After reading this post of Alisa's and Natalie's comment, I was thinking of money saving. And food is a BIG expense for us, and probably most families. Natalie brought up that she tries to making eating out a special occasion. I agree and try to limit eating out to weekends only. Which doesn't always work.

After wanting to "just pick something up" today for lunch and then for dinner (I was SO good and didn't for either!) I ended making Baked Potato Soup for dinner. It was so good. I thought to myself "this is better than anything I would have picked up somewhere."

It's an easy go to meal of ours that everyone in the family likes! Here is the recipe!

If any of the ladies want to share, please do! I'd love to find some more go to meals.We can make it a monthly challenge here at CP Coupon Diva's. We can all make a post of an old or new meal we've cooked recently that our families really liked.

Any amount saved, pays!

The last month or so I have not done a lot of coupon or deal shopping. I haven't gone through my binder or bought a newspaper much in the last few weeks. I didn't even go to the store last week except to get bread, milk, and eggs. Which sounds good for the budget but we ended up eating out more often...so it technically wasn't!

I headed to Target yesterday morning to get a deal I saw on Deal Seeking Mom and needed to shop. I usually would just head to HEB for food shopping without a coupon plan in hand. I went a head and tried to pair some coupons with items I needed at Target. I ended up saving $40.90 and spending $66.78 (after a $10 GC from a pharmacy visit).

Not bad?

It's no awe inspiring.

But it made me think...saving any amount is better than nothing. Yeah I spent more than I saved. No I didn't find any excitable deals.

My point...we all like to pat ourselves on the back, brag a little, when we do a phenomenal job at saving with coupons and deals. But that shouldn't discourage us or others.

Because weather it's $5, $40, or $100 saved through coupons and sales. It adds up. Anyone should be proud and happy to have paid less.

And realistically the majority of couponers probably don't save like what we see on all those news segments and 'brag' posts every single time they go to the store.

I don't. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true!

So, Keep clipping and remember any amount saved, pays.

Kids clothing deals

Childrens Place is having 50% off the sale price
GAP is having 40% off the sale price
I got shirts for $2.50-$4 at both places. I got pajamas for $5 at both places. I got dresses at GAP for $6-$9!!
There is a coupon out there for Childrens Place if you have signed up to get the mailers. Also when you make your purchase at GAP they will give you a bunch of 40% off one full price item on wednesdays. So I've got a bunch of those if anyone wants to grab one from me.
Here is a link to Childrens Place coupon: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/childrensplace.com

Anyone ever have problems with the coupon printer?

Every time I try to print from Coupon Mom, only Coupon Mom not other sites, it prompts me to download the coupon printer.

EVERY. FREAKIN'. TIME.

It's driving me crazy!

Buy 5 save $5

Randalls is having their Buy 5 save $5 again this week. If you need to get cereal this is your week to stock up! Don't forget to stack those coupons with this sale to get great deals!

I also noticed they have a 99 cent sale. Items in ad include: SoBe, Kraft mac and cheese, Duncan Hines Cake mix, Baby peeled carrots, and Del Monte canned fruit.

And advertised is get $10 off coupon(catalina) for your next purchase when you buy $25 in P&G products in a single transaction.

Sales good thru April 2oth.

$2.50 John Frieda coupon

I got an email about a $2.50 coupon from John Frieda. I had to fill out my hair profile, but at the end I was able to print out 2 $2.50 coupons! Go HERE for yours!

Sneak Peak at Target Ad

Check out Totally Target for a sneak peak at next week's ad and get a jump start on planning!

Target Mailers

Hi everyone! I keep getting Target mailers for some reason. I LOVE them, but most coupons are baby ones. If anyone needs some, email me what brands you are interested in and I can mail them to you! I just threw a lot away the other day that expired and it made me really sad! Like throwing money down the drain. These are all Target qs, so they can be stacked!

Soft Scrub Total Deal

Check out Totally Target for a great deal on Soft Scrub Total.

FREE Complete after ECB (limit 1)

This week at CVS the one deal I am doing is the Complete contact solution for 8.99, and receive 8.99 in ECB, making it FREE! I do not have any ECB at the moment (used them on papers last week), but this is a good way to get going again. I do not know of any coupons.

Thanks, I HEART CVS!

$1/1 McCormick Spice

This is a great coupon that I missed out on (my printer was not working), but I want to make sure all of you get yours!

Click HERE for yours.

Thanks, Hip2Save!

$2 GE Energy Smart Coupon

Click HERE for your $2 GE energy smart coupon.

Thanks, Krazy Coupon Lady!

Extra money

What do some of you do for some extra cash? I am going to start making headbands, and possibly stylish dish gloves. I am also taking pics for a real-estate company.

Share with us some creative ways you make some extra cash? Or some creative ways you SAVE extra cash!

Randall's deal

Del Monte Canned Veggies $.49
Limit 6 with in-ad coupon
Combine in-ad coupon with manufacture:
$1/5 Del Monte fruits/veggies, RP 2/7
$1/8 Del Monte fruits/veggies, RP 3/21
As low as .29 each!!!

Thanks, KrazyCouponLady!

I am looking for a couple extra coupons, Target's prescription gift card from a few weeks ago in their ad, and Zyrtec (I don't usually buy it so I never clip this one but it's in the paper A LOT). I'd really like to go to Target today and get these things so please let me know if you are willing to part with either.

Thanks

1890 Ranch Farmers Market

Opens Saturday, March 27, 2010

(will continue every Saturday)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

closed Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Facebook page

"Cedar Park Farms to Market is the weekly, rain or shine farmers market in Cedar Park. There will be lots of geat food, music and comraderie for our shoppers!

Location: 1890 Ranch Shopping Center, off Medical Parkway, east of the theatres and north of Gold's Gym"

Anyone interested in going to the Home Depot Do-it-Herself paint class on Thursday, April 15 2010 from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. with me?

I went to a gardening class last year and we were given a $25/$50 coupon! Don't know if that will happen again but it would be cool!

Randalls cereal and fruit snacks deal

Awesome cereal and fruit snacks deal at Randalls! 5 for $5. Some cereals are 5 for $7.50 or 5 for $10. Most have coupons. More types are available than pictured in the ad so bring ALL your cereal and fruit snacks coupons. :)
 Today is the last day.

I had left some coupons at home (grrr) but I was still able to snag 15 boxes of cereal and 5 boxes of fruit snacks for $11.50.

http://weeklyspecials.randalls.com/customer_Frame.jsp?drpStoreID=1896

I have no desire to start clipping and organizing...HELP!!!

My best trip to Target ever! :)

All deals I found at hip2save.com. I mostly did free deals. It helps to buy 2 or 3 papers because you can do the deal more than once. I only bought 3 items that didn't have coupons.
If you've been in a coupon rut like I was, hopefully this will inspire you!

Menu Planning

I am going to give menu-planning a try. I looked through several blogs and found this great one that has a post all about menu planning. She even has 11 downloadable menu planners. Go HERE to check it out for yourself!

Lessons Learned

Ok, so I learned a valuable lesson tonight. Here is what I did:

(4) bottles Pantene On Sale 2/$6.97
Used (2) $3 coupons from 3/7
Got 4 ECB

(1) Dawn Hand Renewal
On Sale .97
Used $1.00 coupon from Home Made Simple Booklet
FREE!

(2) Bags Skittles
BOGO from FB

Somehow all this totaled to $6.24...think the cashier did something wrong...I calculated the shampoo itself at around $8. Anyway, I had 8ECB, so he gave me the option of losing the $1.76 ECB or go back and get something else. I turned around and there were all of the sudden 5 people behind me. I got nervous and didn't want to hold up the line, so I opted to just lose it. STUPID!!!

I ended up with 4ECB and not spending a penny oop, but had I gone back for more, I could have gotten more candy, or 3 more Dawn (had .50 coupons, too) and spent a tiny bit oop. I feel stupid, but I learned a lesson. Never again will I let anyone initimidate me.

My next CVS move

I am still calculating my next CVS move, but here is what I am thinking.

(4) Pantene
On sale for 2/$6.97 and get 2 ECB, Limit 2
Use (2) $3 off 2 from 3/7
Pay $7.94
Use 8 ECB and get back 4

Next, purchase (1) Head and Shoulders on sale for $4.99
Use (1) $1 from 3/7
Pay $3.99
Use 4 ECB and get back 2

Notice I will only end up with 2 ECB, but I will pay little OOP for 5 bottles of shampoo/ conditioner which is something I need.

It will take some thriftyness to make those 2 work to my advantage without having to shell out too much OOP next time.

Group On and Living Social

I wanted to let you all know about Group On and Living Social. You can sign up for their daily emails with local deals and discounts on eating out, goods, and services. It is free to join, optional to take part in the deals, and it is all Austin. They do have other cities available. They both also have ways you can earn their deals free through referrals. With Group On you get credit when you refer a friend and they make their first purchase. So click here and I'll get $10 Group On bucks. :) With Living Social if you buy something and refer 3 friends who buy it, then yours is free! Today at Living Social the deal is pay $5 for a $10 gift card to Spicy Pickle.  Even if you don't ever purchase, I think it's a good way to see what's out there.
Enjoy!

Success at CVS!

Well, I did trans #3 and I am VERY pleased!

(2) Oral B Cross Action Toothbrushes (normally $5.79) on sale for $4
Used (2) .75 coupons
Used 6 ECB from the last transaction (see previous post)
Paid .54 OOP (out of pocket)
Got 8 ECB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if I can just keep 'em rollin'!