Cheap Fiber One Cereal...If You Can Find It...

Target has one of their awesome gift card deals for Fiber One products this week. Buy 5 products - cereal, granola bars, and possibly yogurt - at $2.50 each, get a $5 Target gift card.
Coupons.com has LOTS of coupons you could use for this deal:

• $0.75/1 Fiber One Original Cereal
• $0.75/1 Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat Cereal
• $0.75/1 Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal
• $0.75/1 Fiber One (several varieties listed)
• $0.75/1 Fiber One Caramel Delight Cereal
• $0.75/1 Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters Cereal
• $1/2 Any Big G Cereals
• $1/1 Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt
• $0.40/1 Fiber One Bars or Fiber One Chewy Bars

I was planning to use 5 different coupons, so I only printed off one set (you can print each one twice). Unfortunately, my Target was nearly out of the cereal, which was the deal I was going for. No yogurt to be seen either. I could have gotten granola bars to complete my 5, but I hadn't printed out those coupons. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow...

Here's the plan:

• Buy 5 of various Fiber One cereals for which I have $0.75/1 coupons.
• Use 5 $0.75/1 coupons (and I'm going to print off a second set tomorrow before I go).
• Pay $8.75 and get a $5 gift card back - that's like paying $0.75/box!

Free Sample Feed Granola

Get a free sample of Feed Granola here. I've never heard of this, but it looks yummy! Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Target and Walgreens Deals

(picture above is Target; below is Walgreens)

Target:

• Pampers Kandoo baby wipes: on sale for $1.99. Used $1/1 (P&G 4/4/10) = $0.99 and can mail UPC in for a free copy of the kids' book "Giraffes Can't Dance"
• 2 Tide Travel Size detergents: $0.97. Used $1/1 (P&G 5/2/10) and $1/1 (P&G mailer) = 2 FREE + $0.03 overage each because my cashier said I could have the extra
• Hershey's Bliss candy: on sale for $2.99. Used $1/1 (SS 4/25/10) and $1/1 Target printable = $0.99
• 2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest spaghetti noodles: $1.19 each. Used $1/2 printable = $0.69 each
• Diet Coke (20 oz.): $1.49. Used free 20 oz. coupon from My Coke Rewards = FREE
• 2 Dove deoderants: $3.49 each. Used two $2/1 Dove printables and two $1/1 Target printables = $0.49 each
• 4 Nabisco 100 Calorie Snack Packs: on sale for $2.54 each. Used two B1G1 printables from Facebook (no longer available) and one B1G1 Target printable = paid $2.54 for all 4!
• Got $0.05 off for using a reusable bag
• Total spent: $8.68. Total saved: $21.51

Walgreens 1st transaction:

• 2 Combos snacks: on sale for $0.99. Used $1/2 (June All You) = $0.49 each
• Colgate Total: $2.99, get $2RR. Used $1/1 (April All You) = paid $1.99, got $2RR = FREE
• Carefree liners (22 ct.): $0.99 with ad Q. Used $1/1 (SS 4/25/10) = FREE
• Infusium 23 Repairologie Leave-in Conditioner: $4.99. Used $3/1 (SS 5/9/10) and $2/1 (May Walgreens) = FREE
• Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer: $7.99, get $2RR. Used $5/1 (SS 4/11/10) = paid $2.99 got $2RR = $0.99
• Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer Refill: $4.99. Used Free Refill wyb Starter printable (up to $3.99) = paid $1
• Total spent: $10.50, got $4RR. Total saved: $22.39.

Walgreens 2nd transaction:

• 5 Hunts Tomato Sauce: on sale $0.25 each. Used $1/5 (ConAgra mailer) = $0.05 each
• 2 Huggies Jumbo Packs: 2/$18 and get $3RR. Used two $3/1 coupons = paid $6 each and got $3RR
• Used two $2RR from previous transaction.
• Total spent: $8.25 and got $3RR for next time. Total saved: $17.23.

Still with me? So, altogether my purchases were worth $88.56, but I spent $27.43 and have $3 for next time. Not a bad shopping day...

Free Sample Crystal Light Pure Fitness

Vocalpoint is offering a free sample of Crystal Light Pure Fitness (lower left corner). Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Walmart Deals

I had to get cheese and wipes, and I used a bunch of coupons that were nearing expiration dates.

• Pampers Thick wipes: $1.97 (used $1/1 Pampers Thick wipes from mailer) = $0.97
• 2 Huggies wipes: $2.37 each (used $2/2 printable from coupons.com) = $1.37 each
• Digiorno 200 calorie pizza: $2.88 (used free product coupon from Kraft First Taste) = FREE
• Oscar Mayer Deli meat: $2.88 (used free product coupon from Kraft Sample Pack) = FREE
• Crystal Farms Monterey Jack cheese: $2.16
• Bucket of chocolate revel ice cream: $4.97 (better value than going out for ice cream and/or buying those little pints)
• Cheerios: $2.50 (used free product coupon from Pampers Gifts to Grow points) = FREE
• Kashi Heart to Heart cereal: $3.28 (used free product coupon from Vocalpoint mailer) = FREE

Total spent: $11.33.
Total saved: $14.54. I like when the savings total is bigger than the out of pocket total. Also, I am no longer keeping track of the total savings, because I've missed way too many for it to be accurate. But posts like this are fun every so often.

Free Sample: Aveeno Nourish

Click here to get a free sample of Aveeno Nourish hair care from CVS. This one is also still available.

What I'm Reading...

Northern Cheapskate talks about being afraid to save money and the fear of failure. I absolutely agree with her on this one - there are some money-saving things that I have not tried because I'm not sure how they will turn out.

15 Double Duty Decorating Ideas from Real Simple.

Here's something I never really thought about, but that totally applies to my life: Separating your goals and choices from other people, from The Simple Dollar.

Happy Graduation! Now Here's a Toilet Brush by Donna Freedman is a reminder that grads starting out on their own might need some different presents...

Where Do I Get Coupons?

I get coupons from a variety of places. Here are as many as I can think of off the top of my head...


Newspaper Inserts. Our dollar store (conveniently located right next to my workplace) sells the Sunday paper for $1. Most Sundays, I'll stop over on one of my breaks and pick up a copy. I also like to check the "used papers" basket at Caribou Coffee, because people leave their papers and coupons behind sometimes. Every now and then someone will leave a paper behind at the hotel, but not often.


Online. Unless they specifically state otherwise (and I usually try anyways), you can print online coupons twice from each computer you have available to you. A lot of them require you to install their coupon printer program, which is fine to do.

• Coupons.com is a good source.
• Smartsource.com is also good.
• Redplum.com has a few coupons, and every now and then they have some good ones.
• Target offers their own printable coupons, which you can stack with manufacturer coupons to get better deals. I've heard Walmart is starting to offer printable coupons too, but I haven't tried them yet.
• Specific company websites. Think of a product, and go find their website. Chances are, they have a coupon available.
• Facebook. As with the company website, think of a product and go find it on Facebook and/or Twitter. Some have good deals or freebies. I am not on Twitter, but I've heard they have some there as well.
• E-mail newsletters. Just like going to the company website will probably get you coupons, so will signing up for their newsletter. Some of my favorite ones are Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Barnes & Noble.

Word of Mouth Programs. These are some of my favorites, because you get free stuff.

• Kraft First Taste. They give their members access to coupons for free products that are just coming out. You can then fill out a survey about how you liked the product. The more you participate, the better your odds of getting the next offer (at least, from what I've found).
• Vocalpoint. They send random mailings of high value coupons and occasional full size products.
• SheSpeaks. I just joined this one tonight, so I'm not sure how it is, but the description says they send out products to try for free, with multiple coupons.

Magazines. I have subscriptions to A LOT of magazines (probably between 15 and 20). All were free except for 2 of them - Real Simple was $5 for 1 year on Amazon awhile back, and All You was $16 for 2 years awhile back too. Most magazines offer at least a couple coupons, and All You is jam packed with them.

Free samples. Samples are fun in and of themselves, but they usually come with coupons.

The mail. Not only do I get my sample coupons, but I get random others in the mail sometimes. Some are from places I've gone (and signed up for, like our local restaurants). Others are just delivered sporadically to everyone, or as part of a regional marketing promotion (like that $5 Walmart gift card I got last month).

Entering codes. I do My Coke Rewards, Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards, Pampers Gifts to Grow, Disney Movie Rewards, and I just signed up for Tropicana Juicy Rewards. I would also suggest RecycleBank if it's available in your area.

Contacting companies. Last fall, I tried a Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner. I was really impressed with it, so I sent the company an e-mail through their website. They thanked me for my comments and sent me 2 free product coupons. That won't necessarily always be the result, but if you really like something, why not?

Through blogging. I have only gotten a few this way, but some companies are looking for bloggers to review products, and will send you the product/coupons for free products to try in return for your public opinions. I don't know too much about this one, but I saw an offer for it once, and figured I'd try it out.

Cheap Cards from Shutterfly

Shutterfly has another deal going on for cheap folded 5x7 cards. Get 3 for free with the code "CARD4GRAD". Just pay shipping of $0.99, which means $0.33 a card! That's much cheaper than cards in the stores, and you can design them however you want. With the previous deal, we did our 3 Mother's Day cards. This time around, we'll probably do Father's Day cards.

Free Sample: Stayfree with Thermal Control

Go here to request a free sample of Stayfree with Thermal Control. I like Stayfree samples because they almost always come with a $1/1 coupon, and Walgreens has Stayfree products on sale for $0.99 every so often, meaning more for free! Thanks Chaching on a Shoestring!

Home Made Simple Coupon Books

Dawn, Febreeze, Cascade, Swiffer, Mr. Clean...if you use these brands, you definitely want to request this coupon booklet. I've gotten it in the past, and it has over $30 of coupons. Click over to Common Sense with Money's post for 4 separate links! for the coupon booklet. That's a lot of coupons!

(If you get an error message when you click the links for the coupon booklets, just click on "click here" and it should fix it.)

Free Full Size Suave Professionals

"Like" Suave Beauty on Facebook and sign up for a free full size bottle of Suave Professionals. This is limited to the first 100,000, courtesy of Rachael Ray. Thanks Deal Seeking Mom!

Free Sample: Curel Lotion

Go to the Curel website to request a free sample of their Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion. Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Free Sample: Dove Deoderant

Walmart also has a free sample of Dove Ultimate Beauty Care deoderant. Go here for yours!

Free Sample: Secret Clinical Strength

Get a free sample of Secret Clinical Strength from Walmart. I like sample size deoderants to take on trips - smaller size = easier to pack!

Thanks Deal Seeking Mom!

Free Address Labels!

Pear Tree is giving away free address labels in honor of Mother's Day! Go here, order 24 large sized or 48 regular sized labels, personalize, and checkout. Enter "MOMSDAY10" for the promotional code, and get the labels free (including shipping!). The site is running pretty slowly - it took me about 20 minutes to complete my order, but they are very cute labels.

Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Free Pedometer

Sign up for the Nature's Bounty e-mail newsletter, and get a free pedometer! Jesse was super excited about this one, because he wants a pedometer. Thanks Common Sense with Money!

What I'm Reading...

Even though I haven't gone for awhile now, I love shopping at thrift stores/Goodwill. Common Sense with Money gives some helpful tips on how to score some great finds.


We're at the stage where we have to decide what to baby-proof, and what to just let be. (Offbeat Mama).


44 Ways to Ruin Your Financial Future, from Frugaldad.

The Value of a Stay-at-Home Mom, the first in a series of articles from Focus on the Family. I could never be a full-time stay-at-home mom, but I have a lot of respect for those who are.

This article from MSN's Money Central talks about when it's a good idea to buy in bulk, and when it's not.

Buy One Get One Free Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs

"Like" Nabisco 100 Calorie Snacks on Facebook and you can print a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon. I literally just got back from grocery shopping (where I bought 4 of these). Oh well. We eat them a lot, so I'll get more. Thanks Common Sense with Money!

Free Sample: Nivea Touch of Happiness

Sign up here for a free sample of Nivea Touch of Happiness Lotion or Body Wash from the Ellen Degeneres Show. Thanks Deal Seeking Mom!

New Car Seat...for Cheap!

Jonah has almost outgrown his baby car seat, but he still needs to be rear-facing for a few more months, so we knew our next carseat would have to be a convertible one. However, we wanted one that would last for awhile. We found this one, the Graco Comfort Sport convertible car seat (in Creighton style), at Target. It fit our specifications (rear and forward facing, extra cushion for his head while he's still small, goes up to 40-50 pounds, and reasonably priced - as in we pay $100 or less out of pocket).

Those are pretty strict specs. But, we found one. This car seat is normally $89.99. Target had it on sale for $69.99. While I was pregnant, our insurance ran a program called Healthy Start, which involved checking in with a nurse on the phone every so often and listening to her talk about a pregnancy-related issue. That program gave me one $50 prepaid Visa while I was pregnant, one $50 prepaid Visa after Jonah was born, and an additional $50 prepaid Visa specifically for a carseat. So, we used that. We also had a $5 Target gift card from buying 3 Huggies packs last week.

So, for an $89.99 car seat, we paid $20.15 after tax. I'll take that.

Free Sample: Kraft Foods Pack

Like Kraft Foods on Facebook, and then click on the "Savings" tab to sign up for one of four free sample/coupon packs. I chose the Camp-out pack, with a coupon for deli meat, coupon for new Mac & Cheese Cheesy Explosions, sample of Wheat Thins, and sample of General Mills International Sticks.

Thanks Common Sense with Money!

What I'm Reading...

Big families are good for the environment. So says the logic behind this article from Faith & Family Magazine.

20 uses for baking soda, from All You. Some of these I had never even heard of!

For those who go to the checkout line with tons of coupons, here are some ideas for how to make your cashier love you, from Publix Penny Pincher.

Finally, Money Saving Mom does her version of once a month cooking. Here's her plan for this round, along with a bunch of links to other helpful posts she's written in the past about the topic.