Free Ragu from CommonSenseWithMoney.com

I follow Mercedes over at Common Sense With Money closely. She is very thorough and accurate! She works her tail off to help us stay the most informed! Thank you Mercedes!

Right now she is giving away 6 months worth of Ragu pasta sauce! That's awesome!

Go here to check it out and enter:

$6.00 off pork "The Other White Meat" w/purchase of Kingsford and other item listed

I just came across this coupon from GatherRoundtheGrill.com

Get $6.00 off pork when you purchase 13.5lbs of either Kingsford or Kingsford Match Light Charcoal and one (1) of the following:

Ball Park Franks,
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
Glad Product, KC Masterpiece
Vlasic pickles or relish

Now it is also showing a picture of the Wet Ones logo so I'm taking a wild guess that those would work too even though they aren't actually printed on the list. That or I'm missing some which wouldn't surprise me either :)

I know right now there is the Free KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce when you purchase Kingsford and the Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing coupon that is out there. Personally I would love to see Vlasic come out with another one of their kickin' coupons like that had last summer. What was that like $1/1 or $1.50/1 or something. It was awesome I do know that.

Anyways, happy grillin y'all!

HELPPPPPPP! What is the name of that web site??

OK I have been digging around on here for several hours trying to find this grocery saving web site! I used to be a member to The Grocery Game but I'm trying it on my own. I have to admit it has me very spoiled with their lists and having the ability to pick what I want to print or not. I can easily say I have learned more from blogs like Money Saving Mom and Common Sense With Money and also Money Saving Methods but there's something about having that list. I've tried A Full Cup but kind of turned off because I have to print the whole list and it's huge. If someone knows the secret to not printing the whole list please share. BUT a while back I was surfing and came across another club similar to Grocery Game. It's not the Shopping Angels (at least I think that's one of them). This one has a name like Rebate something or Receipt something..... UGH. I didn't pay that much attention to it at the time because I was in the GG. If anyone has a clue what I'm talking about (cause I sure don't!) please leave a comment below! It would be greatly appreciated!

Meijer shopping suggestions

It absolutely never fails that I have issues when shopping at Meijer. Most of the time it is with checking out but I have seen several times that they are out of items that they have listed on sale. ESPECIALLY on the 10/$10 get the 11th for free sales! You know your going to have the sale weeks in advance if not months....... why exactly does a mega store run out of items! And please don't tell me it's because some couponer came in and wiped the shelf out. I worked for a mega liquor/party store in this town for years and years and they had a huge buying capability so I can only IMAGINE what kind of inventory mega stores can keep! As far as customer service goes for this store I have had 2 cashiers that were every truly helpful with checking out and not be resentful of my coupons! I truly believe the attitudes are lack of trainging on the MANAGEMENTS part but still customer service is a big seller with me. Today I learned of a policy that Meijer is moving to (at least it's going to be new with the store I shop) and I have a feeling it's going to toss what customer service there is at Meijer right out the front doors. According to a couple of employees cashiers are soon to be put on some kind of a point system for speed and accuracy. This tells me that they are going to have NO patience for someone like I was today with probably 75 different coupons. One employee mentioned a number but I didn't catch it. I just know when I start getting that nervous twitch it's not a good thing :) So if the impliment this plan I have a feeling I will be saying good bye to Meijer. Which to Walmarts benefit since they greedly accept coupons (catalina's) from other stores as long as it's a manufactuer coupon. SO IF by some slim chance that someone from Meijer corporate is smart enough to slink and slither through all of these shopping blogs... hope you catch this one! OH and because I just want to cover my tushy no I'm not an employee or ex. employee, nor does anyone in my family work for Meijer.

A kewl newly found blog for Target shoppers!

Unfortunately we don't have a super Target here in Lexington because from what I'm seeing they put out some pretty good deals! We do have two Targets in town, one clear over in Hamburg Place which considering my entire driving radius of my home is MAYBE 2 miles (Yeah like I'm driving clear over there) and then one not too far down the road from us. I haven't utilized their sales and clearance yet but I just found a new blog called Attention Target Shoppers. Now as usual I'm probably one of the last to know about this site but wanted to share the love anyways :) There appears to be some really good information on there and if it helps someone out then TAD DAH! Now the reason I'm gaining interest in Target deals is because I'm getting REALLY annoyed with Meijer and looking for some alternative if at all possible. That's another blog though!

Swiffer Refill Rebate

I know this has been posted before but better late than never. I knew I had seen it. It's spring and a lot of the cleaner deals have started "springing" (haha I crack myself up!) up all over the place! This link will take you to the Swiffer Refill Rebate being offered through May 15th. I have no clue who has the deals this week and I think I may have already missed the Walgreens deal. If you happen to know of a good deal on the refills let me know please!

CVS 4/19 weekly deals

Weekly ECB Deals
Act Rinse 18oz $3.79 get $2 ECBs (limit 2)Use $1/1 from the 4/19 SS insertPay $0.79 cents after coupon and ECBs
Aveeno Skin Care, Hair Care or Sun Care Products (Priced as low as $6 and $7) Earn 10 ECBs wyb $25 of products on pg. 9 (Limit 1)Use $2/1 Printable HERE.-$4/20 CVS Beauty Coupon emailed to most cardholders
Deal Idea
Buy 3 @ $6 and 1 @ $7 = $25-$4/20 CVS Beauty Coupon-$6 when you use three printable coupons= $15 Out of Pocket and get $10 ECBs back
Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystals 4 ct $2 get $2 ECBs (limit 1)FREE after ECBs
Benefiber, Gas X, or Maalox (psa $5.29) Earn 10 ECBs wyb $20 (limit 5)
Deal IdeaBuy 4 Benefiber @ $5.29 = $21.16Use (4) $2/1 coupons from the 2/29 or 4/5 SS insertsPay $13.16 out of pocket and get 10 ECBs back
Crest Pro Health Toothpaste 4.2oz, Rinse 250ml,Oral B Floss 27-55 yds or Super Floss 50ct $2.88 get $2 ECBs (limit 2)Use .75/1 or $1/1 Crest coupon from the 4/5 PG insertFREE or pay $0.13 cents each after coupon and ECBs!
Edge Infused Comfort or Hydrate Shave Gel $2.89 Earn 2.89 ECBs (limit 1)FREE after ECBs
Buy 3 Tresemme (3/$10) get $5 ECBs (limit 2)Use (3) $1/1 printable couponPay $2 for 3 bottles after coupons and ECBs
Weekly Non ECB Deals
L’Oreal Eye Shadow or Liner BOGO (psa at $3.89)Use $2/1 or $1/1 from the 4/19 RP insertFREE or pay $1.98 for two, depending on your coupons
Rimmel Lip Products BOGO (psa $2.99)Use $1/1 from the 4/19 RP insertPay $0.99 for two after coupons
Monthly CVS Deals
Accu-chek Aviva Diabetes monitoring kit $9.99 Get $9.99 ECBs (Limit 1)FREE after ECBs
Buy 1 Natural Dentist ($6.99) Get $4 ECBs (Limit 5)
Buy 2 = $13.98Use (2) $2/1 printable coupons = $9.98-8 ECBs received for buying 2 = $1.98Submit for $10 Mail In Rebate when you buy 2FREE plus $8.02 in overage after coupon, ECBs and Mail In Rebate
Buy 3 Mentos Gum ($1.29) Get $1 ECB (Limit 5)Use (3) $1/1 coupons from the 3/29 SS insertFREE plus $0.13 cents overage after coupons and ECBs

Campbell's soup $1/2 printable coupon

Coupon Mom in WNC posted this:
www.campbellskitchen.com follow the link on the right side to print a $1.00/2 coupon. Try hitting the back button on the browser and you should be able to print 2. I haven't tried it yet so I won't say for sure.

Walgreens Deals 4/19

Thanks to Mercedes for compiling these lists as always. Be sure to check out her blog over at CommonSenseWithMoney.com

The deals are a bit soft at Walgreens this week. Here are the best deals I see at Walgreens next week. Don’t understand any of the lingo I used? Please check my FAQ page for help.
Weekly Deals
Revlon Cosmetics on sale BOGO (reg Price as low as $4.79)Use two $2/1 coupon from 3/15 SS insertPay as little as $0.79 for two after coupons
Post Trail Mix Crunch Cereal 2 for $5Use $2/1 printable couponPay $0.50 each after coupon
Johnson’s Body Care (softwash and softlotion) $3.99Use $2/1 from 4/19 insertsPay $1.99 each
Reach Toothbrush and floss $0.99 after in-ad couponUse $3/2 coupon from 3/15 SS insertFREE plus $1 in overage after coupons
Hershey Bagged Candy 4/$10Get $5 via ESR when you buy 4 bagsUse $1/1 coupon from 3/1 SS insertPay $1 for four bags after coupons and ESR
Register Reward Deals
Aveeno Nourish Hair Care 2/$13, Earn $3 in RR when you buy twoUse $2/1 printable couponPay $6 for two after coupon and RRSkintimate Save Cream $2.99, Earn $2.99 in RR when you buy oneFREE after Register reward
Edge Infused or Energy Shaving Gel $2.99, Earn a $2.99 RR when you buy one (although it’s been printing a $3.50 RR all month long)FREE after RR
Mitchum Deodorant $2.99, Earn a $2 RR when you buy oneUse $0.75/1 coupon from 3/22 SS insertPay $0.24 each after RR and coupon
Pledge multisurface Cleaner 2/$7, Earn a $1 RR when you buy twoUse $2/1 printable couponPay $1 each after coupon and RR
Monthly Deals
One a Day Multivitamin Drink Mix $1.49$4.47 Buy three One A Day Multi-Vitamin Drink Mix (2 ct) $1.49 each-$4 when you use $4/2 coupon from 3/22 SS insertPay $0.47 plus tax out of pocket and get back $1.49 via EasySaver Rebate #1FREE plus $1.02 in overage (Thanks NWA Deals)
On sale this week: Buy $10 in Physicians Formula Organics Wear Make up, Get $10 via ESR rebate #6Physicians Formula Organic products on sale 40% offGet $10 back via ESR rebate when you spend $10 or moreUse $1/1 coupon from 3/22 SS insertPay $1.99 after coupon and rebate
On sale this week:Skintimate and Edge Shaving Cream $2.99-$3.49Earn a $2.99 or $3.49 Register reward when you buy oneFREE after register reward
Chapstick Natural or True Shimmer Lip Balm $1.99Earn a $1.99 register reward when you buy oneFREE after register reward

A little fishing practice

Easter Sunday Art and I took Sarah out to Jacobsons Park to try out some new fishing poles. He decided it was best to just let her test out her new Disney Princess fishing pole with only the little rubber sinker that came with it. I'm very grateful for this as I ended up getting smacked in the forehead with the sinker SEVERAL times! I would recommend parent's doing this with any new little fisherman they may have! It was still quite chilly on the water and originally we went to one end of the lake where the wind was coming off the water! HOLY COW THE WORMS FROZE! We ended up at the other end of the lake and had a good time! Sarah thought she was quite the stuff as she "cast and caught" those fish! Considering our location was most certainly not prime fishing Art did pretty well with 5 Sun fish and 1 small Catfish. The park ended up getting jammed up with families but it was still a wonderful inexpensive outting for the family! The worms I think cost $2.79?

Round steak.... a cheap replacement for shoe leather

Ok so the title made you look! Growing up in our house good steak was rare (literally) in our household. We just couldn't afford it even then. Now days it's a big treat for us to have NY strip, Ribeye or even Flank steak. The Flank steak is simply because I can remember this being priced as a CHEAP piece of meat and now days they pass it off as a prime cut HA! I will be dadgummed if I'm going to pay $6lb for something I know should be more like$3lb! Ya still gotta beat the meanness out of it!

Anyways, a couple of weeks ago I caught 2 nice big round steaks on deal and grabbed them up. Below is one of the recipes I used (last night) with a little flair I added to it. PLEASE REMEMBER the key to round steak is to let it simmer on very very low heat and slowly. Patience is very important with this cut. I usually let this cut simmer for about 2 hours.

SMOTHERED STEAK
(taken from Southern Living 1979 Annual Recipes and adjusted)
Pound the meanness out of 1 good size round steak (don't ask the size I don't remember and it really doesn't matter, they are all pretty good size). I usually cut it up into several pieces to fit into a large skillet. Dredge through seasoned flour (last night I used garlic powder, onion powder and McCormicks Montreal Steak grill seasoning, I got the McCormicks at Krogers yesterday for .25). Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat and brown meat on both sides.

Combine the following:
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I shook in a bunch but didn't measure it)
Dash of hot sauce (the Montreal seasoning had a slight wang to it so I didn't add this, this time)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (again I just shook some in without measuring)
2 cups of water
About 2 tablespoons McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning - to replace this you could add black pepper, salt, more garlic and onion powder, minced onion perhaps, celery salt and so on.

Pour mixture over steak, and cover with a lid. When I say low I mean I put the heat on "simmer" and let this cook for 2 hours. If you try to push the heat up to speed things up you will only end up with something your dog won't chew on.

I added the sliced onion about 20 min. before the steak was done. This was about 1/2 of a good size sweet onion and you could use more or less. If you want your onion super tender then add shortly after starting to simmer or anytime there after. Taste the sauce about 1/2 hour before serving. If you feel like it needs a little more seasoning this is a good time to add it and it will be fine.

By the time the meat is ready to eat the flour/water mixture will have begun to make a bit of a thick sauce/gravy. If you would like more gravy add more water at the end then add a mixture of corn starch/smidgen of water and stir constantly. There is no set rule for this recipe. You could also replace the onion with sliced green pepper and it's yummy too! If you want to try this recipe but have questions please feel free to contact me! If you try it and you like it please come back and let me know!!!

I served this with mash potato's, whole corn (yes I mix my mash potato's and corn) and peas. My darling Art thought this was flat out delicious!

Coupon Preview for 4/19/09 Smart Source only

Please remember that this Sunday (this coming Easter Sunday) there will be NO coupon inserts. This is pretty exciting for me though because I've been on a mission this week to try to get coupons under control!

Thanks to Mercedes over at Common Sense with Money for listing the coupons preview! Go here and you can see a full listing. I don't purchase the Lexington Herald Leader because time and again they have come up short with their coupons. I have access to the Louisville Courier Journal and love that one. Some examples of the coupons that will be offered 4/19/09 are:

Energizer batteries or flashlight $1 (5/24/09)
Huggies Pull Ups jumbo pack $2 (6/13/09)
Huggies Pull Ups jumbo pack $3 (5/16/09)
Huggies Diapers $1.50 (5/16/09)
Huggies Overnites Diapers $2 (5/16/09)
Johnson’s Baby Care wash or lotion $2 (7/20/09)
Ortega .75/2 (7/31/09)
Ortega $5 Mail in Rebate (7/31/09)
Yoplait Go-Gurt, Fizzix, Kids Cup, Kids Yogurt Drink, Yoplait TrixMultipack .35 (6/13/09)

A 2 second 2 1/2 ft. tornado has struck our living room!

And now the practical joke is on me! I was in the kitchen last night working on some dinner when I heard the sound of the living room exploding! This is what I walked into! This tends to occur a couple of times a week. Unfortunately I didn't hear the warning signals before it happened! Then afterwards as "we" (Sarah and I) were picking things up she would pull 2 things out of the toy trolly for every 1 I would put in! :)

Practical Jokes

First I want to say we have GREAT neighbors. Love em' like no others! They are a younger couple and Ryan is a real practical joker! You never know what he's going to come up with. We have traded jokes several times over the years.

This time however the joke is going to be on him. And I have to share it! Keep in mind we did not do this to them (although we will get blamed for it but that's ok). Well ok so I'm going to do some embellishing with a magazine or two and the much needed roll of toilet paper. Kellys father came over while they were on vacation and did some plumbing work for them as you can see. This was the left overs and I'm just hoping to be here to see the expression on Ryans face when they pull up! Poor Kelly is going to be mortified but ohhhhh I love the idea of getting Ryans goat!

More free green stuff

Now if your like me the first thing you would have thought of would have been money! HAH! Made ya look :)

Actually it's free flower bulbs! BuyDirect.com has a special right now that if you purchase 80 you will get 80 free. $9.99 including shipping it appears!

Free Trees and Plants

I came across this from Mercedes over at CommonSensewithMoney. This is really a kewl idea y'all. This company not only rescues unsold trees and plants at nurseries but employees people with disabilities to pack them. All you have to do is pick your plants and pay for packing and shipping! Imagine getting 2 Red Maples 15"-18" for $7.95. That's your shipping! What a way to help the economy and beautify your landscape!! Go to Free Trees and Plants and check them out!

Kroger run 3/21/09

I know I am going to have friends that are going to look at the cat litter and baby wipes and say ummm just how many of these do you go through. For those friends that are still doubting Thomas's this is the perfect example of buying up on items that normally cost a small fortune. I got 30lbs of the cat litter for $1.46. For that price I can live without clumping litter!!!! And the baby wipes I actually made money on because I had a $5 off 3 q and they were on the Mega Deal last week. Between these and the wipes I bought last week at the Walgreens/Huggies Q deal we don't need wipes for some time!!!!

Total Shelf Price: $87.20
Total Savings: $57.38
Total Out of Pocket: $29.82

On a note about the toilet paper. I read yesterday on several message boards that Cottonelle 4 packs were strangely missing from Kroger shelves in the Ohio/N. Kentucky regions. Guess what. There was NO Cottonelle on our shelves and there was NO price tag to be found anywhere. For those of you that were really able to make the best of this savings while it lasted be glad!!! I do believe we may have seen the last of FREE toilet paper! I hope not but.....

Meijer run 3/21/09

Total Shelf Price: $187.51

Total Savings: $136.55

Total OUT OF POCKET: $50.96

Well I wasn't able to get this posted last night. Yesterday was a busy day! We got a new couch (well new to us) from the neighbors. Ended up finding a younger couple that wanted our older one so had to wait on them. Sarah and I did the shopping yesterday. Do you know I had more older women walking past us just laughing away at my struggles with groceries and a toddler (who tends to be wild as a monkey after shopping for too long!) !!!! They thought it was down right hilarious ;) That and I'm guessing they had all been through it themselves. At Meijer yesterday I finally had to give in and use two carts to keep the miniature monkey from destroying the packages in the first buggy. Yes, it can be done if you are a contortionist.

Anyways, I can't help but think shopping was a great day savings wise. No there aren't any major meat items and NO I did not pay a dime for the Betty Crocker Warm Delights. Wouldn't have bought them if I had to pay for them :) And shhh, don't mention the additional hot sauce to Art. I just can't pass up free hot sauce for some reason!!! Yes, I know I have hot sauce issues :)Notice the single lonesome tube of AquaFresh toothpaste. That tube was the ONLY tube left in the store at the time of my shopping. I have such a beef over these stores not having/ordering enough product to handle these sales. That's another post though.

Green Giant Frozen Vegetables coupon

Go to Green Giant and you will be able to print 2 .50/1 coupons. These coupons do not double but hey at Meijer this week you can get 2 boxes of veggies for .41 on the $10/10 w/11 item deal. Still not bad.

DenTek Economic Stimulus Sweepstakes

Go to DenTek and enter to win a $25 gift card giveaway!

DenTek will give out one $25 Walgreens gift card every day until April 1st, 2009. On April 1st everyone who has entered the $25 give away will have a chance to win 1 of 5 Walgreens $100 grand prize gift cards. I know just how far us frugal folks can stretch $25 let alone $100!!!!

Also it looks like they have $1 coupons to print. I'm waiting for mine as I type.......
Update: I never did get these to print out.