$5 Gas Card wyb 4 Kellogg’s Crispix at Publix

Kellogg’s Crispix is BOGO through Tuesday at Publix. I wanted to get Fiber Plus cereal but the little Lightning McQueen logo was on the corner of the Crispix box. Couponing To Disney posted that Kellogg’s has a Cars2 promotion. Buy 4 participating cereals and get $5 gas card. Well, Publix had 3 Cars2 Crispix boxes left. So I just need to find another cereal box with this logo. (I’ll wait a couple days until they restock or go to Target.)

I’m saving the UPCs for another $10 Gas Card Kellogg’s promotion (must buy 10 boxes). Double-dipping on these promotions is possible: Cars2 requires entering the codes online; $10 Gas Card requires sending in UPCs.

Here is a deal scenario with 10 Cars 2 Crispix cereal at Publix:
Buy 10 Crispix cereal, $4.49 x 5
Buy 1 gallon milk, $3.50 (or anything else $2.55 or more)
Subtotal: $25.95
Use $5 off $25 Apple Market (competitor Q)
Use three $1 off 3 Kellogg’s cereal (Target Q)
Use five $1 off 2 Manuf Qs
Pay $12.95
Enter 8 codes for Cars2- get $10 Gas Card
Submit 10 UPCs for $10 Gas Rebate
= 10 FREE cereal boxes + $7 Money Maker!

How about that! Of course, the key is finding enough cereal boxes with the Cars2 logo and having all the coupons. Either case, this is a great deal. As usual, donate if you don’t like the cereal or even give away the $5 Gas Card!

See other gas card deals? Let me know!

Simple Clothesline = Lots of Savings!



photo source


When I was growing up in Manila, houses didn’t have dryers. Some, like us, had a small washing machine. But most washed the clothes or hired a neighbor to wash and dry laundry. Our apartment was four stories high, with no elevator and the clothesline was on the roof. Mommas carried their daily washing up the flight of stairs to hang them up to dry. I guess people were very trusting and friendly to leave their clothes up there. At least 30 lines were filled with clothes billowing in the hot tropical breeze.


One thing I appreciate living in a house after a lifetime of apartment living is having a clothesline. Because Florida is mildew central, I couldn’t really hang up clothes over the bathtub. Since we moved, our new neighborhood is older, most everyone has a clothesline, even if only a few use them regularly.


We installed a clothesline off the deck. We bought clothesline wire instead of the kit with pulley (way cheaper!) and cut two 2x4s in half. Then my husband only had to attach the wood to the deck.

I like that ours is on the deck, right off the kitchen. It’s so convenient. After drying dishes or taking a shower, towels can air dry outside. After a trip from the beach or pool, wet bathing suits takes an hour to dry on the line. Stains disappear quicker than using stain removers. I’ve even hung bathmats outside to dry. And of course bed sheets smell so fresh and so clean afterwards. It’s just like I imagined in those commercials.

The biggest plus of course is a much smaller electric bill!

Do you have a clothesline? How do you save money with laundry?

Save 90% off books at the Library Bookshop

With summer upon us, we are looking forward to all the summer programs that keep boredom at bay. The nice thing is that most cities have free library programs for children this summer. The library system in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have weekly programs that entertain and educate. I always come away learning something myself. Visit Pensacola with Kids for a schedule.


While at the library, visit the bookshop as well. Ours has book racks outside for $0.50 for any book, DVDs, VHS and cassette tapes. Inside, the bookshop sells mostly newer, hardcover books for $2 each. There are plenty of biographies, romance and suspense books. We usually donate books and occasionally buy books, and old tapes.


For the first time ever, I found hardcover books that I liked in the bookshop:


The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook (because it’s Martha Stewart)
Walk It Off (because we all can use another exercise book)
One Wintry Night by Ruth Graham Bell (wonderful story)


If bought retail, these would cost $50! Instead I only paid $6, saving 88% and I also helped the library. I also picked up a Curios George book, The Jolly Postman and Rescue Heroes VHS tape, only $0.50 each.


How do you save on books?

I’ve shopped used bookstores and bought some off BarnesandNoble when they’ve had $2 sales too. A friend is saving up Swagbucks to get FREE Amazon cards to pay for books. But shopping the library is the most convenient by far and economical by far.

Finer Things: Kindred Spirits



Photo from Outdoor Gulf Coast

We had a great picnic at Dickson Park near the backgate of NAS Pensacola to celebrate the end of this year's co-op. Lots of happy moms and children. The director and her honorary assistant made thoughtful presents not just for the teachers but all the moms. They used coupons and bought for-mom-only items like Bic Soleil razor, bodywashes and notecards (from the hardware store!) We had door prizes of fresh picked summer veggies that I just had to cook and enjoy that same day.

Teacher gifts they'll appreciate!

When I talked to the director, it turns out that she started couponing for her family. She was even sharing some deals I didn't know about. I already really like and look up to her. My heart felt light as I realized she is a kindred spirit! That's up there in my list of finer things.

This post is linked to Amy's Finer Things Friday.

Frugal Friday: $0.39/lb Bananas on Clearance

Many of us love to browse neighborhood grocery stores for clearance in the meat department. But our local Winn-Dixie also has plenty of produce on clearance like bananas for $0.39/lb. They're on a rack with other produce like tomatoes, peppers, and fruits, all marked down.

Ripe, but still great!

They come in a small, white paper bag. Since 4 bags is too much to eat in a few days, I froze some in a freezer bag. I peel and freeze them whole. We love smoothies and one banana with a few other fruits makes enough for our family.

Peel n' freeze

I use bananas and other frozen fruits to cool hot oatmeal, besides using them for banana bread and smoothies. My husband keeps bananas from spoiling by eating a few with generous spoonfuls of honey peanut butter. My little ones eat bananas because I tell them to.


Where do you find cheap fruit? The Comissary sells a box of bananas for $5. Besides Winn-Dixie, what other stores have you seen these bargains?

See more Frugal Friday's ideas at Life As Mom.

May Menu Plan

Visit Menu Plan Monday to link yours or get lots of menu ideas!

It's great to menu plan again. In the beginning of May, my husband and I did a freezer inventory. From this list and food in the pantry, I wrote up a menu plan for May. This time, I taped both inventory and menu plan on the fridge. I'm glad to say that we've followed it every week for the most part. Plus, all these meals are simple family favorites, I don't even use a recipe.

Here's some pictures of what we've been eating this month:
Fried rice for breakfast? That's popular in the Philippines when I was growing up. Very filling.Yay! I finally made pizza from scratch. I used meatballs from spaghetti night for meat. Now my family doesn't like Wal-Mart pizza.
Wal-Mart had Sea Best Tilapia 4lbs for under $10. The first week I fried fish. Then I made angel hair pasta with wilted spinach and vine-ripe tomatoes and served it with pan fried tilapia. Even the children ate it up!

May Menu Plan

Breakfast
Breakfast casserole
Oatmeal, boiled eggs, fruit
Fried rice
cream cheese bites, boiled eggs, fruit
French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage

Lunch
Chicken broccoli casserole
Tacos night
Chicken or tuna salad sandwich, smoothies
Grilled chicken, Angel hair pasta with spinach & tomatoes
Leftovers
Ham and spinach casserole, salad greens

Dinner
Pasta night- spaghetti & meatballs
Adobo, rice, green beans
Pancit & porkchops, ambrosia salad
Lentil soup & tilapia, pineapple cake
Leftovers
Pizza night
Steak, rice and beans

Each list starts with Sunday then it goes down the days of the week. I am very flexible with this plan, picking meals from different days to suit our needs. But I have been sticking to the types of meals that I make. Shopping is easier when I get a fancy idea in my head like, "I love curry-let's make it tonight!" Since it's not on the list and I don't have any ingredients for it, it's easier to tell myself, "No!"

I hate to admit that I get in the way of myself most of the time!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter tomorrow!


We're having a small Easter egg hunt on Sunday. I managed to save lot of eggs from last year. One or two had remnants of LaffyTaffy but the rest were in great shape and ready to be filled.

The only sweets we had around the house were chocolates. To make up for the lack of sugar in the eggs, I followed this great tip from one of the blogs I read: add coins, stickers, tattoos, Legos, beads and buttons.

We also dyed eggs for the first time this year. CVS had FREE Paas Kits this week and I aslo had extras from previous years. After boiling a few of them and letting them cool slightly, we drew on the warm eggs with crayons. Then, when they were dyed, the crayon markings stayed- like color resist. Art class during co-op is paying off!

This morning the Easter Bunny came and hid the hardboiled eggs out in the front lawn. Instead of running after the eggs, our kids walked together and helped each other spot the eggs. Sometimes, I am amazed at how close they are! Since there are no trinkets in these eggs,each one found got them a minute of Nintendo DS playing time. After they were done collecting the eggs, they peeled the them for me. Each boiled egg they peeled earned more minutes. Egg salad and deviled eggs are calling my name!

Of course, the best time to buy empty eggs is after Easter. Don't forget that Target will have them on clearance at 50% off Monday. Candy will start at 30% off. But the best place to get them cheap without worry of them running out is at drugstores like CVS. People tend to forget they have clearance too. Well after Walmart and Target's shelves are cleared, CVS will still have a few. They might even put them on 90% off clearance. So, keep your eyes open!

See more Frugal Friday tips on LifeAsMom.

Target Deals: $1.48 Disney Silly Bandz!

Here's another short clip that's big on savings. Target will have many of these deals still available next week. I get my coupon match-ups from Totally Target.

Nivea Body Wash, around $3-$4 (use $3 off from 4/17 RP)
Disny Silly Bandz $1.48 (50% off)
Bertolli Sauce,around $2 (use $1/2 Target Q + $1.50/2 from 4/17 RP)
Revlon Tools $2 Target Q + $2 Man Q from 4/17 SS


Like the previous post, I am now just able to post this video after I've admitted defeat. (Laptop died- reason for death: printing too many coupons! Not really, it's just old.)

Make Money on Money!

I take some deals for granted. Then my husband got excited and told me it's cool to save money on money. I was like, huh? Never occured to me but, he's right. Credit cards take our money, and doing this deal is one up on them.

First Transaction
Buy $50 American Express card at Publix
Pay $4.95 for activation
Use $10 off coupon in the weekly ad
Use $5 off $25 off Apple Market coupon
--------------------------------------
= Pay only $39.95 for a $50 gift card!

Second Transaction
Buy $5 worth of Hallmark cards
Buy $50 Shell gas card
Use $5 off $5 Hallmark coupon in weekly ad*
(must buy $25 min gift card NOT Publix or AmEx)
Use $5 off $25 off Apple Market coupon
-----------------------------------------------
= Pay $45 BUT use the AmEx card to pay

I still have $5 left on the AmEx card. So instead of $50 for the Shell card, it's really only $35, with the leftover money into account.

Publix has coupons for $10 off $50 American Express cards all the time. So even though this deal ends today, you can get it again next time. My computer died after this video was taken, otherwise it would have been up sooner!

Publix Sales Ad Good Through Saturday

Just a reminder, there will not be a new sales ad for Publix this Wednesday. Since they are closed Sunday. (Click to view the Publix Ad.) That being said, here is a short video for you about clipless coupons to use with this week's ad:


Per usual, I found coupon match-ups at I Heart Publix's Super Deals.

Don't forget to use the $5 off $25 Apple Market coupon (local to Pensacola) as a competitor coupon.

These are some of my favorites!
Dole Pineapple in 100% Juice, 20 oz can, BOGO $1.59
Duncan Hines Cake Mix, BOGO $2.05 (use 2 $0.55 from Spring Savings)
Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatioes 28 to 29 oz can, BOGO $1.87 (use $1/2 blinkie)
Breyer’s Ice Cream 48 oz carton, BOGO $5.99 (use $1.50/2 TARGET Q)
Jones Dairy Farm Golden Brown Sausage, Links or Patties 7 oz pkg or Turkey Links 5 oz pkg, BOGO $2.69 (check for $1/2 peelies)
Bertolli Pasta Sauce 15 to 24 oz, 2/$4 (use $1.50 from 4/17 SS & $1/2 Target)
Kraft Shredded Cheese w/touch of Philly, 3/$5 (Use $1/1 blinkie)
Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables, 50% off (64¢ to $1.84) (Use $1/2 Publix Q from Spring Savings booklet)

Coupons found in the booklet are listed at IHP.

Two FREE Redbox Rentals wyb 2 Dozen Eggs

photo credit

Last year, Target had eggs for $0.51 per dozen. This year, as with gas prices, egg prices haven't been less than $1 a dozen. The best deal I've seen is at Walgreens:

Buy 2 dozen eggs at $1.29 each
Get 2 FREE Redbox codes at checkout

Some of our area Walgreens now have a Redbox koisk. Use promocode DVDATWAG for one FREE DVD rental!

Also, purchase Stacy's Pita, Lay's Chips, or Tostitos for $2.50 and get another Redbox code at checkout. If you are getting these for this weekend's Easter dinner, might as well get some free DVD rentals too.

If you haven't used these, promocodes BREAKROOM and DVDONME are still good. You can use them once per credit card used.

Coupons Spotted at Publix= FREE Royal Gelatin at Walgreens

Walgreens has Royal Gelatin 5 for $1 with in-ad coupon. Publix has a blinkie for $1 off 5 on Royal products. This means FREE gelatin at Walgreens.

Other blinkie coupons:
$1 off Kraft Shreds w/ Touch of Philly
$1 off Polly-O products
$1.50 off Philly Cooking Creme
$0.75 Hormel Compleats Kids Meal
$0.75 off 3 Pillsbury Refrigerated Baked Goods
$1/2 Tuttorosso Tomatoes blinkie

A few peelies:
$1 off OSCAR MAYER Selects Hot Dogs (good for Turkey)
$0.75 off Hillshire Kielbasa