The Healthy Hearth

And I'm back!

2009-02-22T16:06:00.002-05:00

Since my last post in October, our family has had an incredible period of change. A new baby on the way in June, a move to a new town, and a cut in my husband's hours at work has really kept us on our toes. As I stood in the shower this morning I started to think about all the things we have been doing to keep our growing family afloat.

To be perfectly honest, there are days where I really do feel like washing my hands of it all and taking the easy way out. We have one income that is currently much smaller than it was even a month ago. We have one car, and it's 18 years old. We rent, not own, and will not be in the position to even think about owning a home for several more years. We struggle from month to month to get all our bills paid on time while still feeding and clothing all of us. There are days that I definitely do not feel like doing the "right" thing and would much rather order a pizza than take the time to shop for, plan, and cook a nutritious, inexpensive meal.

Why am I back? Because I want to encourage and equip other people in similar situations to continue the 'good fight' and find a way to climb up the ladder in an economic climate that is less than ideal. If I can show one person how to shave five dollars off their weekly grocery bill, then that's sixty dollars I've helped someone put towards paying off a debt or saving for an emergency.

I'll be posting my first weekly grocery roundup tomorrow night. I live in the Kroger/Atlanta region and have yet to find a blog that covers deals for this region's weekly sales. It's good to be back!

While you're here, click this link to receive a coupon for a free Kashi frozen entree by mail.

Chaos!

2008-10-07T14:48:00.003-04:00

We're in the middle of a move this week, so things will be slow going on The Healthy Hearth. I'll be posting every 2-3 days over the next couple of weeks. We're expecting our phone/internet/cable to be installed sometime in the middle of next week which means I'll be without internet for 3-4 days. With four days until the big move, I'm a bit pressed for time. At least this move is organized - it's saved my sanity and my wallet!

We are absolutely in love with our new home. It's the first place we've ever lived without anyone directly above us and we're thrilled about it! Our daughter has a huge fenced in back yard to play in and we have lots of storage space to regrow my CVS stockpile. What's not to love?

~~Tonight~~ Tomorrow night I'll be posting a weekly freebie and coupon round up. Make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth - this is a post you don't want to miss!

Friday Feature: Chorebuster.net

2008-10-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

Chorebuster.net has become a fixture in our day-to-day schedule. Chorebuster is a comprehensive site that assigns and organizes household chores. Setting up an account is easy and best of all? It's free!

To start, enter in people and chores.
Specify how hard/undesirable each chore is and how often it should be done.
ChoreBuster automatically generates a fair schedule of chores.
Schedules are emailed to you daily or weekly - no need to log in.

I set up our account to have a weekly schedule emailed to me every Saturday night. I print it out before going to bed and post it on the fridge. Now I don't have to wonder when the last time the carpet was vacuumed - it's all taken care of for me!

Chorebuster is also a great way to keep track of hard to remember monthly/seasonal chores like flipping mattresses and changing air filters. My favorite feature is the ability to assign differing levels of difficulty to each chore. Chorebuster also allows you to adjust the amount of chores assigned to each person.

Don't forget to check out this post for some amazing freebies!

Free, free, free!

2008-10-02T22:16:00.004-04:00

Sign up for a free General Mills 'Dinner Made Easy' newsletter full of meal ideas, coupons, and free samples. This is a great freebie because you can use the coupons from the newsletter to make the featured recipes!

Sign up to receive your FREE Kotex sample pack complete with a Kotex Ultra Thin Pad with Wings, Kotex® Lightdays® Pantiliner and two Kotex Security Tampons.

Home Depot Do It Herself Workshops - Click here and enter zip code to register for an in-store class and receive a 10% off coupon!

I'll be out of town this weekend on semi-vacation before our big move. I have a few posts set up for this weekend, so make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth!

Toddler Thursdays: Crayon Nibbles

2008-10-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is probably my favorite toddler-friendly to do with my daughter. It's surprisingly simple with very little cleanup. As long as you have old crayons, a mini muffin tin, and an oven, you won't have to buy anything to make these.

Round up all the homeless and broken crayons in your house. Start by having your little one help you peel the wrappers off the crayons. While you're peeling crayons, preheat your oven to 265 degrees. Break the crayons into 1/2"-1" sized pieces.

Help your toddler sort the crayon bits according to color. We made several kinds of crayons - in one cup we added pinks and reds. In another, we put in a jumble of color so they would swirl as they melted. This is a great teaching opportunity! As you sort the crayons, ask questions like "What color is this? Can you find the other red crayons? What color do you want to make next?"

Once you've sorted your crayons, bake for 6-8 minutes. Do not over bake - you only want to melt the crayons so you can't distinguish their shape anymore. Let the crayons cool on the counter for a few minutes and then pop them in the freezer so they can harden. It will take about thirty minutes for the crayons to set. Once you're ready, they should pop right out.

These crayons are great for chubby little hands that can't quite grasp smaller crayons yet. They also make great party favors and birthday presents. Wrap up a few crayons in a clear cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon. Add a coloring book and you have a great, inexpensive present.

We usually unwrap, sort, and bake the crayons pre-nap. By the time J is up from her nap, the crayons are ready to go!

Frozen Food Savings

2008-09-30T22:56:00.003-04:00

Publix has put out a ton of great coupons for frozen foods. Some are Publix only coupons, but a good deal of them are manufacturer's coupons. Here's a list of what's included:

Publix Only
.25 off carton 4 Grain Eggs
$1 off 2 Alexia Products
$1 off 2 Egg Beaters 15-16 oz
$1 off 2 Better Bakes Cookie Dough
$1 off 2 International Delight 16 or 32 oz
$1 off 1 Publix Vanilla Ice Cream 5 qt
$1 off 1 Publix Round Top Ice Cream Cones 16 oz
.55 off Publix Greenwise Soy Milk
$1 off 1 Publix 6-pk Yogurt
$1 off 1 Publix Frozen Pizza
$1 off 1 Publix Frozen Pizza Snack
$1 off 6 Weight Watchers Yogurt 6oz
.55 of Any Welches Frozen or Refrigerated Product

Manufacturer's Coupons
BOGO Attune Chocolate or Granola Probiotic Wellness Bar
1 Boston Market Signature Side FREE WYB 4 Boston Market Entrees
$1 off Any Delizza Product
$2 on 1 TGIF Snack WYB 4
.35 off Friendship Sour Cream or Cottage Cheese
$1 off Any Morningstar Farms or Gardenburger Product
.55 of Any Gortons Fish Product
$1 off Any 2 Jimmy Dean Products
$1 off 4 Lean Cuisine Products
$1 off Any 2 Marie Callender Products
Free Ore-Ida Steam and Mash WYB 3 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes
$1 off 2 Pepperidge Farms Frozen Garlic Breads or Texas Toast
.55 on 1 Reddi-Whip 7oz or Larger
$1 off 1 SeaPack Product
Free Weight Watchers Smart Ones Frozen Dessert WYB 4 WW Smart Ones Entrees
$1 off Good Belly 4 pk
$2 off 2 Birds Eye Voila Products
$1 off 1 Smart Ones Butter or Milk Products
.35 off Birds Eye Frozen Vegetable Box w/ Sauce

Go to frozenfoodsavings.com and click on the "coupons" tabs to print these coupons. Enjoy!

Moving for less with less

2008-09-30T14:31:00.003-04:00

We're moving in less than two weeks! The home we live in now is almost 1500 square feet. The home we'll be moving to is just under 1000 square feet. In theory, it doesn't seem like that much of a difference, but we're losing about a third of the space we have now. When you have big furniture and a two year old, that means downsizing as much as possible.

We've tried to come up with some creative ways to keep this move as stress-free and inexpensive as possible. The little bit of effort you put out will come back to you several times over!

Take only what you need. Moving is a great excuse to purge your house of as much 'stuff' as possible. If it's been hidden in the depths of your closet for a year, do you really need it? As much as I love to cook I've pared down my kitchen to the basics. If I don't use it at least once a week it isn't something I truly need. The same principal applies for every room in the house. This goes back to our shopping philosophy: buy what you love. If you only purchase items you truly love you can cut back on clutter.

Have a garage/yard sale as close to your moving date as possible. Why? Because until you have gone through most of your possessions, you won't have an accurate idea of what to put in a yard sale. We're holding ours the day before our move. We plan on holding the sale from 7am-12pm. Whatever is left at 11 will be half off the marked price. The last fifteen minutes, everything (within reason - no furniture, etc.) left will be sold for .25. Whatever is left at the end of the sale will be boxed up and sent straight to Goodwill. That way we have everything out of the house that isn't coming with us and we have a bit of cash to fund those first few weeks of "Uh, oh. I didn't know we'd need that!" shopping.

Don't pay for moving boxes. A liquor store down the street from where we live sets out boxes every morning that are free for the taking. These are fairly sturdy boxes - they're built to hold large glass bottles, so we know they're strong and sturdy. Ask the staff at your local grocery store when they receive stock and what they do with the boxes. Look on sites like craigslist.org for free boxes. Many people save the boxes they purchased from stores like U-haul or the UPS store to re-list.

If at all possible, don't pay for movers. Paying for a moving van or trailer out of pocket is always cheaper than hiring a moving company. Not only do you risk damage to your possessions, you lose control over where things go and how they are loaded. Ask neighbors, family, and friends. As a thank you, order pizza or take everyone out to dinner. The more you can do yourself the more money you will save.

Start packing as early as possible! In the past we made the mistake of underestimating how long it would take to pack up our very, very small apartment. What we thought would take 3-4 days actually took 2-3 weeks! As we got closer to the moving date, more and more things were thrown out simply because we didn't have the time or resources to pack them properly or we were too stressed about how much stuff we had accumulated. Give yourself the time to plan as much as possible to eliminate stressful last minute struggles.

CVS (bought on 9/29/08)

2008-09-29T22:25:00.002-04:00

1 3-pack kitchen scrubbing pads @ .09
9 Arizona Pomegranate Green Teas @ .13
1 CVS brand dental tape @ $1.15
3 Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure wet cleansing towelettes @ $5.99

Total before coupons = $20.38

-$1.00 off any Garnier product
-$1.00 off any Garnier product
-$1.00 off any Garnier product
-$4/20 CVS CRT
-$5.99 in ECBs

Total after coupons = $7.39

I hate to admit it, but I'm addicted to make-up removing cloths. I am entirely too lazy to remove all my makeup, cleanse, and then moisturize every night. $7.39 is a high out of pocket total for me, but not too bad when you consider that I stocked up on three months worth of face wipes.

The teas were in our store's 90% off summer clearance section. My husband likes to take them with him to work, so I figured we might as well stock up.

I'll be making a trip again tomorrow morning to use the Cristophe CRT I received today. I love their sulfate and paraben free shampoos and conditioners! Since they're on sale for $4.99 right now, I'm going to take advantage of the September ECB deal. Here's how it should go...

2 Cristophe shampoos @ 4.99
2 Cristophe conditioners @ 4.99
*small filler item

-$5 off WYB any full sized Cristophe hair care products CRT
-$4/20 CRT
-$5 in ECBs from today's Garnier deal

Six dollars out of pocket isn't so bad for 4 of my favorite products. Here's to hoping I can score some more summer clearance items in the morning!

What did you buy this week?

Make It Monday: Homemade heating pad

2008-09-29T22:09:00.003-04:00

I've got a nasty sinus infection that has kept me in bed for the past few days. After falling asleep with our electric heating pad one too many times, I decided to make my own. Here's how!

Pick out a clean sock without holes that is in good condition. Fill the sock about 60% full of rice, making sure that it's packed loosely enough to drape over your neck, shoulder, etc. Tie the sock closed. To heat up your sock, microwave it for 30-45 seconds. Instant relief!

I added some dried lavender to my sock so I wouldn't have to smell rice every time I heated it up. As the weather gets colder, it's a nice way to heat up your bed at the end of a long day!

Coupon previews for 9/28/08

2008-09-27T22:54:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow's paper will have 3 coupon inserts - P&G, Redplum (Valassis), and Smartsource.

Here are some of this week's highlights:

.50/2 Barilla Piccolini Pasta
.75 off any Muir Glen
.50 off any Northland juice
$1 off Oikos organic greek yogurt, 5.3 or 16 oz. size
$1.50/2 Aveeno products

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be posting my weekly CVS trip and my Kroger deals for the upcoming week. If you haven't already heard - the test market areas that had sales starting on Fridays are back to Sundays! I haven't been to CVS much since the dates were changed. This will be a nice way to get back into the swing of things just in time for the move.

Happy shopping!

Movin' on up

2008-09-27T21:55:00.003-04:00

We did it - we're moving!

After almost a year of searching we found our dream (rental) home! Despite having less than perfect credit, we were able to rent a gorgeous 2 bedroom home less than ten minutes away from my husband's work. We're moving two weeks from tomorrow which means that things are slightly chaotic here. We went from a preliminary phone call to signing a lease and putting down a deposit in 36 hours!

Last week's Toddler Thursday post will be moved to this Thursday. Things will be a little slow here for the next week, but I promise that the posts will keep on coming!

Make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth - this is a week you won't want to miss!

Ideal Bite

2008-09-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

Ideal Bite is one of my favorite sources for bite-sized eco-friendly tips. Want to know what face cream to use that will keep you looking young but won't run off with your wallet (and maybe next month's paycheck, too)? Maybe you're in the market for a new yoga mat. Or maybe you want to know out why you should own a yoga mat in the first place. This is definitely the place to go.

Sign up now for the Ideal Bite's newsletter by clicking the graphic at the top of the page. Each weekday you'll get short, sassy, simple tips on how you can hold on to a little more of your green while saving the big green. What's not to love about that?

Weekly Coupon Roundup

2008-09-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

.55 off Orowheat bread, $.55 Mrs Baird's Whole Grain White Bread, $.50 off Arnold or Brownberry Product (.pdf, exp.12/31/08, valid in selected states)

.55 off Orowheat bread, valid in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, UT, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NM, OK, OR, TN, TX, WA, WY
.55 Mrs Baird's Whole Grain White Bread, valid in TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, NE, NM
.50 off Arnold or Brownberry Product valid in AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WI

.55 off SueBee honey

$1.00 off Quaker Instant Oatmeal (another coupon can be found here)

$1.00 off Quaker Harvest granola bars or oatmeal

Tomorrow's Toddler Thursday posts is one of J's favorite crafts. Round up all your broken and homeless crayons - they'll come in handy!

Freebies: Murad 3 Step Skincare sample

2008-09-23T19:32:00.003-04:00

Go to Oprah's website or Murad.com to request a free Resurgance 3 step skincare sample.

I've ordered samples from Murad before and they always arrive quickly and are usually large samples. Hurry and sign up now - there are a limited number of samples left!

Thanks to Freebies4Mom for the link!

State of the Family Address

2008-09-23T14:58:00.002-04:00

My husband and I sat down last night and decided to sketch out a short-term budget for the next six months. We're hoping to move at the end of October. Moving has been the bane of our existance for the past five years. Luckily, since J was born we've only moved once. This time we'll be moving to be closer to my husband's work and have a bigger home for our family.

We'll also (possibly) be moving to...a farm.

It's taken me a few days to digest the idea. We've talked it over for nearly a week, and while in some ways it isn't ideal (ridiculously hard to find off a gravel road in the middle of nowhere for starters!), it's good for our family. We'd have a whole huge yard to ourselves. Our neighbors? Cows. There's a huge patch of land behind our yard perfect for a garden. We can paint and redecorate the house to suit our tastes. There's even a clothesline ready and waiting.

The idea of changing our lifestyle so drastically is intimidating. Can we really live without pizza delivery, impromptu shopping trips, and a neatly manicured neighborhood?

Would you move to a farm?

CVS weekly deals

2008-09-22T21:38:00.007-04:00

I haven't been able to go to CVS this week (sick toddler), but here are a few deals that have caught my eye.

SoyJoy Bars, buy 10 for $5
B1G1 SoyJoy bar (SS 9/7/08)
$2/10 SoyJoy Bar (SS 9/7/08)
Printable for $3/5 (one per household, must register)

Crest Pro Health (4.2-oz.) @ $2.99, get $2 in ECBs (limit 2)
.75/1 any Crest 4.1 oz or larger (PG 8/31/08)

(This is from September's ECB deals)
Arnicare Homeopathic Pain Relief Gel @ $8.99, get $8 in ECBs (limit 5)
Printable for $2/1 (.pdf)

I'm hoping to make it to CVS on the way back from J's pediatrician appointment tomorrow. I have a coupon for a $35 gift card with a new prescription - looks like I'll be using it! Poor little J!

Frugal Friday: Buying what you love

2008-09-19T15:29:00.005-04:00

When I woke up this morning, I brushed my teeth with free toothpaste and a free toothbrush. I tossed my $6 pajamas in the dirty clothes hamper and showered with a $23 facial cleaner, free birthday body wash from Sephora, and free sulfate and phosphate free shampoo and conditioner from CVS. I used paraben free lotion that I bought on clearance at Bath and Body Works last year ($4 marked down from $18), $38 moisturizer, and put on makeup that would cost at least $200 to replace.

When I got dressed I put on Target shoes I bought on clearance last fall ($10), jeans I bought at Old Navy during a mega sale last month ($9.00), and a top I bought at the mall on clearance last weekend ($7.99). I ate a free breakfast - eggs I bought with a coupon, toast from bread I made myself, and a smoothie that I made from ingredients I bought with a gift card from a sale I bought at Target. I drank a cup of $13.99/lb. fair trade, organic coffee and sweetened it with organic raw sugar that I got for free from a friend. Tonight I will cook using my $199 Calphalon pan (that I purchased for $49) and my Le Creuset dutch oven that I bought for 80% off this spring.

Our family has a motto when it comes to spending money. Buy only what you love. Spending money on things you won't use simply because it's a good deal is wasteful and counterproductive. Last week while cleaning out my closet I found a sweater that I bought at a rather upscale store last fall. It's a size 4...and I'm a size 6. I couldn't bear to let a good deal pass me up, so I brought it home under the guise of "I know I can lose the weight to fit into this sweater". Almost a year has passed and let me assure you - I'm still a size 6!

Before you shop, learn to prioritize. Spend money on what you love and use the most. If you have a passion for cooking, invest in the best pots and pans you can afford. Find another area in the budget you can cut back on and wait for a good deal.

Think about this philosophy the next time you shop. Not only will it save you money, but you'll be surrounded by good memories. Every time I cook with my Calphalon pan, I remember my husband buying it for my birthday this year and how I proud I am that we spent our money wisely on something I know I will use for years to come.

And that is priceless.

Toddler Thursdays: Goop

2008-09-18T10:33:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to take advantage of the ever-changing weather here in Tennessee by doing as many outdoor projects with Scout before it gets cold. This is something fun and a bit messy that we did outside last night before bath time.

This is definitely a project kids of all ages can appreciate!

To make goop, you'll need 1 cup (or more, as needed) of cornstarch and 1/2 cup white glue.

Pour the cornstarch into a bowl and add the glue a bit at a time, mixing first with a spoon and then with your fingers as the texture becomes too thick to stir with a spoon. The goop should be sticky. That is a sign to stop adding glue and begin adding a bit more cornstarch.

This can be stored in the fridge for about a week in a glass jar with a screw-top lid.

This is a project that is best enjoyed outdoors. Have fun!

Kroger - Powerade Zero; possible moneymaker

2008-09-16T15:33:00.004-04:00

I don't drink or eat things with 'fake' sugar, but with all the food drives that have been going on lately due to hurricane Ike, I bought 24 bottles to take to our church's food pantry.

Here's how this works...

Buy 6 Powerade Zeros (32 oz size) @ .69/bottle. I used the self-checkout so I could repeat the transactions without hassling a cashier.
Pre-tax total should be around $4.14.
Pay for your transaction.
After you've paid, a catalina (receipt-like coupon) should print out for $4.00 off your next order.

If you have coupons or Powerade Zeros that are cheaper than .69/bottle, this could be a moneymaker!

You must purchase 6 to get the catalina. You must buy Powerade Zero - regular Powerade isn't part of the promotion. Only one catalina will print per transaction so break up your orders. If you are able to use coupons or have Powerade that is cheaper than .69/bottle you will either need to buy filler items to roll over your catalinas or purchase a small giftcard using your catalina.

The promo is going on through the end of the month, so stock up while you can! The Kroger closest to us doesn't carry Powerade Zero but the store we pass on the way to my parent's house does. I plan to make another run later in the week when I have the time (and patience!) to do separate transactions.

I live in Knoxville, TN and shopped at the store on Northshore Drive. If you try this deal out, leave me a comment so I can write up a list of stores that have the product and generate a catalina. Good luck!

Make It Monday: Soap Scum Spray

2008-09-15T15:26:00.005-04:00

This week I am rolling out a new posting schedule for The Healthy Hearth. Make It Mondays will feature fresh and healthy dinner recipes, how-to guides for homemade cleaners, as well as household projects and tips.

We have overnight guests coming this weekend which means I'm having to scrub the entire house from top to bottom. After taking a bath on Saturday I finally realized that yes, I do need to clean my tub more than once a month. Between daily toddler baths, a grimy husband, and bathtub crayons...well, you get the idea. It isn't a pretty picture!

The soft scrub recipe I posted back in August is what I use on our sinks and tubs when I don't have a ton of buildup. It's simple, easy, and cheap. When I have soap scum buildup, I break out this fantastic cleaner to cut through the gunk.

Soap Scum Spray
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
2 cups hot water

Pour ingredients into a sturdy spray bottle. Shake lightly to blend. Spray and scrub/wipe down with a sponge. Rinse surface clean with water.

If you don't already have borax in your home, you can find it in the laundry/detergents aisle in most grocery stores or catch-all retailers (Target, etc). For the liquid detergent, I use Country Save's all purpose detergent. In a pinch, a small amount of a fragrance-free, optical brightener free laundry detergent would work well.

If you have any suggestions or requests for Make It Monday, please leave a comment and let me know. Be sure to bookmark The Healthy Hearth - you won't want to miss this week's posts!

Coupon previews

2008-09-14T01:41:00.011-04:00

Looks like tomorrow's paper will have 2 inserts with a small section of Proctor and Gamble coupons. Here are the previews for tomorrows (um, today's!) paper:

Valassis/Red Plum

Boost Nutritional Energy Drink, any multipack $2/2 (

Boost Smoothie Nutritional Energy Drink, any multipack $2

Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment, any except trial $1

Garnier Fructis Style Product, any $1

Garnier Nutrisse or 100% Color Vibrant Colors by Nutrisse, any $2

Garnier Nutritioniste Cleanser or Moisturizer, any $1

Hot Pockets Ultimate, any $1 on 2

Hungry Jack Biscuits, any $1 on 2

Hungry Jack Instant Potatoes AND Crisco Spray, any $1

Hungry Jack Pancake Mix or Syrup AND Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage, any $1

Mrs. Ts Quick Ones Heat and Eat Pierogies, any $1

Nescafe Tasters Choice Coffee, any .50

Nestle Coffee-Mate Powder, any .50

Nestle Juicy Juice Harvest Surprise, any $1

Nestle Nesquik, any .50

Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough, any $1.50 on 2

Plus White Product, any $1

Purina Alpo Canned Dog Food, 13.2 oz. B4G1F up to .89

Purina Alpo Canned Dog Food, 22 oz. B2G1F up to $1.59

Purina Alpo Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food, etc. any 17.6 lb.+ $1

Purina Beggin, 6 oz.+ $1

Purina Cat Chow, any 3 lb.+ .55

Purina Friskies Canned Cat Food, 5.5 oz. $1/15 cans or one Variety pk.

Purina Friskies Dry Cat Food, any 3.15 lb.+ $1.50 on 2

Purina Friskies Seared Filets or Fine Cuts $1/15 pouches or one Variety Pk.

Purina Naturals Dry Cat Food, 3.15 lb.+ $1

Purina Tidy Cats Cat Litter, any $1

Purina Tidy Cats Litter System $5

Purina Whisker Lickins Cat Treats, any $1

Rimmel Face Product, any $1

Rimmel Product, any $1

Scotch Fur Fighter Hair Remover Starter Kit $4

Scotties Facial Tissues, any .50/3 boxes or one multipack

SheaFlex70, 90 ct. $5

Silk Soymilk, half-gallon+ .55

Stouffers Family, Large Family or Party Size Entrée, any 28 oz.+ $1

Tylenol Cold, Sinus, or Allergy Rapid Release Gels Product, any except trial $1

Tylenol Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels Product, any except trial $2

Tylenol PM Raid Release Gels Product, any except trial $1

P&G

Cover Girl Foundation Product, any $1

Olay Hand & Body Product, any $1

Olay Ribbons Body Wash Product, $1 on 2

Olay Skin Facial Moisturizer, any $1

Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner Product, $1 on 2

Secret Product, any $1 on 2

Smartsource

Almay Cosmetic Product, any $1 (12-31-08)

Barilla Plus, any $1 on 2 (11-9-08)

Bausch & Lomb Soothe Lubricant Eye Drops $3 (12-31-08)

Beneful Snackin Slices Dog Snacks, any $2 (12-14-08)

Betty Crocker Pouch Potatoes, any .40 (11-8-08) .10 each

Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shaver, 4-pack $2 (10-26-08)

Bic Soleil, Soleil Twilight, or Soleil Citron Shaver, 4-pack $2 (10-26-08)

Bumble Bee Sensations Kit, any .55 (12-31-08)

Bumble Bee Tuna Pouch, any 3 or 7 oz. .55 (12-31-08)

Campbells Cream Soups, any .40/4 (10-26-08)

Campbells Select Harvest Soup, any .50/2 (12-31-08)

Campbells V8 Soup, any $1 (12-31-08)

Chock Full O Nuts Coffee, any $1 on 2 (12-31-08)

Chloraseptic Allergen Block $3 (12-15-08)

Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste, any $1 (10-4-08)

Dole Distinctively Dole Salad, any .50 (10-31-08) .10 each

Egglands Best Cage Free Dozen or Organic Dozen Eggs .50 (12-31-08)

Egglands Best Eggs .35 (12-31-08)

Egglands Best Hard-Cooked & Peeled Eggs .35 (12-31-08)

El Monterey All Natural Burritos, any $1 on 2 (12-31-08)

El Monterey All Natural Soft Tacos or Quesadillas, any $1 (12-31-08)

Electrasol Powder or Gel, any .35 (10-12-08)

Glade Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator, any $1 (10-25-08)

Glade 4-oz. Jar Candle or 2 in 1 Candle, any $1 (10-25-08)

Glade PlugIns Scented Gel Classic Warmer, any B1G1F up to $2 (10-25-08)

Glade Scented Oil Candles Holder, any $2 (10-25-08)

Glade Spray, any B1G1F up to $1.75 (10-25-08) .20 each

Glass Plus Product, any .50 (11-08-08)

GoodNites Sleep Pants, any jumbo pack+ $1 (10-14-08)

Hersheys Bliss Chocolates, Reeses Clusters, etc., 3.8 oz.+ $2.50/2 (12-31-08) .15 each

Hola Fruta Pure Fruit Sherbet, any quart or 6-pack bar pkg. .55 (12-31-08)

Jell-O Singles .50 (11-30-08)

Jet-Dry Rinse Agent, any .40 (11-2-08)

Jet-Dry Turbo Dry or Jet-Dry Machine Clean, any .40 (11-2-08)

Johnsons Baby Product, Desitin, Tylenol Infants, Motrin Infants, etc., any except trial $3/3 (11-30-08) .15

Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Triple Smoothing Lotion, 13.5 oz. $1 (12-31-08)

Lubriderm Body Lotion or Cream, any 3.3, 5, 6 or 16 oz. $1 (12-31-08)

Met-Rx Bars, any $2/2 bars (12-14-08) .10 each

Osteo Bi-Flex Product, any $5 (12-31-08)

PediaSure Product, any 6-pack $2 (12-31-08)

PediaSure Product, any 6-pack $5 on 2 (12-31-08) .25 each

Poise Pads, any $2/2 (11-08-08) .10 each

Poise Pantiliners, any $1.50/2 (11-8-08) .10 each

Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent, any $1 on 2 (10-26-08)

Purina Dog Chow or Little Bites Dry Dog Food, 3.5 lb.+ $1 (9-28-08)

Purina Dog Chow or Little Bites Dry Dog Food, 17.6 lb.+ $2 (9-28-08)

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars or Bites, any $1 on 3 (10-31-08)

Revlon Beauty Tool, any $1 (1-14-09)

Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, any $2 (1-14-09)

Rolaids Extra Strength Tablet Product, any 36 ct.+ $1 (12-31-08)

Rolaids Multi-Symptom Tablet Product, any 36 ct.+ $1 (12-31-08)

Rolaids Softchew Product, any 12 ct.+ $1 (12-31-08)

Scott Extra Soft Bath Tissue, any 4-pack+ $1 (10-26-08) .10 each

Scott Paper Towels, 4+ rolls $1 (10-26-08) .10 each

Tylenol Childrens, Motrin Childrens, Johnsons Buddies, etc., no trial $3/3 (11-30-08) .15 each

Tylenol Childrens, Motrin Childrens, Pediacare Gentle Vapors, etc., no trial $2/2 (11-30-08) .10 each

Underwood Product, any .50 (10-31-08) .10 each

Wholly Guac Product, any $1 on 2 (10-31-08)

Wholly Guacmole Product, any .50 (10-31-08)

Yoplait Whips Yogurt, any B4G1F up to .94 (11-8-08)

Yo-Plus Yogurt, any 4-pack $1 (11-8-08)

Ziploc Bags with Easy Zipper, any .75 (11-8-08) .10 each

I apologize for the lack of posts in the past few days. I spent the day at the spa for (almost) free! My brother and his girlfriend gave me a gift card for my birthday and I used some of my leftover birthday money to add to it. I took the entire day off and focused on, well, nothing! I had an hour long blissful massage followed by a facial that left my skin glowing and temporarily blotchy. With all the stresses of this past week, it was a welcome chance for relaxation and recharging.

Looks like it's back to the real world tomorrow! I'll be hitting up CVS and stopping by the mall with my husband and daughter to scour the sales racks for summer markdowns. Happy shopping!

What to expect @ The Healthy Hearth

2008-09-11T22:44:00.005-04:00

I started this blog as a way to track our family's progress as we attempt to become debt free. There are days where I look at the progress we've made and feel like we've finally set foot on the right path.

Today was a huge, huge wakeup call.

We currently rent a house in a relatively nice part of town. The people that own the house are in the process of selling it. We currently live 30 minutes away from my husband's work, which means he's gone roughly 11-12 hours a day, five days a week. We've known for awhile that we need to move closer to his work so we can have more time as a family, a lower gas budget, and much less wear and tear on the car.

Living on one salary is hard. Trying to find a nice rental property with that one income? Even harder. Doing it with bad credit? Impossible.

My frustration and stress levels have shot up significantly in the process of trying to pull together this move. I feel like our entire lives are defined by what we don't have.

Money.

This is what this blog is all about. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a positive outlook while trying to dig out of the black hole of debt. I want to prove that it can be done. I want to look back on this process is five years and be proud of the progress we've made and what we've done for ourselves as a family.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting about the steps we're taking to improve our situation, both financial and emotionally. I invite you to read along and take this journey with us.

Welcome to The Healthy Hearth.

-Leslie

Coupon roundup - Breakfast, anyone?

2008-09-10T15:39:00.004-04:00

$1.00 off Cheerios
$1.00 off YoPlus yogurt
Organic Valley coupons (7 $1 coupons for different products)
$1.00 off Kashi Go Lean Crunch
$2.00 off any Kashi product (must sign up for new account)
Horizon Organic (must sign up; coupons are for organic milk, organic chocolate milk, and yogurt)
Free Oikos Greek organic yogurt
R.W. Kundsen $1 off an 8-pack of Sensible Sippers juice boxes

Don't forget to check out the coupon.com link to the right to print even more coupons!

Tonight I'll be posting a new day-to-day schedule for The Healthy Hearth. My in-house graphic designer (*cough*myhusband*cough*) is working on my new logo and a complete design overhaul. Make sure you have The Healthy Hearth bookmarked so you can watch as we grow!

Winners of September's giveaway!

2008-09-09T22:40:00.005-04:00

Congrats to Laura and seesawstar!

I've sent emails to both winners. Once I receive your addresses, I'll send out your packages! If the winners haven't responded by Friday, I'll select another entry at random.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. What a fantastic turnout! I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see so many entires for this month's contest. It seems like things are finally starting to blossom!

For those of you who haven't yet read it, the fifth and final part of the Grocery Store Savings series was posted last night. I'll be starting another savings-themed series starting on Friday. You can vote on the topic for this series by clicking on the poll to the right.

Tomorrow morning I'll be posting a new weekly schedule of topics for The Healthy Hearth as well as a weekly coupon roundup. Stay tuned!

Grocery store savings - Part 5: Tips and tricks to lower your bill

2008-09-08T21:10:00.004-04:00

Part 1: Prepare and organize

Part 2: Where to find coupons

Part 3: How to get the most out of your coupons

Part 4: How to choose between organic vs. conventional produce

Instead of going grocery shopping once a week, try stretching your budget by shopping every eight days. This small change can save you tons of money in the long haul. Think about it - instead of shopping 52 times a year, you're already down to 45 trips a year. It took awhile for us to adjust, but now that we're prepared for 8-day-shopping versus 7-day-shopping, it's a no-brainer!

Shop the perimeters of the store. Almost all grocery stores keep fresh produce, meats, and dairy in this area. By avoiding the aisles with prepackaged, boxed, and processed foods, you'll be eating healthier and sticking to the basics.

Figure out what kind of menu planning works the best for your family. A lot of frugal-minded bloggers suggest planning out a weekly menu before going grocery shopping. We tried this for a couple of months and it didn't fit our family or how we shop. For us, it's easier to plan meals around what's on sale and what we already have on hand. I keep a well stocked pantry (rice, flour, onions, garlic, spices, and pasta) and build on that. Give both methods a try and figure out what fits your family.

Learn how to cook. Before I met my husband, I couldn't make boxed macaroni and cheese. After a few months of eating sandwiches and canned soup, he finally coaxed me into buying a basic cookbook. It took a lot of trial and error, but I eventually learned. I have a passion for baking that may not be so great for the waistline, but it's a nice little hobby that has served my family well.

Cut back on meat. Instead of serving meat as a main dish, consider serving it as a side. Smaller portions are another way to cut back. Designate one (or more) days of the week to serving meatless meals. Our family very rarely eats red meat. We usually substitute ground turkey for ground beef, which is both cheaper and healthier.

Clean out your fridge regularly. Having to play "Did I just grow penicillin or is this last week's imported cheese?" can get expensive. Seeing how much food you have and being able to accurately decide what you need to buy at the store prevents repeat purchases. Make a practice of clearly marking leftovers so you can know what's safe to eat and what's better left at the bottom of the trash can.

CVS (bought on 9/7/08)

2008-09-08T11:21:00.005-04:00

Before I gets lots of comments about all the junk-ish food I've been buying lately, I should tell you why I'm buying it. I have a younger brother who just left to go to college last week and is also in the National Guard. I remember what it's like to be going to college full time and trying to keep up with a full time job! I ate whatever I could get my hands on (hence the freshman, er, 25). I keep a big box in our closet and fill it food, shaving supplies, toothbrushes, etc. so when he comes back to town on guard weekends, I can send him off with things I know he'll use. He (hopefully) gets enough of the good stuff on campus. The stuff I send him is for those "up at three am with a paper due at eight and I don't have anything to eat" emergencies. ;)

1 Chex Mix (cheddar) 6 oz. @ $1.00
1 Chex Mix (traditional) 6 oz. @ $1.00
1 L'oreal Advanced Revitalift Radiant Smoothing wet cleansing towelettes @ $5.99
1 CVS cotton swab (30 ct.) @ .99
3 Sunday Edition Knoxville News Sentinels (newspapers) @ $2.00/each

Total before coupons = $14.98

- .99 CVS store brand free cotton swabs (via email)
- $1.00 Chex Mix (use the coupon bar to the right - free Chex Mix!)
- $1.00 Chex Mix
- $1.00 L'oreal Advanced Skincare (Sunday paper a few weeks back - can't remember the date!)
- $2/10 CVS store CRT- $6.00 ECBs (last week's Neutrogena Lipsheers deal; printed out @ the register before I rang up)- $1.00 ECBs (Gold Peak teas back in August)
- $1.49 ECBs (Kotex back in August)

Total after coupons = .50! ECBs generated = $5.99 (L'oreal Skincare)

I'll be going back on Thursday to buy my brother more Chex mix and pick up some ACT mouthwash. Later tonight I'll put up the last installment of the Grocery Savings series. September's giveaway ends tomorrow night, so make sure you get your entries in before the deadline.

Have any great CVS deals to share? Leave me a comment and I'll add you to my post!

Tea for two

2008-09-08T01:07:00.006-04:00

We are definitely a tea-drinking family. Our poor little kitchen has an entire cabinet devoted to nothing but tea. Freeleaf is one of my favorite online finds. Not only does it list a ton of samples for free teas, it has a decent selection of coupons, too! Check it out before all the good samples are gone.

Tomorrow night I'll be posting my CVS run for the week and the last installment of the Grocery Savings series. Don't forget to enter September's giveaway at The Healthy Hearth. Entries are due by Tuesday at 10 pm.

9/7/08 coupon previews

2008-09-06T21:59:00.004-04:00

This Sunday's newspaper has four inserts - 3 Smart Source and 1 Valassis. Select areas will be receiving an Electrosol/Finish coupon for $2.25 as well. Here's what to expect for tomorrow:

SmartSource
$2 Airborne
$4 Bausch & Lomb Alaway Antihistamine Eye Drops
.50 Calgon
$2 Claritin
.75 Colgate Adult or Children's Toothpaste
$1/2 Cream of Wheat, Polaner or Maple Grove Product
$1.50 Depends
$1 Depends Guards for Men
$1 Dulcolax
.75 Duncan Hines Oven Ready brownies
$2.25 Electrosol/Finish Powerball Tabs or Gelpacs
$1 Equal
$1/24 cans Fancy Feast canned cat food
$1 Fancy Feast Gourmet
.75 French's Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions
$1 Good Earth Premium Coffee
$1/2 Johnson & Johnson First Aid products
$1/2 Kotex Light Days pantiliners
$1 Kotex pads
$1/2 Kotex Security tampons
.30 Land O' Lakes fresh buttery taste spread
$5 Lysol Neutra Air FreshMatic Starter Kit $5
.55 Murray Sugar Free cookies
$1 Neutrogena Eye or Lip makeup
$2 Neutrogena Face makeup
$1 Nut-Tastics, Guilt-Free Treats, Better-Than-Ears dog treats
$9.99 Precision Xtra Blood Glucose & Ketone Monitoring system
$10.00 Precision Xtra Blood Glucose & Ketone test strips
$5 Relacore
$2 Resolve
$2 Schick Disposable Razor
$3 Schick Quattro Titanium trimmer or Titanium refill
.50/2 Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick antiperspirant
.50 Spray 'n' Wash
G2GIF Weight Watchers bagged chocolates
$1 Zantac
$1.50 Zantac 75
$5 Zantrex-3

SmartSource #2
.50 Aquafresh premium toothpastes
$1 Aquafresh premium toothbrush
$1 Benadryl
$1 Benadryl-D or Benadryl Kapgels
$1/3 Birds Eye Steamfresh
.50 Breyers Swirled lowfat yogurt
.40/4 Campbells Chicken Noodle or Tomato condensed soups
.75/2 Campbells Chunky full loaded soups
.75/2 Campbells Chunky microwavable soup bowls
.40/3 Campbells Condensed soups (except chicken noodle, tomato, or creams)
.75/2 Campbells Select Harvest microwavable bowl soups
.75/3 Campbells Soup at Hand cups
.40/2 Campbells 25% less sodium chicken noodle or tomato condensed soups
$1/2 Eagle Poppers or Bursts
$1 EAS product
$1 Ensure (excludes singles)
$3/2 Glucerna (inc. singles)
.35 Hormel chunk meat
$1/2 Ice Breakers gum or mints
$1 L'oreal eye product
$2 Pert Plus
$1.50 Pert Plus (excludes trial size)
$1 Sur anti-perspirant
$2.50 Sure MAX clinical power anti-perspirant
.55 Tyson frozen breaded boxed product
$1 Tyson frozen breaded bagged product
.35 Viva paper towels
$1 ZonePerfect (single bar or muli-count box)

SmartSource #3
.40 Betty Crocker cookie mix
.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Roll-Ups or Fruit Stackerz
.50 Betty Crocker Warm Delights (bowls or mini-bowls)
.50 Chex Mix
.50 Chex Mix bars
.40 Fiber One boxed muffin mix
.50 Fiber One bars
$1/3 General Mills cereals
.40 Green Giant frozen bagged veggies
.50/2 Green Giant frozen boxed veggies
.25 Green Giant Healthy Weight/Healthy Vision frozen boxed veggies
.50 Green Giant Just For One veggies
$1.00 Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen veggies
.75/3 Hamburger/Tuna/Chicken Helper
.50 Nature Valley granola bars
.55 Pillsbury Big Deluxe Classics (special edition)
.25 Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls
.40 Pillsbury Frozen Grands (biscuits, cinnamon rolls, mini-cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls)
.40/2 Pillsbury Italian Meal breads
$1/2 Pillsbury refridgerated cookie dough
.40 Pillsbury refridgerated pizza crust
$1.00 Pillsbury Savorings flaky pastry bites
.30 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls or Grands Sweet Rolls
.35 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel pastries
.25 Progresso light soup
.50/2 Progresso soups
$1.00 Romanos Macaroni Grill restaurant favorites dinner kit
.35 Totinos rolls
$1 Wanchai Ferry dinner kit
$1 Yoplait Fiber One
.75/2 Yoplait Go-Gurt , Go-Gurt Fizzix or Yoplait Go-Gurt Smoothie
.50 Yoplait kids cup or yogurt drink
.40/6 Yoplait yogurt cups, original or light smoothies

Valassis/Red Plum
$1 Adidas anit-perspirant, deoderant, body spray or body wash
$1 Advil Cold and Sinus
$2 Alavert
$2 Alavert 12-ct citrus burst or bubble gum flavor
$1.00/2 Aunt Jemima mix or syrup
$2.00/2 Aussie (no trial size)
$2 Caltrate (any except 30 ct.)
.50 Captain Crunch cereal
$3 Centrum Cardio
$2 Clariol Natural Instincts
$1.00/2 Combos
$5 Flex-a-min Joint Care
$1.00/2 Formula 409
$2 Herbal Essences shampoo or conditioner
$2 Imodium Multi-Symptom relief (excluded trial size)
.50 Lever 2000 or Vaseline 4-bar-pk.
$1 Lever 2000 or Vaseline Men's Body and Face 6-bar-pack
$1 L'oreal Collegen or Wrinkle Decrease
$2 L'oreal makeup (powder, blush or concealer)
$1 Mega-T green tea weight loss
$1 Nature's Bounty vitamins
$1.50 Pedigree Good Bites treats
$1 Pedigree treats
.40 Pilsbury reduced sugar brownie mix, cake mix, or frosting
.50 Pine-Sol
$1.25 Promise SuperShots
B1G1F Purina Friskies Party Mix
$1.00/2 Quaker Grits
$1 Quaker High Fiber instant oatmeal
.55 Quaker Oatmeal to Go
$1/2 Quaker Life cereal
$5 Scotch-Brite Quick Floor sweeper
$1.50 Senokot S tablets
$1 Smart Balance butter blends
$1.00/2 Smart Balance buttery spreads
.50 Smart Balance popcorn or cooking oil
.35 Smuckers Sugar Free fruit spread
.55 Splenda
$1 StarKist Creations
$1.00/3 StarKist pouches
.50 Success rice
.55 Tennessee Pride
.55 Tennessee Pride fully cooked product
$2 Tylenol PM or Simply Sleep (except trial)
.55 Vasaline lotion (except renewal or glow)
$1.50 Vasaline Men's Lotion
$2 Whiskas muli-pack
B1G1 Whiskas Purrfectly pouch
.75/2 Zatarains rice mix, pasta mix, or ready-to-serve sides

Extra upromise savings with new e-coupons

2008-09-06T10:10:00.002-04:00

Upromise is a fantastic way to earn money toward's your children's college education. You can earn money through things you buy every day like groceries, gas, and even things at CVS!

Signing up is easy. Once you add the loyalty card numbers from your favorite participating stores, go here to use their new e-coupons that add even more money to your child's account. It's a great way to give a little boost to your savings.

We signed our daughter up in November of 2006 and already have a nice little chunk of change set aside to transfer to her 529 plan. Have any other tips or tricks? Email me at the_healthy_hearth@gmail.com.

Natural pest control: Ant hotel traps

2008-09-05T14:54:00.006-04:00

This morning I woke up to several hundred ants in our kitchen, happily munching on a leftover Elmo cracker from J's afternoon snack. After my initial "oh, gross!" reaction wore off, I reached for my tried-and-true ant bait recipe.

Leftover baby food jars work perfectly for this recipe. If you don't have any on hand, I've had success with small jelly jars, artichoke heart jars, and pesto jars. Anything that isn't more than three or four inches tall will work.

To make four ant hotels, you will need the following items:

4 screw top jars
1 cup borax (easily found in the laundry detergent/cleaner aisle at most grocery or big-box stores)
1 cup sugar
3 cups warm water
toilet paper
1 nail
a hammer

Mix all three ingredients in a large bowl until the sugar and borax dissolve. Place a loose wad of toilet paper in each jar. Pour the mixture into the jars until it is about an inch from the top. Screw the lids on the jars. With the hammer and nail, punch 5-10 holes in each lid.

Place the jars where you have the most ants, but keep them away from small children, as borax is toxic when ingested! To keep J out of the traps I set them as close to the ants as possible while still keeping them out of her reach. It took a little while longer to attract the ants, but this option is much friendlier than spraying pesticides and chemicals throughout the house.

Toddler Thursdays: Bubbles!

2008-09-04T22:15:00.003-04:00

My sweet, wiggly little 2 year old loves bubbles. In our house, it's always "chalks-and-bubbles" - the PB&J of outdoor summer play. After two or three months of buying bubble 'refills' every time we stopped at Target, I finally realized what a waste of money it was buying, well, soap and water!

This is a toddler-friendly recipe. To minimize meltdowns, power struggles, and general toddler stubbornness, I recommend prepping your recipe beforehand. I usually do this while J naps, setting all my ingredients out on the table so we can focus on the fun rather than hunting for the measuring cups.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of liquid soap
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Mix all three ingredients in a medium bowl, preferably plastic. To add to the fun, stir in a few drops of (natural) food coloring. Get creative with your bubble wands: straws, egg holders from Easter egg kits, bent (safe, blunt-ended) wires, pipe cleaners, bent wire hangers, etc.

If you do use food coloring, it can stain your skin and clothes, so make sure that you're prepared for a little extra clean-up post-bubbles. Above all, have fun!

Don't forget to enter this month's giveaway for a coupon organizer AND a Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet!

September giveaway @ The Healthy Hearth!

2008-09-02T23:25:00.011-04:00

Entries are now closed and the winners have been posted. Thanks so much for all your entries! What a wonderful turnout!

The Healthy Hearth has had quite the month! I'm in a giving kind of mood lately, so I'm ready to share the wealth!

Mambo Sprouts prints fabulous coupon booklets for natural and organic products. These are hard-to-find coupons, and every month I do a little happy dance in the middle of the store when they're available, much to the embarrassment of my family. Want your very own booklet? Here's your chance! (No dancing required this time.)

I have TWO Mambo Sprouts booklets and TWO coupon organizers to give away! Two lucky readers will receive a brand new coupon organizer and a Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet worth over $25! To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with your email address and/or post a link to this entry in your blog. If you post a link to The Healthy Hearth in your blog, make sure you leave a separate comment with a link to your blog's post so your second entry can be counted.

I'll pick two winners at random on Tuesday, September 9th at 10 pm, EST. The winners will be notified by email, so make sure you leave a correct address.

Good luck and as always, tell your friends!

Grocery store savings - Part 4: How to choose between organic vs. conventional produce

2008-09-02T22:16:00.008-04:00

Part 1 - Prepare and organize
Part 2 - Where to find coupons
Part 3 - How to get the most out of your coupons

As a family, we try our hardest to support locally grown, organic foods. This can be a bit of a strain on the budget but we believe that it's worth the extra cost to keep harmful pesticides out of our bodies.

My quest for a better way of living started when I was pregnant with my daughter, J. It was a scary thought to know that all those cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes were going to be 'nourishing' her yet-to-be-formed self. I slowly started switching out our old stand-bys for newer, more healthy foods. Here's where I began.

Foodnews.org has a great cheat sheet for what are affectionately known as "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Clean Dozen". This handy guide lists the top 12 foods to purchase organic and the top 12 'safe' foods to buy conventional. I printed a copy and taped it to the back of my main coupon organizer. It's a great reference to have at the store so you can focus on the healthiest foods for your family. This will give you the tools to pack the more organics, fresh produce into your budget because you can also pick and choose based on what foods are in season as well as overall costs.

Print your own guide and shop the produce section with confidence.

"The Dirty Dozen"

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes (imported)
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

CVS

2008-09-02T15:10:00.006-04:00

1 bag M&Ms peanut butter, 12.7 oz bag @ $1.99
1 Cascade 2in1 Action Pacs, 20 ct. @ $3.49
2 Neutrogena MoistureShine soothing lipsheers @ $5.99 each

Total before coupons = $17.46

-$1.00 off Cascade Action Pacs (from P&G mailer)
-$2/10 CVS store purchase (CRT)
-$3/2 Neutrogena makeup items
-$11.58 in ECBs from August's Children's Advil deal

Total after coupons = FREE!
*ECBs generated = $6.00

I knew I'd have .12 in overage when I got to the register, but I didn't want to spend extra money to save a measly .12. I'm thrifty, but not that thrifty!

*This transaction should have generated $6 in ECBs, but I had to call their toll free number (1-800-SHOP-CVS) to get this fixed. The ECBs should print out in store after Thursday. Make sure you watch your register prices - both lipsheers rang up incorrectly @ $8.99. The cashier I had today was rather rude, but I held my ground. I've heard that there are many ECB deals that aren't ringing up properly this week, so keep your eyes peeled!

This past weekend was my 20-something-eth birthday, so my husband and daughter kept me rather busy. I have lots of goodies to post, so make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth!

P.S. For my new readers - don't forget to enter The Healthy Hearth's September giveaway!

Toddler Thursdays: Free coloring pages from pbskids.org

2008-08-28T15:55:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is color. Buying coloring books can get expensive, so when I found out that you can print free coloring pages from pbskids.org, I was thrilled!

To minimize waste, set your printer on it's ink saving mode and print on both sides of the paper. This is a great way to keep little hands busy or buy a few minutes while cooking dinner. Make sure you click the links at the bottom for more coloring pages & activities!

My very opinionated two year old had a blast picking out pages to color after her nap. J's picks:

To print more coloring/activity pages from other PBS Kids shows (like Curious George, Clifford, and the Berenstain Bears), click here.

Have fun!

Grocery store savings - Part 3: How to get the most out of your coupons

2008-08-25T22:33:00.005-04:00

Grocery store savings - Part 1: Prepare and organize

Grocery store savings - Part 2: Where to find coupons

1. Always bring your copy of the current week's sales flyer with you when you shop. (Or snag a copy at the service desk.) Double check your ad to make sure that you are picking up the proper size, variety, flavor, etc. that is on sale so you won't have any surprises at the register.

2. Know your prices. Keep tabs on the highs and lows of the items you buy the most often so you can stock up during the "low" weeks. Jot prices down in a spiral notebook, keep detailed shopping records with shopping lists from week to week, or start a price book.

3. Learn how to shop with a stockpiling-mentality. Instead of waiting for a sale to come around and only buying 1 box of cereal during each sale, save up your coupons for the sale weeks and buy enough to last you until the next sale.

4. Resist the urge to use your coupons until you know you are getting the best price possible. Wait for the rock bottom prices to kick in and then use the coupons you have saved to get the lowest price possible.

5. Know your store's coupon policies. My local Kroger doubles coupons up to .50, which means I can stretch my money a little farther by saving my smaller coupons to use at Kroger. Also of note - some stores no longer accept internet printable coupons (IPs) or only accept IPs from certain websites. Check for couponing limits as well. Some stores require you to purchase more items than coupons - ie, to purchase 8 items, you cannot have more than 8 coupons.

7. Go to your store's website to see if they offer store-specific coupons or e-coupons. Target and Food Lion both have printable store coupons available on their websites. You can combine these store coupons with manufacturer's coupons and sale prices for the biggest savings!

8. Always double check your receipt before leaving the store. Many stores have a "scan right" policy that gives you at least a portion of your money back if an item you purchase does not scan correctly. Don't be afraid to ask about these policies if you've been overcharged!

9. Get to know your cashiers and store managers. Building a positive relationship with the stores you frequent will help you out in the long run. My favorite cashier at Kroger is always very helpful when I have trouble getting a coupon to ring up properly. It doesn't hurt that I share coupons with her from time to time. ;)

10. Above all, use common sense. If it seems too good to be true or you feel squeamish about doing it, don't.

Part four of the Grocery store savings series will be posted on Thursday night. This weekend I'll be starting another coupon giveaway, so make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth!

SheSpeaks promo - Food Network

2008-08-25T15:39:00.007-04:00

If you haven't checked out SheSpeaks, this is a great way to start!

What is SheSpeaks?

SheSpeaks is a national network of smart and insightful women who have a special opportunity to test products, services and content and influence them. SheSpeaks gives you a forum to tell companies what you need, what you want, what you like and what you don’t. You get to sample—and keep—free products, have your opinions heard, get the inside scoop on the products, services and content you are testing, connect with other women and receive special member offers! And the best part is there is no fee to join—membership is free!

What are the benefits of becoming a SheSpeaks member?

Get free products. You'll receive relevant products, services or content to test—and keep—absolutely free. A platform to sound off—give us your honest feedback, doubts and suggestions about each item you test and have your input go straight to the companies that make the product. Then you'll get the inside scoop on how you've impacted the product.

Connect with other women. Through the discussion boards, you will be able to talk, share your thoughts and meet like-minded members.

Special offers. Periodically you will be given the opportunity to pass along special offers to your chosen friends—and of course enjoy them yourself.

Shespeaks promises you will never be asked to pay a fee or buy anything for being a member of SheSpeaks. And we will never sell or share your personal information.

If you haven't already joined SheSpeaks, here is a great reason to sign up today!

Williams Sonoma - Calphalon saute pan

2008-08-24T23:48:00.003-04:00

I love cooking. A whole lot. So when we went to the mall tonight as a family, my dear, sweet, loving husband nudged me into Williams Sonoma so he could get some birthday shopping done. Who am I to deny him a wish like that?

I circled the store like I always do, drooling and fantasizing about all the butter dishes and bread machines and how shiny, expensive, and verboten this store is to both our wallets and our waistlines. Then it hit me. The "sale" table.

It was full. Of really shiny, heavy things. Things that were usually in the "we do not go over to that side because that is a month's rent" category.

My husband said it was like watching a five year old run after an ice cream truck.There it was, taunting me with it's expensively heavy goodness. I flipped up the lid and saw $199.99. Holy unattainable item, batman! Then! Underneath? "$49.99".

Happy early birthday to me, indeed!

CVS - ($27.52 for $1.52 OOP)

2008-08-23T22:01:00.007-04:00

1 Cristophe color shield spray @ $9.99
1 Cristophe color shield spray @ $4.99 (B1G1 50% off)
2 Kotex lightdays 16 count @ $1.49
2 Gold Peak teas @ $1.69
1 CVS 3 oz. hand sanitizer @ $3.49 (this was supposed to be $2.99, but I didn't bother with a refund due to my total!)
1 CVS 8 oz. hand sanitizer @ $1.69
1 American Greetings card @ $2.69

Total before coupons = $27.52

-$1.00 Kotex (from All You Magazine)
-$1.00 Kotex (from All You Magazine)
-$1.00/any 2 Gold Peak teas (tear pad from a Shell station)
-$2.00 off any CVS brand skincare
-$3.00 off any full sized Cristophe brand item(CRT)
-$3/15 CVS store coupon (emailed to me on Friday)
-$5.00 off peelie from the Cristophe color shield bottle
-$5.00 off peelie from the Cristophe color shield bottle
-$5.00 ECB from last week's Banana Boat purchase

Total after coupons = $1.52
ECBs earned = $1.49 (Kotex), $1.00 (Gold Peak teas)

I should have earned another $1.00 in ECBs for purchasing 2 CVS brand hand sanitizers, but I think I picked the only one in the store (the smaller size) that wasn't included in that promo! I'll pick up another hand sanitizer and some more of the Kotex for our donation box later this week and see if it generates. I didn't roll over the $5.00 in ECBs that I had at the beginning of the week, but I still have $11.58 left over from the August Children's Advil promo.

Part 3 of the Grocery Store Savings series is set for Monday afternoon. We had a family emergency and I haven't had the time to finish it yet. Vote on this week's poll and make sure to bookmark The Healthy Hearth!

A small trip to Kroger

2008-08-22T21:53:00.004-04:00

1 Yo Plus Yoplait Yogurt 4-pack @ $2.49
1 Oikos Greek Organic Yogurt @ $1.99
1 Baked crostini @ $1.49 (marked down from $2.99)
1 Sara Lee whole wheat bread @ $1.99
1 Nature's Valley variety 12 pack snack bars @ $2.73
1 Kroger brand white vinegar @ .77
3 Cheerios ( oz.) @ $2.00

Total before coupons = $17.46

- .60 Nature Valley (shortcuts e-coupon)
- .55 Cheerios (shortcuts e-coupon)
- $1.00 Yo Plus (shortcuts e-coupon)
- $1.00 x 3 Cheerios (Cheerios Challenge email)
- $1.00 Yo Plus (IP)
- .60 Nature Valley (IP)
- $1.00 Oikos (Sprouts booklet)

Total after coupons = $9.71, saved 56%

A short trip, but well worth the effort. Part 3 of the Grocery Savings Series is coming up shortly - stay tuned!

More printable coupons

2008-08-21T14:05:00.006-04:00

Here are a few of the coupons I'll be using while grocery shopping tomorrow:

Carbs, anyone? ;)

Grocery store savings - Part 2: Where to find coupons

2008-08-20T22:54:00.002-04:00

Part 1: Prepare and organize

Some of my favorite sites for printable coupons (otherwise known as IPs - internet printables):

boodle.com
eversave.com
eatbetteramerica.com
smartsource.com
coolsavings.com
mommysavesbig
couponbug.com
coupons.com - Use the button to your right!

I always purchase at least one copy of the Sunday paper. (And yes, it all is recycled when we're done!) Taylortown lets you preview the coupons that will be in next Sunday's paper. I usually check Taylortown out on Saturday night to figure out how many copies of the paper I am going to buy. Remember - most major holiday weekends (ie, Labor Day and Christmas) do not include coupons in the Sunday paper.

Another great way to add to your coupon stash is asking friends, family, and neighbors to save their inserts for you. My mom clips out the coupons she needs and passes the rest on to me. My mother in law (who lives five hours away!) stacks all of her inserts together and mails them to me every few weeks. I have a few friends that live in apartment complexes with recycling bins and have found piles of inserts free for the taking.

Many retailers are starting to use paperless coupons that you can add to your store rewards card. At Kroger (our local grocery store of choice) you can combine three separate programs (on top of manufactures coupons and sale prices!) to maximize your savings. Proctor and Gamble and AOL's Shortcuts are two programs that I use on a regular basis. Just a warning: most of these e-coupon sites will only let you load a limited number of coupons to your card, so choose carefully. The ones you add will be on your card until they are used or expire, which limits the amount of new coupons you can put on your card. Ask your store's customer service desk or visit their website to find out what other kind of programs they offer.

On Friday, Part 3 in the Grocery Store Savings series will discuss how to get the most out of the coupons you collect. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll to choose an upcoming topic on The Healthy Hearth!

CVS weekly shopping

2008-08-20T15:22:00.001-04:00

Transaction #1

1 box of Bandaid bandages - Comfort, 40 count @ $3.29
1 box of Bandaid bandages - Variety, 30 count @ $3.99
1 box of Bandaid bandages - Ultra, 20 count @ $4.49

Total before coupons = $11.77

- .50 manufacturer coupon
- .50 manufacturer coupon
- $2/10 CVS store coupon
- 5 ECBs from last week's purchases

Total after coupons = $3.77
Generates 5 ECBs

Transaction #2

1 9" Plastic Ball (30% off) @ $1.18
1 CVS brand hand sanitizer, 6 oz. @ $1.99
1 Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen, 8 oz. @ $7.49

Total before coupons = $10.66

-$2 CVS store brand skincare coupon
-$2/10 CVS store coupon
-5 ECBs from transaction #1

Total after coupons = $1.66
Generates 5 ECBs

I only bought what we needed this week: bandaids for J (who keeps scratching holes in her legs from old mosquito bites), sunscreen for our weekend trips, a ball for J to replace the one our neighbor's dog punctured, and hand sanitizer for J (who is potty training!). I spent a little more out of pocket that I would have liked but am pleased that I bought things we really needed at the house for so little.

All in all, I rolled over the same 5 ECBs for $5.43!

How was your trip to CVS this week?

Part 2 of the Grocery Store Savings series will be posted tonight. It's full of links for free IP coupons and lots of other resources to help lower your grocery bill. Make sure you bookmark The Healthy Hearth!

And the winner is...

2008-08-18T22:40:00.003-04:00

Yourcouponbuddy!

Yourcouponbuddy has won a package of coupons worth over $50! Thanks to everyone who entered - it was fun to read all the comments about why people choose to coupon.

The Healthy Hearth's next contest begins on Friday, so be sure to bookmark this site!

Homemade cleaners: soft scrub & toilet bowl cleaner recipes

2008-08-16T15:25:00.007-04:00

Homemade cleaners are a great way to save a little money and keep your family healthy. I've never felt comfortable having a cabinet full of unpronounceable, toxic chemicals in the house with a curious toddler. If you're new to green cleaning, start small. Switch out one cleaner at a time. As you run out of an old, conventional cleaner, research a new way to replace it with an environmentally friendly one. Most homemade cleaners are made up of ingredients that you already have in your home, so finding the resources to make them is as simple as digging in your pantry.

These two recipes are my favorite cleaners to use in the bathroom. The soft scrub is great for removing soap scum and hard water stains and the toilet bowl cleaner keeps my daughter amused with it's middle-school-science-fair properties. Try them - you won't be disappointed!

Basic Soft Scrub

1/4 cup baking soda
enough liquid soap or detergent to make a frosting-like paste
(optional) 2-4 drops of a fragrant essential oil such as lavender

Measure out the baking soda into a small bowl. Slowly pour in the liquid soap while stirring the mixture. If you're using essential oils, add them while stirring. The paste should be creamy and frosting-like in consistency.

Scoop the mixture out onto a sponge, scrub the surface, and rinse well.

For the liquid soap/detergent, I most often use Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap. It's easily found at health food stores and I've even spotted it in the organic/natural section of a few local Krogers. Dishwashing liquid and liquid all-purpose detergents like Country Save also work well. I generally use whatever I have on hand. Once you've used the recipe a few times, you'll be able to eyeball the amounts. It will require some extra rinsing, being a soap-based cleaner, but is well worth the extra water used.

Toilet Bowl Fizzing Cleaner

About 3/4 cup baking soda and white distilled vinegar

Pour the baking soda directly into the toilet bowl. Pour in vinegar. Let sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a toilet bowl brush. Flush.

My daughter loves the big fizzing sound that comes after I pour in the vinegar. I usually pour the ingredients into my toilet and scrub the tub while it sits so it has a chance to loosen the grime before I scrub it out. The vinegar is a natural disinfectant and the baking soda not only scrubs but helps to eliminate any lingering odors.

What homemade cleaners do you use in your home?

The Friday Five Feature: The Consumerist

2008-08-15T22:49:00.004-04:00

I am in love with the Consumerist. Long-term-relationship love, even. Where else are you going to find out about bizzaro corporate scams on buy-2-and-save prices for deodorant all the while learning all the right things to say when talking to a customer service rep?

We meant to do massive shopping today, but were thwarted by a defiant two year old. I'm hoping for a second chance tomorrow. Our local CVS stores have switched over to a Friday-Thursday sales rotation and I'm having to rework my transactions. I haven't decided if this is a good thing or a Very Bad Thing. On one hand, I'll be able to shop on the day my husband gets paid and won't have to drag my family to CVS after Mass on Sundays. On the other hand, not having the Sunday coupons with me when I shop on Fridays means a second trip during the early part of the week is somewhat inevitable.

Tomorrow brings a recipe for a homemade soft scrub and a fun, easy toilet bowl cleaner. Happy weekend!

Grocery store savings - Part 1: Prepare and organize

2008-08-14T23:13:00.010-04:00

Grocery shopping used to be something that I filled me with dread. Trying to manage my list, a bulging file of coupons, a very strict budget, and a likes-to-grab-things-encased-in-glass toddler left me cursing and dripping with sweat by aisle five. Now that I've got a 'system', I actually enjoy grocery shopping. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out what worked but it was well worth the hassle! By sharing some of these ideas here I hope to alleviate at least some of the stress that comes with shopping.

1. Know what you need to buy. We have a small dry erase board on our fridge so when someone is scraping the bottom of the peanut butter jar, they can add it to the list. The night before going to the store, I write down all the items on the list. This eliminates the "Do we have it at home already?" game while at the store. This only works if you enforce the household rule, however. My husband caught on quickly after having to eat a peanut-butter-less PB&J!

2. Keep your coupons and lists in order. I have two separate files for my coupons. The first one is divided up by category (baking supplies, canned goods, etc). The second, smaller file is categorized by the names of the six stores I shop at most often (Kroger, CVS, Target). Whenever I get new coupons I clip them and file them by category in the first file. When it's time to go shopping, I pull out my labeled envelopes from file #2 and put the coupons for each store in their corresponding envelope. That way when I enter the store all I need (for the most part) is my envelope and my list. I tuck the larger coupon file into my purse for unadvertised sales and clearance finds. This way I don't have to stop in the middle of each aisle to dig for a five month old coupon.

3. Use the internet to find the best deals on what you need. A quick google search for "coupon database" will give you a decent idea of what coupons to match with current sales. My favorite (free!) database is couponmom.com's grocery coupon database. Once you sign up, you'll have access to the database as well as several great resources for printable coupons. I spend about thirty minutes each week printing out new coupons. I often find printable coupons that end up being more valuable than the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper.

(Next week I'll be writing a separate post on my favorite IP coupon websites, so make sure you don't miss it!)

4. Complete your shopping list by noting what coupons you will be using. WayMore4WayLess has a fantastic pre-made shopping list that has (organized!) room to write down each store, quantity, item, price, coupon, and any notes you need to include all in one page! Go here to grab a copy and make sure to leave a comment. It's been a huge time saver - having everything I need all on one page makes keeping track of my spending a lot easier! I carry a highlighter with me and highlight each item and coupon as I shop so I can watch my totals at the register. It makes going over my receipts a lot easier because I can track what each item should ring up at and match it to the appropriate coupon to make sure everything was rung properly. Who doesn't love a little help in that department?

5. Hang your reusable shopping bags on the front door so you don't forget to take them with you! Plastic shopping bags are not only annoying, they're bad for the environment. Cloth bags hold more, are sturdier, and can be used for more than just transporting groceries. If you don't already have a stash of bags, start out by buying one each time you shop. Make sure you leave some kind of identifying mark on your bag! I've been resold one of my own grocery bags before, so now all of my bags either have our last name written on them in permanent marker or have a ribbon tied to the handle. You'll thank me later. ;)

Part 2 is coming up on Saturday. (I know, I know. The excitement - it kills!) Don't forget to enter this week's contest to win over fifty dollars in coupons!

Have any tips or suggestions to add? Comments are always welcome and more than appreciated.

- Leslie
The Healthy Hearth

Enter for a chance to win a package of coupons worth over $50!

2008-08-11T21:24:00.005-04:00

I'm changing just about everything in our house - from the way we shop to the way we eat. I'm hoping that by reading this blog, you'll be inspired to change, too. After a long talk with my husband last week, I decided on the name 'The Healthy Hearth' because I feel that it embodies what our family is about - being healthy in every aspect of life.

To help celebrate the changes we're making in our family, I'm giving away a package of coupons worth over fifty dollars!

Here are some of the included coupons:

$1.00 off 1 dozen Organic Valley eggs
$1.00 off any 2 Back to Nature cookies
$1.00 off any 2 Gold Peak teas
$1.00 off any 2 Earth's Best Sesame Street frozen foods
$1.50 off any Organic EnviroKidz EnviroPakz cereal
$1.00 off any 2 Mott's juices
$3.00 off any Hyland's earache drops
over $6.00 in diaper coupons
$3/2 Huggies Cleanteam wipes coupon
Plus FIVE coupons for free-when-you-buy coupons, including several coupons that match up with CVS/grocery promotions that will be coming in the next two weeks!

You can enter to win three different ways. You can choose one or increase your chances of winning by doing all three! Here's how to enter:

1. Post a comment about something positive you've done for yourself or your family by couponing. Have you paid down debt? Splurged on new shoes? Started a retirement account? Are you new to couponing? What's your motivation? Share your experiences!

2. Write about this giveaway in your blog. Let people know about the contest and why you're entering. Leave a comment with the link to your post along with your name and email address.

3. Tweet, tweet! Link to this entry in twitter and link to your tweet in a comment. Don't have a twitter account? Get on it! It's a fun, easy way to keep in touch with your friends. Think of it as blogging-lite. ;) Don't forget to comment with your name and email address so I can see your tweet!

Again, make sure to leave your name and email at the end of each comment so I can contact the winner! Each entry into the contest will need a separate comment. If you do all three, you should have three separate comments.

I'll pick an entry at random at 8 pm on August 18th. The winner will be notified via email.

Good luck!

Shopping at CVS - $27.95 for only $3.04 out of pocket!

2008-08-11T14:59:00.007-04:00

I made a quick trip to CVS today to get some of this week's deals before sending my poor husband off to work. Here's what I bought...

Transaction #1
1 12 count Alavert Citrus Meltaway Allergy tabs @ 5.99 (this package included an extra six tabs for free!)
1 CVS brand aloe vera gel -@ (original price) $1.99
1 Skin Effects foaming cleanser @ $6.99
2 Johnson & Johnson buddy soaps @ .99/each

Total before coupons = $16.95

-$1.00 off any J&J baby product
-$1.00 off any J&J baby product
-$2.00 any CVS brand sunblock/suncare item (no coupon needed - advertised sale, making the aloe vera gel FREE!)
-$2.00 Skin Effects store coupon
-$2/10 CVS store coupon
-$4.00 Alavert IP coupon
- 3.00 ECBs (from last week's Gillette Fusion razor purchase)

Total after coupons = $1.95
Generated 8.00 ECBs (5.00 from the Skin Effects and 3.00 from the Alavert), making this a great money making transaction!

Transaction #2

M&M milk chocolate candy (14 oz) @ $2.00
M&M peanut chocolate candy (14 oz) @ $2.00
M&M peanut butter chocolate candy (12 oz) @ $2.00
Willy Wonka Mix-Ups (2 lbs.) @ $5.00

Total before coupons = $11.00

-$2/10 CVS store coupon
- 3.00 ECBs (from transaction #1's Skin Effects purchase)
- 5.00 ECBs (from transaction #1's Alavert purchase)

Total after coupons = $1.09
Generates 5.00 ECBs

I bought items totaling $27.95 for only $3.04! I'll be going back later this week to make use of the CVS brand soap sales (B1G1 half off) and some of the Colgate CRT coupons I've gotten this week. I still have almost 12.00 in ECBs from the August Children's Advil deal plus the 5.00 in ECBs I earned today. All in all, not a bad trip!

Don't forget to enter this week's coupon giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a package of $50 in coupons. Good luck!

2008-08-10T00:04:00.005-04:00

Today's paper has four coupon inserts! The last time that happened was February, so this is definitely a week to stock up.

Monday afternoon I'll be posting the details of my first contest. The winner will receive a package of coupons worth over fifty dollars, including one of the FWYB coupons I referenced in yesterday's Wal-Mart post! The contest ends on August 18th at 8 pm, so make sure you get your entries in early.

I'm off to enjoy a ridiculously indulgent bowl of (free!) ice cream with John. Happy weekending and don't forget to buy an extra copy of the paper!

In & out of Wal-Mart in 15 minutes: 20 items for 12 dollars

2008-08-08T22:45:00.006-04:00

Here's how!

1 gallon of 2% milk @ $3.70
2 1 lb. bags of Earthbound Farms organic carrots @ .88/each
1 6 pack of Fiber One yogurt
3 2 pocket folders @ .15/each
1 All You magazine (my 2nd this month) @ $1.77
1 box of Orville Redenbacher natural popcorn cakes
6 packets of Kool-Aid (for playdough, not drinking!) @ .20/each
2 packages of Huggie's Cleanteam wipes @ 1.64/each
1 container of Crystal Light @ $2.98/each
1 2 lb. box of whole wheat pasta @ .82
1 family sized box of Wheat Thins @ $3.48

Total before coupons: $24.24

- $3.48 Kraft FWYB* coupon from All You magazine (free Wheat Thins)
- $1/2 Earthbound organics from the company's website (no longer available)
- $1 Orville Redenbacher natural popcorn cakes from All You magazine
- $2.98 Kraft FWYB* coupon from All You magazine (free Crystal Light)
- $3/2 Huggies Cleanteam products from a PG insert in July
- $1.00 Fiber One yogurt from an in-store display

Total after coupons: $11.78

* The FWYB (free when you buy) coupons are found on page 159 in the August edition of All You magazine, which is found only at Wal-Mart. The two coupons I used (and there are five altogether) more than paid for the magazine. The coupons require the purchase of three Kraft products, and the cheapest qualifying product is Kool-Aid. If you don't drink it, it's great for homemade playdough, dying wool yarn, and lots of other fun projects. At the very least you can donate it to a local charity.

All in all, we saved over 50% from only six coupons!

Vote on a topic for an upcoming post!

2008-08-07T23:30:00.004-04:00

I've been in the blogging realm for almost eight years now. I created my first blog a few weeks before starting college at the age of 19. It was an instant, easy way to keep tabs on my friends. I wrote about my boyfriend, how much I couldn't stand Calculus (sorry, Professor Dalton!), and how hard it was to juggle school, work, and a bulging social calendar. Oh, the things I wish I could tell my nineteen-year-old self!

When I look back on all the posts I made as a 20-something college student, one thing jumps out at me the most: progress! As emotionally traumatic as it may be to have all my mistakes (and triumphs) in front of me spelled out in black and white, it's what life is all about. I love that I have a written record of the night I met my husband. Reading all the little hormonal outbursts I had while newly pregnant with our daughter? Amusing and a little on the neurotic side. I have made a surprising number of friends from writing about my life, and it's a tradition that I hope to carry on here.

I put up my first poll tonight. I'd like imput on what kind of material you'd like to see here in the future. If you have something you'd like addressed or answered in the coming weeks, leave a comment and let me know.

Be on the lookout - big changes are coming here. It's something you won't want to miss!

2008-08-06T22:35:00.005-04:00

Things have been rough for a few days here due to JP having his hours cut at work. One of his paychecks was down by almost a quarter of what it usually is! Thanks to some careful planning, we were still able to come out ahead. This is a miracle for us. In the past that kind of cut would have spelled (temporary) financial panic. Sadly, we are a stuck in a holding pattern of living paycheck to paycheck. Part of the bigger picture for us is breaking free of that lifestyle and building up a modest emergency fund for instances just like this. We dipped into our freezer and pantry to make up the loss in groceries and stayed home more than usual. It was a big lesson to the three of us - less can be more if you're willing to work hard enough for it!

We made a quick trip to CVS today to take advantage of the B1G1 Orajel toddler training toothpaste and a new razor for JP. Here are the totals from my two transactions.

1 Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid @ .88*
1 Gillette Fusion Razor @ $9.99

-$2/$10 CVS store coupon
-$4 coupon from 8/31 PG insert

Recieved 3 ECBs for the Fusion razor

I used 4 ECBs and paid $1.32 OOP. I don't usually buy petroleum based products if I can avoid it, hence not having the .55 coupons from this Sunday's insert. I needed a filler item and this is what I grabbed.

2 Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquids @ .88
1 Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste @ $3.99
1 Orajel Toddler Toothpaste FREE (B1G1)
1 CVS brand foaming hand soap @ $1.99
1 CVS brand sunscreen @ $4.99

-.55 Training Toothpaste coupon (found inside toothpaste box)
-$1.00 CVS brand suncare
-$2.00 CVS brand skincare
-$2/$10 CVS store coupon

I used 6 ECBs and paid $1.34 OOP. Again, the Dawn I purchased wasn't planned - I'll send those to along to someone else who can use them. I also didn't get a great deal on the sunscreen, but we're planning a lot of outdoor trips this weekend and all three tubes we had at the beginning of the summer are already gone!

Tomorrow we'll be going grocery shopping with a strict budget of $20. That's a first for us - I love grocery shopping! When we first had J, our 'budget' was usually $120-150 a week! For two people! Oh, the things you learn as you get older!

Happy shopping, all!

Free prints at CVS for new and existing customers

2008-07-22T14:47:00.009-04:00

If you're anything like me, keeping up with printing out all the pictures you've taken can be a pain. I thumbed through our digital albums last night and realized that we have an entire year of unprinted pictures! After searching online I found an easy way to score 50 free prints at CVS.

For new customers...

Go to http://cvs.pnimedia.com/account/register.aspx and enter in your info AND your ExtraCare card number. (If you don't enter your card number, you'll only get 30 free prints).
Wait for the confirmation email. This took about two hours for me, so make sure to check your spam folder frequently.
Click the link in your confirmation email and the prints will be credited to your account.

If you already have a photocenter account, you can still use the code 50get20 at checkout to get 20 free 4"x 6" prints for every 50 you upload! This works for both new and existing customers. You'll need to upload 50 prints before applying the code. I think the limit on this is 80 free prints, so you'd need to upload 200 prints to max out the offer.

It'll be nice to clear out some digital clutter. Happy printing!

Edit: It appears that the prints are free, but there is a $1.49 fee for orders under $5 (including "free" orders). To avoid this you'll need to upload enough photos to avoid having to pay the fee. (You could ask the store to waive the charge, though.) In-store pick up is free but if you chose to have the photos shipped, you'll have to pay shipping as well. Sorry, guys!

2008-07-22T00:03:00.004-04:00

I made a brief trip to CVS on Saturday to sneak in a photobook before the ECB deal went off, but they were out of the size of books that I ordered. I made use of the last day of the 3/15 coupon that's been floating around on Sunday. I only earned one ECB, but was able to get almost thrity dollars of things we've need around the house for six dollars out of pocket.

While printing out my weekly roundup of coupons today I came found this...

http://www.couponsinc.com/corp/source/cp_clientlist.asp

It's a nice little list of coupons that should help pad out any beginner's stash. Much to my dismay, I realized I already had ninety percent of the useful coupons listed here, but maybe it'll help out someone else. ;)

For tomorrow - Wal-Mart to stock up on pantry staples, CVS to pick up the photobook, and the dreaded post office. It's going to be a long week!

CVS shopping for the week

2008-07-14T00:25:00.004-04:00

I'm really trying to stick to only buying what we need or can use in the forseeable future while shopping at CVS. For the first time, I did two separate transactions.

Here's the first...

Sally Hansen nail polish @ $0.99 x 2
CVS makeup removing towelettes @ 2.99 x 2
CVS exfoiliating makeup removing towelettes @ 3.49 x 2 (these were supposed to be $2.99 - I let it go because we needed to get J home)
Clorox extra care bleach @ $1.72 (this rang up a dollar less than it was on the shelf - clearanced)

I used the following coupons and ECBs...

4 $2.00 any CVS brand beauty supplies
1 $3/2 Sally Hansen nail supplies (this coupon was adjusted down the the actual price - $1.98)
1 $3/15 CVS purchase
1 ECB (from last week's Pringles deal)
2 ECB (can't remember what this one was for)

I paid $3.11 OOP. We don't use bleach, but I needed it for some of JP's work clothes and it was a nice way to reach my fifteen dollar limit for my $3/15 coupon.

Second transaction...

This got a little confusing. The cashier rang up the Sally Hansen coupon incorrectly, and I'm not sure what happened after that.

Neutrogena healthy volume mascara @ $5.99 x 2
Sally Hansen nailpolish @ $0.99 x 2
Twizzlers @ 2.49, BOGO

I used the following coupons and ECBs (I think!)...

.30 off for the missed attempt at the Sally Hansen coupon
$1.68 to adjust to the proper total
$3/15 CVS purchase
5 ECB (from last week's Soliel razor purchase)
3 ECB I think is from the previous transaction's ECBs from the makeup removing towelettes

This trip generated 8 ECBs (4 per mascara) with a total of 3.93 spent OOP. The twizzlers were added to hit the 15 dollar total. My husband was very appreciative!

This week will be a bit tight for us, but I'm hoping to make it back to CVS on Friday to get two of the photobooks. Not only are they great moneymakers, we have a ton of pictures that need developing!

CVS ($6.20 OOP earning 6 dollars in ECBs)

2008-07-12T22:55:00.003-04:00

I made a second trip to CVS today because I was out of razors. I've been lax in collecting coupons lately because we've been traveling more than usual, so I only had one coupon for my transaction. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, though.

3 x Pringles (regular price $1.79, on sale 2/$1) = $3.00
2 x Bic Soleil razor cartridges = $13.98

Total cost = $16.98

.30/3 cans of Pringles coupon
3/15 CVS coupon

ECBs used = $1.00, $0.99, $1.00, $5.00

OOP total = $6.20

ECBs earned = 6.00

Not so bad for my second trip this week!

One step at a time

2008-07-11T22:15:00.001-04:00

Shortly after our daughter was born in March of 2006, I realized that in order for me to remain a stay at home mom, I needed a better way of managing our family's finances. I started out on my own - clipping coupons here and there, watching sales at the only grocery store in town, and making more meals at home. Now that we have turned our focus to paying down debt and saving for a house of our own, I've decided to document the steps we're taking towards financial freedom.

Our goals for the remainder of 2008 are:

Start an emergency fund of $1000.
Have a down payment for a new-to-us car by the fall of next year.
Start a separate savings account for our First Home Fund.
Come up with a realistic debt-payment plan and begin the process of becoming debt free.

I think we finally have the drive to do whatever it takes to put our family where we need to be - in our own home without the burden of excessive debt!

Here's to the future!