We did a fun exercise tonight writing out what each of us would purchase with $10. It started from a poster our daughter was doing of what she would buy if she "had a million dollars." The Mister thought it would be interesting to see what she would buy with $10 vs. what I would buy with $10.

My list, using coupons & sales:
4 - Glade Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator @ 19¢/each
3 - Gillette Body Wash @ 50¢/each
1 - Mott's Applesauce Cups @ 14¢
1 - Mentos Gum @ 28¢/each
2 - Dr. Pepper 2 Liter @ FREE
4 - Total Cereal @ FREE
1 - Dentyne 3 Pack Gum @ 34¢/each
4 - Pouch Tuna Fish @ 19¢
1 - Sambucol @ FREE + 1¢ Overage
1 - Loaf Bread @ $1.00
1 - Dozen Egss @ $1.00
2 - Kroger Yogurt @ 40¢/each
1 - Grapes @ 99¢/lb
1 - Container Grape Tomatoes @ 99¢/each
1 - Fresh Medium Celery @ 88¢/each
1 - Bayer Contour Blood Glucose Monitor @ FREE (+ $14.99 Rebate Not Included In Total)
4 - Kotex Pantiliners @ FREE + 21¢ Overage
2 - Mechanical Pencil @ 62¢/each

Total: $9.83 for 35 Items!



So what would YOU do with $10, leave a comment and let me know!

Thrifty Travels

We had a family situation arise that we had to travel for last week. Given the circumstances I must say that I am pleased with how frugal we were. Here are some of the things we did to save money where we could:

* Pack food to take with and bring water bottles for everyone, buying drinks and eating out can get real expensive.

* Drive at a speed to obtain optimum fuel economy. (Also make sure to have fluids topped off, clean filters, and tires at the right pressure, we did not have time to do these things given our circumstances)

* Stop every three hours to gas up, take a potty break, disperse snacks, fill up water bottles, stretch, and grab a soda or coffee for the driver only.

* Call around for the best rate attainable on a hotel. Do not always settle for the first rate that is given, they may lower the rate when they know you are not interested in the first one they gave.

* Take advantage of the hotel's continental breakfast if they have one.

* Eat a good meal out only once a day.

* Share a meal when eating out and order waters for drinks.

* Eat out somewhere that kids can eat free if you have children.

Redbox Free Code ~ Wednesday 3/18

During the month of March there will be a code every Wednesday for a free RedBox rental. Good for one night's rental, today's code is:

GTL456

Expires tonight (Wed, Mar 18) at midnight CST.

*The code can used once per credit/debit card.

Movie Monday

As usual, your RedBox promo code for free movie Monday is:

2GR4N8

Expires tonight (Mon, Mar 16) at midnight CST.

And, don’t forget “free movie Wednesday’s” in March (and April 6).

Freebie Friday

Download Jean Chatzky's new financial book, The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even The Toughest Times, for free until 10:59 a.m. ET Saturday, March 14, 2009! Oprah is offering this on her site as a free download for Oprah.com members. If you are an Oprah.com member, you'll be prompted to log in first. If you are not already a member, you will be prompted to become a member. It's free!


Campbell's Soup wants to help you grow your own soup by giving away tomato seeds. Just purchase any Campbell's condesnded soup, or grab one from your pantry, and enter the code found on the bottom of the can HERE.

Celebrate St. Patricks day with ideas from this free ebook containing fun facts, craft projects, gift ideas, recipes, and more!

Free sample of True Lemon

Free Tide TOTALCARE Sample

Free sample of Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight Pads with Wings

Redbox Free Code ~ Wednesday 3/11

Here is todays promo code from Redbox. There will be a new Wednesday code every Wednesday in March.

JBG123

Expires tonight (Wed, Mar 11) at midnight CST.

Let's go shopping!

Today, bright and early, we were off to meet with another local couponer over a cup of coffee. It was nice having a conversation, and a meal, with another adult! It was inspiring to learn that although our local paper does not have the coupon inserts in it, we CAN get our grocery bill lower!

After having a warm breakfast we ventured back into the blizzard to come back home, grab our ads, our coupons, our lists, and venture back out to get some shopping done.



Spent: $53.01
Saved: $130.32 or 71%

In my figuring of savings I include the savings that comes with using the store's "preferred savings card," using coupons, and rebates.

Here is the breakdown of what we bought:

Albertsons:
2 Cans Swanson Canned Chunk Chicken, 2 Cartons Of Minute Maid, Bananas, 2 Bags Potato Chips, and 2 Loaves Of Bread

Walgreens:
12 Rolls Cottonelle Toilet Paper, 3 Jars Jif Peanut Butter, 3 Jars Smuckers Jelly, Aquafresh Toothpaste, Can Of Swanson Chunk Chicken, Garnier Fructis Shampoo-&-Conditioner In One, 4 Boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese, 2 Glade Lasting Impressions Starter Kits, Sambucol, Wal-zyr Tabs, Walgreens Extra Strength Quick Gels, and Axe Shampoo.

Smith's (Kroger):
12 Rolls Quilted Northern, Fruity Pebbles, 3 Boxes Hamburger Helper, 2 Cans Progresso, 2 Bags Hot Dog Buns, 2 Cans Corn, 2 Cans Sweet Peas, 2 Cans Green Beans, Can Of Swanson Chunk Chicken, Gallon Milk, Bag Green Giant Frozen Vegetables, 10 Pounds Potatoes, 2 Yellow Onions, 4 Boxes Townhouse Crackers, 2 Packages Sandies Cookies, and 2 Bags Tortilla Chips

Walmart:
Bottle of V8, Betty Crocker Cookie Pouch Mix, Good Life Cat Food, Kitten Chow, Suave Shampoo, Cascade Rinse, Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, and Box Honey Comb Cereal



The lady at our Smith's store was shocked at our total and said "No, that can't be right." Well she looked over the receipt to double check and once she realized it WAS right asked the Mister if he'd be keeping me! Haha, I love it!

Movie Monday

F3T9L6 is todays Redbox promo code for Monday, March 9. Expires tonight (Mon, Mar 9) at midnight CST.

Don’t forget to come back every Wednesday during the month of March for another free code!

Free Purse at QVC

More Than Cents has posted how to get a free purse if you are a new QVC customer. Go here and follow her step by step instructions to nab yourself a free purse!

Book Giveaway

I just read Bargain Briana's amazing review of the book Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir. From the review she gave on this book I have put it on my list of books I must have, you know ... the ones I plan to buy "someday."

As if offering a review wasn't enough she is also giving away a copy of the book in celebration of her 1,000th post here. Giveaway ends March 20th at 11:59 EST.

March Movie Madness

Here is your first Wednesday code that Redbox is giving out in March.

75EA16

Expires tonight (Wed, Mar 4) at midnight CST.

Stay tuned every Monday and Wednesday in March for a new one-day code.

No Spend Challenge

The challenge did not work out as I had hoped for the month of February. We had run out of toilet paper, the dog was out of food, or I will admit ... I was a little too addicted to the Grocery Game. That coupled with having to break my once a week into twice a week due to lack of time with the vehicle (we only have one and the hubsters takes it for work). Oh yeah, the Sunday papers that we ventured out for on Sunday as well. So in the end it became at least three times a week we went out and spent.

I would like to carry the challenge over to March, and change it to two days a week so that I am not breaking it by getting my Sunday paper (full of coupons). I have also started a spreadsheet to track spending and savings for the month of March. So far we have spent $21.86 and saved $34.34 by using coupons and sales for a savings of 61%!

Our Almost Free Shopping Trip

I spent the day today matching coupons and sales to five different stores, planning a return, a trip to the craft store, and mapping our route. In the end I threw in the towel and decided to send hubby out to get just the three things on his list: coffee filters, silk milk, and kitty food.

Then I added the free movies to his list and that began my change of mind. I remembered I would need girly products soon and I probably should go out to get them sooner than later. I then remembered the $10 off coupon at Albertson's that would soon expire, then of course saw the free sub at Quiznos coupon that expired today! So there it was, I was going but with a much smaller list.


Cost of Items Pictured: $10.47

At Albertson's we bought:
2 Digiorno For One Pizzas
Welch's Grape Jelly
Macaroni & Cheese
Nestle Ready To Bake Cookies
4 Zone Perfect bars
3 Pringles
Can Of Chunk Chicken

Number of Items: 13
Subtotal: $27.27
Sales Subtotal: $16.99
Coupons Used: $10 Off, $1.00 Off Nestle Cookies, Buy One Get Three Free Zone Bars, and Free Can of Chunk Chicken
Paid: 50¢

We then ventured on to Walmart where we got: two bags of kitty food for 18¢ each, two Zone Perfect bars for 48¢ each, and my girly products for 4.47.
Total Paid: $5.79 ~ Total Saved with Coupons: $9.96

On to Quiznos for the free sub! The hubby decided it smelled so good in there and my sandwich looked so yummy that he HAD to order one as well.
Total Paid: $4.39 ~ Total Saved with Coupons: $4.39

Since Target had the kitty food hubby was really after, and his Silk milk was on sale and on coupon there, we finally went to Target before heading home. Later I was able to talk him out of the $14 kitty food since we just got 7 pounds for 36¢. Here we got silk milk for $2.44, coffee filters for $1.74, and Suave shower gel for 30¢.
Total Paid: $4.18 ~ Total Saved with Coupons:$1.50

Finally I caved and had the Mister swing by McDonald's for $1 Diet Dr.Pepper. He decided he wanted one as well so it came to $2.00 and finally we came home, enjoyed our savings, our sodas, and put up our feet to watch our free Redbox movies!

Movie Monday

Here is your weekly Monday-only promo code from Redbox.

MS72K3

Expires tonight (Mon, Mar 2) at midnight CST.