deal Seeking Mom!!!

Reminder: September 10th

2009-08-29T04:22:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to remind you that on September 10th at 6:30pm, I'll be at the Eckhart Public Library talking about Saving Money! You can register at the reference desk or by calling 260-925-2414 extension 120. I hope to see you all there!

FREE $10 Mall Gift Card (Hurry, these are going fast!)

2009-08-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

ShopSmartLookFab.com is offering a free $10 Mall Gift Card (for various malls across the U.S.) They are only offering 500 per mall so sign up quickly! For those of you who live near me, Glenbrook Square is included in this deal. To see if there is a participating mall near you, click here and enter your zip!

If you're able to find a mall near you--select it. You will then be taken to your local mall's promotional site.

You will need to click on the banner image #2 (it may take a minute to show up, but it is pictured above), which states "Get a gift card NOW! Limited offer!" Type in your email address and then click "sign up fast". Finally fill out your information, including your email address, so they can send you a voucher. To get your FREE $10 gift card, just bring the printed voucher to the dedicated program table located at the Shop Smart Zone at Your Mall between 9/17-9/18, 2009, during the hours of 10:00 a.m. local time until the mall’s regularly scheduled closing time, and September 19 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. local time.

**Limit one Shop Smart Gift Card per person

Thanks Hip2Save!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-08-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

TGIF...for more reasons than one! Today is Mega Swagbucks Day and that means you can earn Swagbucks in larger denominations (10,20, 50, 100). They guarantee over 10K Swagbucks will be awarded in Mega Bills! Make sure to head on over and do a few searches. Remember 45 Swagbucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can easily earn 1 or 2 Amazon gift cards a month with just a few searches a day!

For those of you who haven't heard of Swagbucks, it is a free way to search online (it's powered by Google and Ask.com) and earn rewards for doing it. You can learn more about Swagbucks in this post.

Free Hallmark Card

2009-08-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Right now you can sign up to get a FREE Hallmark card from Walmart! Check out these other great FREEBIES (including FREE music) from Walmart.

Dear iPhone

2009-08-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Dear iPhone,

Lately, it seems like things have been different between us. Ever since the day I kicked you out of my car, you've been acting differently. I didn't mean to break your ~~heart~~ screen. Really, I didn't! I don't know if you know that it was an accident (although I've apologized profusely), but you haven't been acting the same. Honestly, I just can't read you like I used to.

I'm writing to you because I don't know what to do about our relationship. You have been such a huge part of my life for over a year and I feel like it would be wrong to take advantage of that. On the other hand, I need to do what's best for me and I'm thinking a little upgrade might be good for me.

Whether we part ways or not, I want you to know how much I appreciate this last year. You have changed my life for the better and you will always have a special place in my heart!

Love always,

Lisa

Free Sewing Machine From Brylane Home

2009-08-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! Can I just say I majorly scored at Brylane Home tonight! They are offering a free sewing machine with any purchase...even a clearance purchase. I picked up this great salad set for only $5.99 (the shipping was $4.99) and I got a free sewing machine which is regularly $29.99.

Isn't it cute? :-) After I purchased my salad set and my free sewing machine for only $11.75 with shipping and tax, one of those annoying little reward offers popped up. Thanks to Carrie at Money Saving Mom, I have discoved that these annoying little offers really do work if you read the fine print. So I signed up for the free 30 day trial offer (and I marked my calendar for a few days before the end of the trial period so I can decide if I want to keep it) and I received a coupon code for $10 off my next purchase. So I purchased a pink throw on clearance for $4.99 (it was $10.68 with shipping), I applied my gift certificate and ended up paying $.68. Not too shabby, eh?

Make sure you go through Mr. Rebates for an additional 5% back. If you're new to Mr. Rebates, sign up here and get an additional $5! I love Mr. Rebates!!!

Thanks to Carrie at Money Saving Methods for the heads up! She rocks!

Two great ways to get a FREE Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich

2009-08-24T10:02:00.001-07:00

Be one of the first 250,000 to register here and get a coupon for a free Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich. The next 750,000 to register will receive a coupon for free Coke Zero.

Labor Day only, wear your favorite sports team logo to Chick-Fil-A from 10:30 to close and get a free Chick-Fil-A Chicken sandwich.

Review: Bounce Dryer Bar

2009-08-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

If your house is anything like our house, laundry is a never-ending task! I don't normally get excited about anything laundry related, but I have to tell you honestly, I am pretty darn excited about the new Bounce Dryer Bar. I got a coupon from Vocalpoint for the Bounce Dryer Bar and since we were out of dryer sheets, I thought I'd give it a try....and to my surprise, I love it!

According to the Bounce website, Dryer Bar technology has been used for years in hotels and other places where large quantities of laundry are done daily. The Bounce Dryer Bar attaches to the inside of your dryer and freshens each load automatically. You can choose from a 2 month bar or a 4 month bar. When the bar needs to be replaced, a replacement indicator will appear. Once the indicator appears, you just need to replace the empty cartridge with a new Bounce Dryer Bar. This is definitely something you want to try!

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-08-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day! That means you can earn Swagbucks in larger denominations (10,20, 50, 100). They guarantee over 10K Swagbucks will be awarded in Mega Bills! Make sure to head on over and do a few searches. Remember 45 Swagbucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can easily earn 1 or 2 Amazon gift cards a month with just a few searches a day!

For those of you who haven't heard of Swagbucks, it is a free way to search online (it's powered by google and ask) and earn rewards for doing it. See my post about Swagbucks here. Happy searching!

OLD NAVY: $3 Adult Basic Tees (Saturday 8/22 only)

2009-08-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last week, I popped into Old Navy after teaching Zumba and was thrilled because they had their Women's Ribbed Tanks for only $2. I was excited to see that they will be having another One Day Wonder item on Saturday, 8/22. You can purchase up to 5 Adult Basic Tees for only $3 each and up to 5 pairs of kids socks for $1 each (there is no limit on toddler socks). Go early as these items tend to sell out quickly!

If you are in the market for tee shirts and won't be able to make it to Old Navy on Saturday, don't be too sad! Old Navy has some of their Women's Perfect Fit tees on sale for 2/$10 online. If you shop through Ebates, you can get 8% cash back or if you'd prefer, you can shop Old Navy online through Mr. Rebates or Cashbaq for 3% cash back. Just remember, if you're shopping online, make sure you're getting money back!

Ebates
or

FREE CD Download: A Place of Quiet Rest

2009-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

For all those in need of a little R & R, A Place of Quiet Rest is the CD for you. The piano arrangements are beautiful! You can go here to download the entire CD for free.

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Three Cheers for Target!

2009-08-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

I love Target! If there was a Target closer to my house, I'd probably go there daily! Since it's 25 minutes away, I only make it there every other week or so! I visited Target today to pick up a few things and I learned something new. You can print coupons at Target...in the store...at the kiosk. I knew that you could stack a Target coupon and a manufacturers coupon, but I didn't know you could print the Target coupons while you're at the store. The Trainer I talked to at Target said "Why waste your paper and ink? You can use ours!" That's the kinds of stuff I want to hear! Here is my favorite Target deal this week...there are other great deals out there, but we really like Pop Tarts!

Pop Tarts ($1.92 for 8 count)
Combine $.75/1 Target coupon and $1.00/2 manufacturer coupon from the 8/2 Kelloggs insert

Each box is only $.67 after coupons!

To make this deal even sweeter (and if your Target allows more than one Target coupon in a transaction), you can use this rebate form here to turn this into a money maker! You would need to purchase 10 of these items in one transaction. Here is one way to use this rebate form.

Purchase 10 boxes of Pop Tarts at $1.92 each ($19.20)
*Use 5 $1/2 manufacturers coupons from 8/2 Kelloggs insert (These coupons can be purchased online if you don't have 5 of them.) (-$5.00)
*Use $.75/1 Target coupons (-7.50)

Total Spent $6.70 Get back $10 rebate by mail! This is a great money maker!!!

Menu Plan Monday - Back To School Week

2009-08-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already time for the kids to head back to school. Since it's always an adjustment to get back into the swing of things and since I'm starting back to work this week, I'm going to keep this week's menu simple.

Monday - Macaroni and Cheese and Hot Dogs

Tuesday- Daddy/Daughter and Mommy/Daughter Date night. We'll each take one of the girls to dinner. The girls love these nights.

Wednesday- Tacos

Thursday- Italian Chicken, Brown Rice, and Salad

Friday- Spaghetti, Salad, and Homemade Bread

Saturday - Eggs and Pancakes (Breakfast for Dinner)

Sunday- Leftovers

For more menu plan ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday over at orgjunkie.com.

Change is coming...

2009-08-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

When the summer began, I anticipated long restful days at our cottage in New Hampshire. I envisioned myself catching up on books I've longed to read, blogging (alot), and exercising consistently. My summer turned out quite differently. The long restful days were replaced by lots of work around the cottage. I refinished countless pieces of furniture, painted walls and windows, and had my sister help me put the look together. I'll dedicate a post to the cottage transformation on another day. Throughout the summer, I continually thought about my blog and where I want it to go. I know that I have become quite passionate about saving money and blessing my family, but I'm also learning that life is about so much more. I'd like a website that is dedicated to help people save not only money, but also time, their health, and their sanity! Stay tuned! The new site is hopefully coming soon!

Save The Date: Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm

2009-08-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to let you all know that I will be doing a class on saving money at Eckhart Public Library on Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to learn some simple ways to save money on groceries, travel, and everyday purchases. I'll be posting more about this as it gets closer!

I'm so thankful for our library. Not only do they have a wide selection of wonderful books, audio books, and movies, but they also offer great programs for the community! Also, if you have teenagers, make sure to check out The Third Place: A Teen Library! If you haven't been there, you need to go!

TMTT- Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

2009-08-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

I love eating out...especially when it involves loaves of warm yummy bread. Our current budget doesn't allow for much eating out, so my husband suggested I figure out how to make the bread myself. My favorite bread is Honey Wheat bread (like they serve at Outback or Cheesecake Factory). This recipe can also be made in a breadmaker.

1 1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter - softened or melted
2 cups bread flour (if you don't have bread flour, you can use all purpose flour instead, but the results won't be quite as good)
2 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)

Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl starting with liquid ingredients and ending with the yeast. Knead until ingredients are thoroughly combined and you have a wet sticky dough. If dough is too wet, add more flour. Leave dough in bowl, cover, and let rise for 90 minutes.

After 90 minutes, remove from bowl, punch down and divide into 8 sections. Form each section into a small loaf, 2 inches wide and 6 inches long. Place loaves on 2 cookie sheets. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. This bread is best if served warm.

If you are making this bread in your bread machine, just place your ingredients in the bread machine and let it do it's work. I just use the basic setting on the machine when I make this loaf and I get one big yummy loaf.

For more yummy recipes or for great kitchen tips, visit Lisa at Blessed With Grace for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Menu Plan Monday - Using What You Have

2009-08-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my time in New Hampshire is coming to an end. My hubby and kids will be leaving on Sunday morning to fly home and I'll be leaving shortly after that. With that in mind, I need to use up what we have left so that we're not wasting food. Also, I'm trying not to spend any money on food this week since we're in a new budget month and I know I'm going to have to do some serious grocery shopping when we get home after being gone for 2 months. So, without further ado...here is this week's menu.

Breakfasts: Cereal, PopTarts, Toast and/or Fruit

Lunch: Fluffernutters or Grilled Cheese and Fruit

Monday- Eggs and Pancakes

Tuesday- BBQ Chicken Legs, Pasta with Sauce, Veggies, and Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

Wednesday- Taco Pie

Thursday- Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese

Friday- Baked pasta and Homemade Honey Wheat Bread *We'll also probably have a birthday cake since my daughter turns 14 on Saturday!!!

Saturday- Cookout

Although this week is an unusual week, you can get lots of great menu planning ideas at Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie. This week, Menu Plan Monday is being hosted by Toni over at The Happy Housewife! Make sure to check it out!

Coach Factory Store Coupon!!!!!!!

2009-07-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love anything Coach. I have Coach shoes, purses, hair scarves, and even some Coach pencils (the pencils were free for Facebook fans a few weeks ago!) I've told lots of people that I use coupons on my groceries so that I can spend money on Coach purses. Saving money and Coach do not usually go hand in hand, however, by combining this fabulous 20% off coupon with the already reduced prices at the Coach Factory Store, you can snag some great Coach merchandise. Happy Shopping!

Thanks Hip 2 Save!

30% Off Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy

2009-07-30T16:11:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to see that Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores, and Old Navy are offering 30% off in stores between July 30 and August 2. Plus, 5% of every purchase will be given to Feeding America! Click here to print your coupon!

Thanks Hip 2 Save!!!

50% off Cheesecake July 30th

2009-07-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

July 30th is National Cheesecake Day! This is the kind of holiday I like to celebrate. The Cheesecake Factory also has a great promotion going on to celebrate National Cheesecake Day. If you dine in on July 30th, you can enjoy any of their 30 delicious cheesecake flavors for half price. They are also introducing a new flavor of cheesecake...Stefanie's Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake. MMMMM!!!

Thanks for the heads-up Kiki! You can find other great deals and promotions over at Kiki's Korner.

Stocking Up On School Supplies

2009-07-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you have kids in school (or even if you have little ones at home) , you know that shopping for school supplies and craft supplies can be pricey. Right now is the ideal time to stock up for this upcoming year. Each week, retailers list various school supplies at ridiculously low prices to lure back to school shopping. If you're going to be out and about anyway, you may want to stop by a few stores. If you're not going to be out and about, you can still get lots of good deals online. Just make sure you go through a cash back site like Mr. Rebates!

These supplies also make great fillers for goody bags at birthday parties. You can also purchase these items while you can get them for a steal and donate them to families who can't afford school supplies.

Here are some of the highlights I'm seeing for this week (and as soon as I finish this post, I'm heading out to do some shopping.) This doesn't include all of the great deals out there, so if you know of other great deals, leave a comment so everyone can benefit!

CVS (only good through Tuesday 7/21/2009)
Check your local weekly ad for more details

CVS has lots of great items that are free after ECBs (Extra Care Bucks). For these items, you may want to split them into multiple transactions so that you can roll your ECBs.

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy filler paper 150 sheets $2 get $2 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy memo book 50-80 sheets $.99 get $.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy No. 2 Pencils 24 ct $1.99 get $1.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*PaperMate 1.2 pens 10 ct $.99 get $.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Vinyl Binder 1" ("alumni" brand) $3 get $3 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

Walgreens
Check your local weekly ad for more details.

Pilot G2 pens 2 pk $1 get $1 RR (free after RR)

Items for only $.09
2 pocket folder
#2 pencil
Highlighter

Items for only $.19
Paper Mate 1.2 Prism Pens (10 pack)
Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils (5 pack)
Penway® Flexible or Wooden Ruler, 12 in.
100 pack Acco Paper Clips
2 pocket Penway® Poly Folder with Prongs

Items for only $.29
Penway 10 pack Yellow Pencils
Penway 2 pack Pink or 15 pack Cap Erasers

Items for only $.39
Penway® Poly Binder or Glue, 4 oz.
Scotch Transparent Tape, 1/2x450 in.

Items for only $.49
5 pack Bic Brite Liner Highlighters
24 pack Penway® Crayons or 8 pack Jumbo Crayons
School Box

Items for only $.59
Scotch Mailer, 4x7 to 10.5x15 in. or 7 to 10 pack Clasp Envelopes
Penway® Dual Hole Sharpener
It’s Academic Sharpener & Eraser

Items for only $.99
12 pack Crayola Colored Pencils
3 Subject Penway® Notebook, 120 sheets
It’s Academic Stretch Book Cover
Spangles Pencil Pouch
Penway Fabric Carry-All Pouch or 25 pack All-in-One Pencil Set
80 or 100 sheet Notebook, 5x7 in. or 10.5x8 in. or Portfolio.

Target

Items for only $.20
Elmer's Glue Sticks (2 pk)
Erasers (2 pk)
Pencil Sharpeners
Rulers

Items for only $.50
Composition books

Items for only $.88
Construction Paper (96 ct)
Crayola Colored Pencils (12 pk)

Wal-Mart
Check out this great list put together by Money Saving Mom, MoJo Savings, and Deal Seeking Mom!

Free or Super Cheap Splenda Brown Sugar at Target!! PLUS...a yummy recipe for the Splenda Brown Sugar.

2009-07-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Target and I have been having serious withdrawal since we got up here to New Hampshire. Yesterday, I decided that I would head over to take advantage of the great deals on Edy's ice cream and see what else I could find on clearance. I walked the perimeter of the store first since I know that's where they hide most of the good clearance stuff. I then headed to produce to see what they had available. I've been craving shortcake (peach, strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry would have been great)! There wasn't much in the produce aisle, but I decided to pick up the fixins for shortcake anyway. I figured I could get fruit at the Farmer's Market of at another grocery store. As I was wandering down the baking aisle, I stumbled upon 8 oz bags of Splenda Brown Sugar. These bags were priced at 78 cents each. The 16oz bags sell for $3.78 at WalMart, so I was quite ecstatic. I was able to use $2/2 Splenda product coupons to get these bags for FREE!!!

Here is a super yummy recipe which we make almost daily at our house!
Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1 t. baking soda
1 egg
1/2-2/3 cup Splenda Brown Sugar blend

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix brown sugar and peanut butter til it's nice and creamy! (try no to eat this all before you get to the next step!)
3. Beat egg and add in baking soda.
4. Mix peanut butter and egg mixture together.
5. Drop by teaspoons on ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake for 7-9 minute....they should be slighlty brown and soft to the touch.
7. Let cool on cookie sheet for around 2 minutes. These cookies will be a little more crumbly then typical peanut butter cookies, but they are darn good with a glass of milk! Enjoy!!!

Free Mocha Mondays

2009-07-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

I am not a coffee drinker, but my husband is and he's a big fan of the mochas at McDonalds and if you haven't tried their mochas yet, you can do it now for free! McDonalds has a new promotion going on between now and August 3rd. They will be offering a free 8 oz hot mocha or 7 oz iced mocha on Mondays between 7am and 7pm. Click here for more details. Thanks Moms Need To Know!

Free Fiber One Sample PLUS $5 in Coupons

2009-07-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

We love Fiber One around our house and right now you can get a free sample of Fiber One cereal, a Fiber One bar (these are sooo yummy), AND $5 in Fiber One Coupons by clicking here! You definitely want to take advantage of this!

Free Movie Monday from Redbox

2009-07-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

Here is another code for a FREE rental from Redbox. 4J7LF6 This code is only valid until 11:59pm, 7/6/09. Don't forget, you can use this code once per debit/credit card, so if you have more than one card, you can rent more than one movie!

Old Navy Weekly Coupons Reset

2009-07-02T23:23:00.001-07:00

So it is currently 2:23 and I am awake and anxiously awaiting the refreshing of the Old Navy Weekly Site. OldNavyWeekly offers incredible coupons that you must search their site to find! Check it out! It's quite fun! And if you score a big coupon, you also get a chance to pass one on to a friend through Facebook. (Hint! Hint! I'm on Facebook) Hope you can find a great one!

Another Day...Another Dollar (or Six Dollars in Our Case)

2009-06-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite ways to get coupons is printing them online. We don't have a printer in New Hampshire, so I've been doing without, but there have been quite a few coupons that would have come in handy (especially since groceries are quite a bit more costly up here!) Fred and I have been looking on Craigslist, eBay, and various store websites as well as looking in stores. We finally found a printer, scanner, copier at WalMart for $39. We were pretty impressed and we brought it home last night. We were so tired when we got home that we never took it out of the car (which turns out to be quite a good thing!).

Today we went garage sale-ing...which is one of my favorite pasttimes. I was looking for lampshades and a sewing machine and Fred was looking for power tools. I also hoped to find some books and puzzles for the girls. At our first garage sale, we were able to get a bag full of new earrings (over 10 pairs), 2 puzzles (100 piece and 500 piece), a 3D puzzle of the White House that had a $20 price tag and hadn't been opened and an old picture frame for $3. Our next garage sale was even better. We got a Lexmark printer/copier/scanner and a 9 books (Nancy Drew and Baby-Sitters Club) for $3! The printer was in it's original box and doesn't look like it's ever been used! We were able to take the other printer back to Wal-Mart today for a refund. I love getting good deals like this! I can't wait to try out my new printer.

I have a list of things that I am looking for this summer and a price limit in mind for each. It doesn't do you any good to buy a bunch of random things that you don't need. Our cottage is extremely small and I need to be getting rid of stuff, not adding to the clutter. With that being said, I still need a few pieces of furniture, some bedding, some decorative stuff, a sewing machine and a few lamps and lampshades. I'd also like to get a few more puzzles, books, and board games for the girls. Although I usually get books from the library, it's nice to have a selection of books around here that the girls can take with them to the pool or the park without worrying about them getting lost or rained on.

I hope you are taking advantage of your area garage sales. It's a great way to spend a morning or afternoon and it's a great way to stretch your dollars! I usually check Craigslist or the paper to find local sales that have what I'm looking for and then I head off in that direction. I'd love to hear what great things you've found lately!

Free Paint from Glidden

2009-06-25T18:01:00.001-07:00

One of the cheapest ways to change the look of a room (or a piece of furniture) is with paint! As I mentioned earlier this week, this summer I am going to attempt to fix up our cottage on a shoestring budget and I have spent the last few days looking at paint. I stumbled across this deal from Glidden and am so excited to share it with you!

Starting today, June 25th, Glidden is offering a free quart of paint! I know that a quart of paint won't paint a room, but it will paint a piece of furniture or a small wall. It's also great to have around as touch up paint! Simply go here to pick out your favorite color of paint or call 1-800-GLIDDEN!

Enjoy your paint!

Prescription Eyeglasses for Less Than a Buck!!!

2009-06-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Right now, you can get a great deal on prescription glasses through Cashbaq for only $6.26! (The top pair is available for $6.26 and the pair below which I really like is $6.95) That's a great deal for glasses in and of itself, but it's about to get even better!!!

For starters, if you are new to Cashbaq, you can sign up here for a free account. They will also give you a $5 sign-up bonus, plus they'll give you 10% back on the glasses. Cashbaq is a site that gives you money back for purchases you make through their site. It's like Ebates or Mr. Rebates!

Once you've added the glasses to your cart, you can use the coupon code upromisejunenew to get an extra 15% off your purchase for new customers!

If you purchase the glasses for $6.26, you'll get the $5.00 Cashbaq signup bonus, plus the $.62 cents back to make your glasses cost only $.64 plus shipping! You definitely can't beat that!

Thanks to The Frugal Muse and Money Saving Mom for pointing out this smoking deal!

Never Run Out of Toilet Paper Again

2009-06-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, back when Kroger was still carrying 4 packs of Cottonelle and I was getting them for free, I never thought I'd ever run out of toilet paper again, but unfortunately, it has happened! And to be quite honest, that's not the only thing I've run out of. I find myself running to the store for pesky feminine products on a regular basis! Well, if you're like me and have dreamed of having someone like Alice from the Brady's come and rescue you from these every day dilemmas, I have good news!

Alice has arrived!!!

So the bad news is, Alice doesn't do laundry, but Alice will deliver laundry detergent to your door (and shipping is free!) Alice is a new site that is free to join that allows you to pick your favorite products and have them delivered to your door! You can schedule auto-reminders to help you remember to replenish your supply! Plus, for those of you who are looking to save money, they automatically apply available coupons to your purchase! This is especially great for those of you who complain about the time and effort needed to clip coupons!

If you sign up using my referral link here, I get a little extra moolah! (and that would make me quite happy!) Plus, after spending $50, your account will be credited $10! (which will get you even more toilet paper!)

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I'm back!

2009-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

What I thought would be a break of a few days ended up being a break of over 2 weeks. I haven't been on an actual computer in over a week. I've checked email and Facebook from my phone, but that's been it! These past weeks have been a complete and total whirlwind. In the last week alone, we have driven over 2000 miles, traveled through thirteen states, spent the night in 5 different states, attended my sister in law's wedding and rehearsal, visited with my in-laws, visited with my sister, spent time with my mom, and celebrated Father's Day in addition to all the regular family craziness with my kiddos. I'm sure that's more than any of you wanted to know, but since lots of you have emailed to check on me since I haven't been posting, I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my last week! :-)

We are now in New Hampshire and will be staying in our cottage for the next 7 or 8 weeks. Our cottage is definitely a "fixer-upper" and we will be doing what we can on our shoestring budget! If any of you have great ideas for how to do a budget makeover, I'd love to hear them (and when I say budget makeover, I'm talking about how to redo a whole cottage for under $100!) :-)

I'm also re-learning how to coupon. I have to shop at different grocery stores, use a different newspaper, and figure out what prices are "good" for this area! This summer will definitely not be boring!

I'm going to post on what I'm learning about couponing in a new area and I'll probably post pictures of our home improvement projects as we tackle them! Hope you are all enjoying your summer so far!

FREE John MacArthur book: The Jesus You Can't Ignore

2009-06-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

I love reading good books...especially when they're free! John MacArthur is a great teacher and author and you can get his new book for free!!!

Join the mailing list for Grace To You ministries and in August you'll be mailed an offer for John's soon-to-be-released book, The Jesus You Can't Ignore.

John MacArthur’s new book, The Jesus You Can’t Ignore, explores the Lord’s many personal, often-explosive encounters with the influential teachers of His day. You’ll see how both Jesus’ message and His manner have direct application for believers who love truth in this age of accommodation and compromise.

Thanks Alyssa! I'm really looking forward to this one!

FREE First Aid and CPR Training for residents of DeKalb, Noble, and Steuben counties

2009-06-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

If you live in DeKalb, Noble, or Steuben counties in Northeast Indiana, you are eligible for free First Aid and CPR Training from the Red Cross. This normally costs $55 and is a great opportunity! One of my daughters is taking this class with me! Click here for more information and to find out the training dates! (If you want to take it with me, I'm signed up for June 12th at Eckhart Public Library and as of this afternoon, there were still spaces available!) You do need to pre-register!

Free Donuts and Free Ice Cream

2009-06-03T19:58:00.001-07:00

This week is a great week for Freebies...free root beer floats from Sonic (tonight only), free donuts from Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, and free ice cream from Friendlys. Unfortunately (or fortunately) depending on how you look at it, I gave up sugar over a month ago. For those of you who have not sworn off the wonderfully yummy white stuff...these freebies are for you!

June 5th is National Donut Day! And Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are celebrating by giving away free donuts!

Krispy Kreme is making life just a little sweeter for everyone on National Doughnut Day," says Ron Rupocinski, executive chef at Krispy Kreme. "So, on Friday, June 5, head to a participating store with your friends and family to share the sweet joy of a free Krispy Kreme doughnut."

Click here for the yummy details!!! Thanks Krispy Kreme!!

Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, is marking National Donut Day with a sweet nationwide offer to help Americans celebrate the joy and fun of donuts. On June 5, 2009, participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout the country will give every customer a free donut of their choice, with the purchase of any beverage, limit one per customer.

Click here for these yummy details! Thanks Dunkin Donuts!

Those of you who know me well know that I love ice cream...and I really love it when combined with peanut butter. One of my very favorite places to get ice cream is Friendly's! This Saturday, you can enjoy free ice cream from Friendly's!!! (I highly recommend the Hunka Chunka PB Fudge, Cookies and Cream, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!)

Click here to get the scoop!!!! (Aren't you impressed with how clever I am?)

Hope this makes your week extra sweet!!!

Free Root Beer Floats at Sonic Tonight!!!

2009-06-03T13:33:00.001-07:00

Tonight is Free Root Beer Float night at Sonic from 8 pm to close. Make sure you call your local Sonic to make sure they are participating!!! Thanks Frugal Plus!

UPDATE: After a long night at my daughters double-header softball game, my husband and daughter thoroughly enjoyed their FREE floats!!! Hope you got a chance to make it out to Sonic tonight!

Check out Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope meeting for FREE!!!

2009-05-29T06:49:00.001-07:00

For those of you who missed the Town Hall for Hope event, you can watch it for free on Hulu! Dave Ramsey does a great job offering hope for those who are discouraged with the economy or their own financial situation! Check it out here!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!!!

Free Burt's Bees Lip Balm

2009-05-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

Burt's Bees is celebrating their 25th Burt Day (birthday) by giving gifts to you!!! Every day for 25 days, Burt's Bees will give away 1000 lip balms. Click here to find out more about this great giveaway! I was able to snag a coupon this morning and I'm pretty excited about it!

Turn your old credit cards into something pretty!

2009-05-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

photo from CraftStylish.com

In the past 3 months, my husband and I have paid off and closed 6 credit card accounts. This has been a very liberating experience for us. (We only have 3 left!) If you have are a Dave Ramsey fan (or are in FPU like we are), you have probably been doing the same. Today I found a great way to turn those old credit cards into something useful...a picture frame. Not only is it a piece of art, but it's a great reminder of all that you've accomplished. Check out this step by step tutorial here!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Free Download: Larry Burkett's Money Matters

2009-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

In these current economic times, most people welcome financial advice and there is no advice that is better than that from God's Word! Right now, logos.com is offering a free download of Money Matters: Answers to Your Financial Questions by Larry Burkett! Larry Burkett offers Biblical answers to your financial questions. If you've never heard of Larry Burkett, he is one of the foremost authorities on financial stewardship. Crown Ministries is still carrying on his legacy today.

To download your free copy of this book, start here and follow the instructions!

Thanks Alyssa!

Sad News...Free Movie Mondays is Only Once A Month!

2009-05-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

I just got a text from Redbox today saying that Free Movie Mondays will only happen the first Monday of every month. This is quite sad for those of us who enjoyed our movie fix every Monday. At least I still have Netflix! :-)

Internet Printables

2009-05-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

I love printable coupons! Last month, I was able to print $1.00 off coupons for Kellogg's Raisin Bran, Corn Pops, Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, and Frosted Mini Wheats! Those coupons allowed me to buy a bunch of cereal this week at Meijer for $.80/box. We eat lots of cereal in our family and good cereal coupons are hard to come by! I was also able to get Kraft Easy Mac at Target this week for $.27 each, Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs for $.04/box, and Kraft Mayo for $.49/each. You can beat deals like that! I'm sure you're wondering where these wonderful coupons come from! All of them have come from the internet. Here's where to find your printable coupons!

Manufacturer's Coupons
My favorite place to find manufacturers coupons is the coupons.com website. This site allows you to print a variety of good coupons and even offers coupons by zip code. You can also print these coupons directly from my blog. If you look on the left side of my blog, their is a blue rectangular box that says coupons.com. You can click on that and print manufacturers coupons directly from there! It's quite easy! These coupons can also be used in conjunction with store coupons. Target allows you to stack (use a manufacturers coupon and a store coupon on the same item) coupons and so does Meijer. Each week, Meijer and Target have some smoking deals on these "stacked" items.

Target Coupons
To print Target coupons, simply go to A Full Cup and click on the Target Coupon Generator. This allows you to print multiple coupons.

Meijer Coupons
If you'd like to print Meijer coupons, simply go the Meijer Mealbox site and click on the "Specials" tab in the Meal Box. This site is great for meal ideas and recipes as well as coupons!

These are a few of my favorite coupon printing sites. Also, keep in mind that the good coupons don't last long. If you find a good coupon on coupons.com or my blog, don't wait to print it. Many of these coupons have a print campaign limit and once that number has been reached, the coupon is pulled. Most coupon sites allow each coupon to be printed twice by hitting the back button on your browser 2 times!

Money Saving Tip on Coupon Printing: Printing coupons can consume a lot of ink. Change your printer setting to Draft or to Black and White. Most stores will take coupons printed in color or black and white and most coupons don't need to be printed in the best possible resolution. It doesn't do you any good to save a few cents with a coupon that cost you a dollar to print! Happy Printing!

Beth Moore Bible Study

2009-05-11T17:59:00.001-07:00

You can catch a new 30 minute audio Bible Study with Beth Moore every Monday! Click here! Thanks Moms By Heart!

Free Movie Monday from Redbox

2009-05-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

Better late than never! I totally forgot to post this earlier!

This code is only good for Monday, May 11, 2009 and is valid to rent until 11:59 pm CST!

Choose Rent a DVD with a Promo Code & enter promo code 6A43JK for a free overnight Red Box Rental. After that you will be charged $1/day. This can used once per credit/debit card.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

The next few weeks of menus will be pretty boring, but I am trying to use the food we have before we leave for the summer. Here's what's on the menu this week!

Monday- Sloppy Joes and Corn
Tuesday- Teriyaki Chicken, Brown Rice, and Biscuits
Wednesday- Pasta with Alfredo Sauce and Garlic Bread
Thursday- Homemade Mini Pizza Bagels
Friday- Pizza at Crazy Pinz
Saturday- Hot Dogs and Mac N Cheese
Sunday- Hamburgers and Butter Noodles

Check out all the other great stuff people have cooking this week over at Menu Planning Monday!

Saving Money with Menu Planning

2009-05-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

It's Mother's Day and I feel like I accomplished something huge today. I planned out dinner for the next month! We are leaving for the summer in 36 days and I didn't want to have tons of food sitting around this summer, so I inventoried my fridge, freezer, and pantry today and came up with a list of dinners that could be made using those ingredients and made a grocery list for the few other items I'll need. (Wow...that was quite a run-on sentence!) I'm guessing I should be able to buy the remaining dinner ingredients for under $40. Although the menu isn't extremely exciting, I think I did pretty well working with what we have. Stay tuned...I'll be posting each week's menu on Menu Planning Monday.

Happy Mother's Day to all my Mommy Friends! Hope your day was very special!

Saving Time and Saving Money

2009-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

We've all heard the saying "Time is Money" and if you're anything like me, it usually seems like there is not enough of either. One of the biggest objections I hear to couponing is "I don't have enough time." I totally understand! Between being a wife, being a mom, and my job, it seems like there is not enough hours in a day. Throw in church and everything else we're involved in and I feel totally overwhelmed at times. Enter my new time and money saving friend: The Grocery Game. The Grocery Game is a website that tracks prices at your local grocery store, matches those prices with coupons, and tells you when an item is at it's rock bottom price. This site is really helpful and has saved me a ton of money. (For those of you who hate to spend time clipping coupons, file each weeks insert in date order and The Grocery Game will tell you which insert the coupon you want is in...that way you can just clip them when you're ready to use them! They have a trial offer that allows you to try their site for 4 weeks for only $1. After the trial is over, they charge $10 for 8 weeks if you subscribe for one store (They charge $5 for each additional store) They have CVS and Walgreens too, but I wouldn't recommend getting those stores. There are enough good resources on the web that offer coupon matchups for those stores. If you decide to join, I'd appreciate it if you list me as your referring friend. savingmoneylivingbetter at gmail dot com. Click here for more info about The Grocery Game!

KFC Rain Check Information

2009-05-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Due to overwhelming response to the coupon for the FREE Grilled Chicken meal, KFC is no longer taking these coupons. They are offering a rain check, though. Click here for more info on how to get your rain check!

If You Had Trouble Printing Your KFC Coupon, Read This!!!

2009-05-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

Oprah has a PDF version of the Free Grilled Chicken Meal coupon on her site! Click here to print this coupon.

Thanks Moms By Heart!

KFC: FREE 2 Piece Grilled Chicken Meal Coupon Printable til 5/6 ONLY

2009-05-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

I love those FREE food deals and this one is especially appealing. This coupon is good for 2 pieces of grilled chicken, 2 individual sides, and a biscuit! The coupon is only printable til 5/6 but it can be redeemed until May 19th (with the exception of Mother's Day...and hopefully you weren't planning on taking your mom to KFC for Mother's Day!!!) This is a Bricks coupon and can be printed up to 4 times per computer by hitting the back button twice after each time it prints! Click here to get your coupon!

Thanks Bargain Briana!

FREE Movie Monday from Redbox

2009-05-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

Today's FREE DVD rental code from Redbox is:

BT73H9

This code expires at midnight 5/4/09.

Vera Bradley...Totally Worth the Splurge!

2009-05-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

I love purses, handbags, and luggage! Unfortunately, I don't like the cheap stuff! One of my favorite splurges is Vera Bradley! There are great colorful prints and fun patterns and best of all, you can throw them in the machine and wash them. We use Vera Bradley back packs, lunch bags, purses, duffle bags, lap top carriers, wallets, beach towels, belts, and pajamas! What can I say...we're quite addicted! Much of what I purchase from Vera Bradley is on sale, but there are some things I'd splurge for whether they were on sale or not! I have also found that Vera does some great online promotions! Right now Vera Bradley is offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more.

If you're looking for a great gift for someone special for Mother's Day, check out Vera Bradley! (And if you want to send me a gift too, I'd be totally fine with that!)

Last minute deal!

2009-05-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

I know this is very last minute, but if you happen to make it to Target by Saturday, you can take advantage of this great deal on Special K products! Right now Target is running a deal that when you buy 5 Special K products, you get a $5 Target gift card. Plus there are some great internet printables for Special K right now! Crystal over at MoneySavingMom has some great coupon matchups here and here! You just can't beat Special K at $.39 and $.49 a box! Yummy! Also, while you're checking out Crystal's great coupon matchups, be sure to print some of the new coupons.com coupons for Kellogg's Cereal! We LOVE cereal at our house!!!

FREE Foxe's Book of Martyrs Audio Download from Christian Audio

2009-05-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

This month's Free Download from Christian Audio is Foxe's Book of Martyrs. This is an incredible book and it is definitely worth downloading!

Beginning with the story of Stephen from the book of Acts, considered the first Christian martyr, the drama builds to the passion of the early Church's persecution under the Roman Empire. The hardy and radical faith of those first believers spawned medieval missionary movements that spread the gospel across Europe and into England, Scotland, and Ireland. As the story continues, it places a significant emphasis on the sufferings of the early Protestants during the Reformation.

Click here to get this month's audio download. Use the code MAY2009 when prompted during checkout! And while you're there, check out the other great material at Christian audio...and be sure to check back monthly for their Free Download!!!

Free Breakfast CroisSonic at Sonic!!

2009-04-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Kiki over at Kiki's Korner just posted this and it looks super yummy! I love free food! Click here to get a coupon for a free CroisSonic at Sonic with the purchase of a large drink!