CVS and Walgreen's Ads for Jan 10-16

View ad scans for CVS and Walgreens for sales starting Sunday.
Visit iheartcvs for ad scans and coupon match-ups

Visit iheartwags for ad scans and coupon match-ups

I make my CVS stop on Sunday because my favorite CVS is right down the street from church. I also like to buy the Sunday paper there since I can use my ECBs (CVS coupons) to pay for them. I really only go to CVS on Sundays. But during the early part of the week, other bloggers will find more deals or new printables. They'll have transaction scenarios which act as your shopping list. So I wait until Tuesday or Wedsnesday to go to Walgreens.

If all the freebies are gone when you get the store, just ask for a raincheck. Then call in before you go next time to see if they have that item. At CVS, they will issue the ECBs that go with your raincheck too. But at Walgreens I was told that Register Reward deals will not be given rainchecks. Just other sales including those with in-ad coupons.

I check these blogs for new deals: hip2save and iheartsavingmoney (at the top, you can click CVS or Walgreens).

FREE Long Distance Call

Well, free call for 5 minutes anyway. It really works. Just don't accept any offers or enter contests. I can't attest to the validity of those.

Call 1-888-FREE-411.
Listen to a 10 second commercial. (Do not press *)
The main menu options will be listed. Say "FREE CALL".
Another infomercial then it will say, "Welcome to free call"
Dial 1-(area code)-number and you'll have 5 minutes to chat.
After that, I'm not sure what happens.

Apparently we aren't chatty enough on the phone. Our ATT cell phone always had hundreds of rollover minutes. So we ended our 3-years with the cellphone plan. At first we used the 12-cent long distance plan for the landline. Wow! It doesn't take much to to rack up $30 for calls. To keep disciplined we decided to look for calling cards. Well, I think the cellphone company ran them out of business. It's like looking for a working payphone, you can't find calling cards anymore. Luckily, we found an old one that still had 45 minutes on it!

Plus, Woman's Day had a short blurb about 1-888-FREE-411 in their Feb 2010 issue. We've used it to call family members. We simply say, "Hi Mom, can you call me back please?" since they have unlimited long distance or night minutes. It's working out great! My purse is lighter. My phone doesn't go off at church or in a meeting. The biggest perk: we talk to each other more in the car and on dates instead of answering the phone. That's just as great as the $840/year we'll save!

Love to hear more frugal tips? Visit Frugal Fridays here.

My Life Before Coupons

When our son was born, we had dial-up internet connection. It was so slow that I had to turn off the internet because I hadn’t even checked my email in 6 months. Then I just didn’t miss it at all for 5 years. It was like becoming a new mom turned off that part of my brain that a couple years before lived on the edge of technology. Two in diapers kept me severely busy that I had no time between feeding and changing them to turn on my brain. So coupon I did not. I went to the store for basic needs and lots of impulse buying. I don’t even remember what I cooked at that time except spaghetti and lasagna.

So I can understand moms with young children telling me how little money they save at the store. And how they just can’t do this right now. I would not even encourage them to try and organize coupons. If you have babies and can afford a higher grocery bill, then let that wait a little until you are ready. It’s just not the right season for you.

Unfortunately, with our present economy, many of us can no longer afford to stay in this baby bubble. And we have to find the remote and turn on our brains. It can be very discouraging. Unless we start aiming for tangible goals, becoming frugal can turn into a yo-yo dieting disaster. It’s simpler than we think really. Just answer a few questions and start making your shopping list.

1. What do I already have at home? Make an inventory of the pantry, fridge and freezer (also that one in the garage). Don’t have time to do it? Enlist your spouse or pay older siblings to do it.
2. What meals can I make from what we have?
3. What other ingredients do I need? Can I do without them?
4. What are the necessities we have to have or I will lose my mind (like coffee and creamer; milk and cereal).
5. When can I cook? Baby’s nap or bedtime or visiting grandma.

When you have enough meals listed for a week or so, then go shopping. Better yet, let someone else do it for you, like one of your friends. You babysit their kids and they shop for both for you.

No time to make an inventory, plan meals, much less make a shopping list? Here’s an even crazier idea, ask your friend what’s on their menu and copy that. Then they can just double their shopping list! Okay, this is my dream too. Only, I would love to do the shopping if you watch my kids.

For me, as my kids got a bit older, I had more time to figure out cooking and shopping. I read tons of books about both, tried hundreds of recipes. It wasn’t until I got introduced to Money Saving Mom and followed all the links she had to other frugal blogs that I really became a savvy shopper.

Finally, this world of couponers opened up to me. And I suggest the same for you. As you can see above, I listed nothing about coupons or looking at grocery ads. Just shopping your own pantry first will save you tons. Just having and sticking to a menu will save you tons. But if you have specific goals and a real pressing need for accelerated learning, then I suggest you check some blogs like the ones on the left sidebar of my blog. That is the surest way to learn, by surrounding yourself with other whole love to save and are great at it. You will be encouraged and pick-up on techniques faster this way. Then within a few months you’ll find you’ve got part of your brain back. Even if you are still stuck changing two diapers at once. Which I am learning doesn’t stop after potty training. Mine still have to pee at same time every time. And they are not twins!

My Reading List for 2010

I have to be really careful with this one. Reading is such an escape for me. It's not unusual for me to finish a book in one day! That means 8 hours of tv watching for the kids, leftovers for dinner and no chores done while I curl up undisturbed for hours, reading.

Books are my primary source of education too. Teach me face-to-face, I freeze up. Describe the procedure to me and my mind wanders; in one ear, out the other. I'm not a visual or auditory learner. I have to follow directions from printed form step-by-step and try it out myself. My husband is a kinesthetic learner. I read about something then show him how to do it. He shows me how to do something and I jut look at him with my eyes blinking.

So, that was a rabbit trail. But now you know more about me! Here are some books I plan to read this year. We already have these. I would like to start reading more Christian fiction to pass along to my sister. (I like to check out the books before giving them out.)

Here's my list:

1. Put Your Dream to the Test by John C. Maxwell
I read Talent is Never Enough last year. This book is the follow-up.

2. Putting Your Passion Into Print by A. Eckstut & D. H. Sterry
I'm writing a book about my experiences with frugal shopping.

3. Wide Awake by Erwin R. McManus
Two MOPs conventions ago, I heard this pastor speak. His ideas were crazy & right up my alley! We sometimes live real life on autopilot. But this year, with my kids older, & I'm not on survival mode all the time, I'd like to live my Christian life "wide awake" instead.

4. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
I read this a few years back. Each chapter is a topic to ponder and pray for your husband. There's 30 chapters so I plan to do this every month. It really helped my marriage that one month I read it!

5. For Women Only (Bible Study) by Shaunti Feldman
The book is fun but the Bible study is really engaging. While I am waiting for someone to offer this Bible study again, I think I'd like to go through it too.

6. Boundaries with Kids by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Our Bible study did Boundaries last year. It was great. I found this one & for marriage at the library for $0.50 each!

7. The Faith by Chuck Colson
I heard about this from Focus on the Family. This may be his most important work. So far, I've really liked it. But someone else may do too because it is currently missing from my reading spot.

8. It's Tough Being a Woman (Bible Study) by Beth Moore
I've done this Bible study but want to do it again. She is my favorite Bible teacher and this is by far her best work.

Since our town has a few great thrift bookstores, I trade old books and get new ones for free or cheap. You can also become a member of paperback swap. This didn't work quite as well for me because I could never get to the post office in time to mail the books. But if you are more determined to get free books by trading with others, this might work well for you. The cheapest books I've found are at the library. The For Sale racks have lots of hidden treasures. A friend bought a book for $0.50 there & found out the previous owner was a friend who just moved away!

More readers share their booklists here.

Cream of Chicken Soup Saved My Dinner

Wile visiting friends on New Year's, I finally got the recipe for this creamy soup my friend made two years ago. It's a slow cooker recipe that's so simple. Easy and versatile, this recipe is a keeper.

1 cup brown rice, uncooked
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast (enough to make one layer)
2 cups water
1 family size can cream of mushroom or chicken soup

Set slow cooker on low for 6 hours (maybe less, check if rice is done). Season to taste with salt and pepper. If your rice and chicken are already cooked then it only takes 2 hours in the slowcooker.

When we came home late that night, I made this recipe on the stove since all the ingredients I had were already cooked (i.e. leftovers). I added canned vegetables too. My kids gobbled it up! But what's great is that they don't notice what veggies are in there at all. I could put wheat germ and cauliflower and they wouldn't care. And my hubby doesn't notice there isn't much meat in there.

Make the soup thick enough, serve it as Soup-On-A-Cracker! Kitchen humor is essential for cooking sanity, eh. Although my kids did loved eating it this way. Use multi-grain crackers for added fiber. I feel healthy already. Check out this weeks URS at Life As Mom for more healthy recipes.

Make Your Own Celebration Plate!

We made Celebration Plates at MOPS. They were so easy and inexpensive. All you need are Sharpies and a porcelain plate. You can also use mugs, bowls, platters. Draw your design with the markers. Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball/Q-tip to erase mistakes. Preheat the oven for 325 degrees and then bake the plate for 20 minutes. Voila! One-of-a-kind piece of art made by you!


Yes I got very carried away and wrote Eph 1:14-19 all around the bottom of the plate. Because I could, so why not? My daughter drew a self-portrait among other things too. That would be a nice design: let the kids draw or trace their hands and write their names. A military mom was going to make a plate for every tour of duty. Another made a monogram theme. The speaker even made a pretty dragonfly design with a stencil. The plates came from the Pottery in Foley for about $1.50 each. I think Dollar Tree also has plain porcelain plates as well.

Let me know if you try this project!

Food World Weekly Deals, Jan 6-12

Friday-Sunday: 5% off for military when you show your ID!

Here are the best deals I see this week:

40% off all Sanderson chicken
$1.59/lb assorted porkchops, family pack
$1.99/lb Choice Angus Beef Shoulder Roast, family pack

$0.77 Allens or Veg All frozen veggies, 16 oz, limit 6
$2 cantaloupe
2 for $1.29 green onions or radish bunch

$1.50 Crystal Farms block or shredded cheese, 8oz
$1.88 Best Yet American Singles 12 oz
3 for $5 Pillsbury Toaster Strudels or Scrambles
$1.50 Barber's Orange Juice, 64 oz jug


$1.79 Kraft Salad Dressing, 16 oz
$1 Kraft BBQ Sauce, 16.25-18oz
$1.39 Best Yet Tomatoes, 28-29 oz: whole, crushed, diced, tomato sauce
$0.50 Best Yet can veggies: corn, cream corn, cut or french green beans, sweet peas (limit 8)
$1.50 Progresso soup, use $1 off 3 PRINT
$1.88 Nabisco Premium Saltines, 16 oz, use $1 off Q when you buy saltines and any soup
$1 GE Soft White Bulbs, 4count, limit 10

Barnes Weekly Deals Jan 6-11

Here are the best deals that I see for this week:

$0.69 Shawnee flour 5lb w/ $25 purchase
$0.69 Flavorite sugar 4lb w/ $25 purchase
(I've price-matched this deal at Wal-Mart with their Great Value flour and sugar, even if their sugar is 5lbs. Just ask first if they will match it.)

$0.89/lb chicken drumstick or thighs, jumbo pack
$1.50 Carolina Pride ground turkey, 1lb roll
$0.99 fuji apples in 2lb bag
$0.99 vidalia green onions, bunch
$0.50 each jumbo green pepper
$0.50 each cucumber
$1.19 Fresh Express cole slaw, 1lb
$1.50 grapfruit, 3lb bag

$1.50 Progresso soups (use $1 off 3 PRINT)
$2 Nabisco Saltines, 16oz
*Publix and Winn -Dixie have tearpad Qs for $1 off when you buy soup & crackers

$2 Crystal Light 6-8qts or on the go
$2 100 Calorie Nabisco oreo or chips ahoy
*Use $2 off Q when you buy crystal light & 100cal nabisco

$1.25 Uncle Bens rice mix, chicken & vegetables
$1.50 Old Orchard Healthy Balance juice, 64 oz
$1 Act 11 Microwave popcorn 8.6-9.9 oz
$5 Mahatma long grain rice, 5lb bag
$0.50 Campbell's chicken noodle soup
$4.50 Crisco Olive Oil, 16.9 oz (use $1 PRINT)
$1.50 Flavorite frozen veggies, 2lb bag: broc cuts, mixed, green peas, corn
$1.50 Yoplus or Fiber One Yoplait yogurt (use $1 PRINT)

Greer's Weekly Deals Jan 6-12

3-Day weekend sale: Fri, Sat, Sunday. Here's my picks:
$1.88/lb ground chuck
$0.98/lb country style pork ribs, family pack
$1.25 Cottage Brand Bacon, 12 oz
$1 Best Choice shredded cheese (store brand)
$1 Best Choice spaghetti sauce, 26 oz jar(store brand)

Weeklong sales:
$1.50 Russet potatoes, 5lb bag
$0.98/lb d'anjou pears, red or green
$1.68/lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
$2.38/lb boneless bottom round or rump roast
$4.50 chicken fryer drumsticks in 5-lb bag
$1.50 Dole Classic Iceberg 12 oz or slaw 14 oz
$1.25 Pillsbury Grands! 16.3 oz
$2 Hillshire Farm smoked sausage, 16 oz or beef 14 oz

This Saturday: Build a Coin Bank at Lowes

This Saturday, your child has a chance to make a coin bank at Lowe's. Their Build and Grow workshop is from 10-11am. There's usually only 50 kits so arrive early. (In Pensacola, some Lowes, like off Mobile Hwy, starts their program by 9am.)

Can't make it? Here are other kids' events this month:
Storytime Weds and Saturdays 11am-12pm at Barnes and Noble
Kid's Events at the Library all around Pensacola!
Jan 23, 1pm-3pm at Michaels: pencil topper or bracelet using yarn
Jan 23, 10-11am at Lowes: tic-tac-toe game
Jan 30, 10am-1pm at Michaels: Valentine's Day frame

Be a Company Girl!

Home organization is my personal weakness. It dates back to my childhood, really... but we won't go into that. So as with every year, I plan to be more organized this year. Starting today. Not on New Year's Day so I wouldn't fall into that statistic of people starting and failing at their resolutions within 72 hours.

To make things more interesting so I stay motivated, I've become a Company Girl! No, it's not a cult for organized wannabees. It's this neat thing Rachel Anne is doing on her blog Home Sanctuary. Every day she issues a challenge to do a Small Thing towards turning your home into a sanctuary. I figure, by the year's end, I would take some 300+ steps to make my home better. That's much easier for my brain to get than trying to be all organized right this minute. I'd love for some of you to join with me and keep me company!

$10 Men's Pants at Target & 75% off Clearance

Yesterday was the first time I shopped for clothes at Target. I was amazed at the clearance section. Racks were 30, 50, and 75% off. Not only were plenty of regular women's sizes 75% off but also Liz Lange maternity clothes!

But the men's pants were an even better deal at $10 for Legendary Gold. Some were even cheaper on clearance at $6.48 for wrinkle-free pants. Sizes are limited as the $10 sale ends Saturday (1/9) but the clearance items should still be available until all items are sold. Merona short-sleeved Tees were only $1.98 each. Lots of long-sleeved ones and sweaters are at east 50% off.

I've found it hard to get my hubby nice pants because I never see them on sale. I was even willing to learn how to sew pants! So, this was a real blessing.