Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Dillon's Deals 5/25-5/31



I was amazed to see that Frugal Fritzie actually had the Dillon's matchups posted today!  Thanks so much for doing this, Fritzie and please know that we're praying for you all!


Note: I just wanted to say that it feels very surreal doing the Dillons ad this week when we here in Joplin, Missouri no longer have a Dillons after the tornado. For those of you in Joplin, I am in contact with Dillons corporate and I will let you know when I hear any updates on when they may perhaps rebuild. I hope that everyone made it out of the store ok during the tornado and if anybody that was a Dillons employee at the Joplin store or or if anybody knows anyone who was, I would love to know if all the employees are ok. My Joplin store always had the nicest staff & a lot of them had worked there long-term, my heart goes out to each & every one of them.
Another Note: In all my coupon match-up posts from now on, you’ll see be seeing{Donate} next to select items. These will be items that would be great to donate to those in need and that can be purchased cheap or free after coupons.
MEAT/POULTRY/SEAFOOD
Johnsonville Brats or Italian Sausage (19.76 oz.) - $3.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon HERE
Final Cost $2.99
Bar-S Franks (12 oz.) - $0.88
Buy 2, Use $1.00/2 Bar-S Franks or Bologna coupon from the 5/22 RP insert
Final Cost $0.38 ea.
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs (16 oz.) - $1.79
Buy 2, Use $1.00/2 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, any coupon form the 5/15 SS insert
Final Cost $1.29 ea.
Farmland Sliced Ham or Turkey (14-16 oz.) - $3.99
Use $0.75/1 Farmland Deli Style Lunch Meats, Special Select Sliced Meats, Ham Steaks or Deli, any one package coupon form the 4/17 SS insert (doubles to $1.00)
Final Cost $2.99
PRODUCE
Driscoll’s Red Ripe Strawberries (16 oz.) - $2.50
Use $0.50/1 coupon from HERE
DAIRY/REFRIGERATED PRODUCTS
Turkey Hill Tea (Half Gallon) - $1.25
Buy 2, Use $1.00/2 Turkey Hill Drinks half gallon or larger coupon from the 5/15 RP insert
Final Cost $0.75 ea.
Simply Juice (12-13.5 oz.) - $1.00
Note: There’s a $0.50/1 coupon from the Walgreens Diabetes & You Magazine (look for in the pharmacy dept. at Walgreens) (Note: this one says “Redeemable at Walgreens” but it is a manufacturer’s coupon), makes it FREE!
Coffee-mate Creamer (32 oz.) - $2.99
Use $0.75/1 coupon from HERE (doubles to $1.00)
Or Use $0.50/1 on Facebook HERE
Final Cost $1.99
BEVERAGE
Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade (32 oz.) - $1.25
Use $0.75/1 Santa Cruz any coupon from HERE (doubles to $1.00)
Final Cost $0.25 {Donate}
Ocean Spray Juice (64 oz.) - $2.49
Use $0.55/1 Ocean Spray Blueberry Juice Drink, any coupon from the 5/15 RP insert (doubles to $1.00)
Final Cost $1.49
Coca-Cola, 7UP or Pepsi products (12 pk./12 oz. cans, 6 pk./24 oz. bottles or 8 pk./12 oz. bottles) - $2.50 ea.*Wyb 4
Pepsi Products (2 Liter Bottles) - $0.84*Buy 4 @ $1.25 ea., Get 2 FREE (6 for $0.84 ea.)
FROZEN FOODS
Frozen Mega Event Sale This Week: Purchase 10 Participating items with your Shopper’s Card in a single transaction and save $5.00 instantly at checkout.
Green Giant Boxed Frozen Vegetables (7-10 oz.) - $0.99*Wyb 10 Participating items $1.49-$0.50
Use $0.60/3 Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables, any coupon from the 4/17 SS insert (doubles to $1.00)
Final Cost $0.67 ea.
Lean Cuisine Cafe Casual or Stouffer’s Satisfying Servings Entree (8-21 oz.) - $1.99*Wyb 10 Participating items $1.99-$0.50
Use $1.00/3 Lean Cuisine, 5-15 3/8 Oz., Any coupon from All You Magazine, April issue
Or Use $1.00/4 Lean Cuisine Varieties, Any coupon from the 5/1 SS insert
Final Cost $1.66-$1.74 ea.
DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen Stuffed Crust Pizza, Ultimate or Pizza Plus (19.7-36.8 oz.) - $4.99*Wyb 10 Participating items $5.49-$0.50
Use $1.25/1 California Pizza Kitchen Pizza & Appetizer, Any coupon from the 5/1 SS insert (note: I also saw $1.25/1 blinkies at my local Dillons)
Final Cost $3.74
New York Garlic Bread or Sister Schubert’s Rolls (7.8-15 oz.) - $1.79*Wyb 10 Participating items $2.29-$0.50
Use $0.50/1 New York Frozen Product, any coupon from the 3/6 SS insert or All You Magazine, May issue (doubles) (Watch for $0.50/1 blinkies too)
Or Use $1.00/1 Sister Schubert’s Products, Any coupon from the 4/17 SS insert
Or Use $0.75/1 Sister Schubert’s coupon from HERE (doubles to $1.00)
Final Cost $0.79
M&M, Dove or Weight Watchers Frozen Treats (3-14 ct.) - $2.99*Wyb 10 Participating items $3.49-$0.50
Use $1.00/1 Dovebar Multi-Pack, Dove Miniatures or Dove Ice Cream 8.67 oz. or larger coupon from the 5/1 RP insert
Or Use $1.00/1 off one Weight Watchers Frozen Novelty eCoupon from Upromise (log-in or register to access)
Final Cost $1.99
Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes (19-32 oz.) - $2.49*Wyb 10 Participating items $2.99-$0.50
Use $1.00/1 Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries, any bag coupon from the 5/22 SS insert
Final Cost $1.99
SNACK/BAKING/SEASONING
Pepperidge Farm Cookies (5-8.6 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Pepperidge Farm Milano Melts Cookies coupon from the 5/15 SS insert or from HERE
Or Use $0.50/1 Pepperidge Farm Cookies, any coupon from the 5/15 SS insert (some areas received $1.00/2 coupon)
Final Cost $0.99-$1.49 ea.
Nabisco Snack Crackers (5.5-10 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Nabisco Wheat Thins Crunch Stix coupon from HERE
Final Cost $0.99
Lay’s Potato Chips (10-10.5 oz.) or Lay’s Kettle Chips (8.5 oz.) - $1.99
Note: Some Dillons accept expired coupons up to 2 weeks after the expiration date. If yours is one of them, you can do the following scenario:
Buy 2 Lay’s Kettle Chips & 2 Sierra Mist Natural 2-Liters
Use $2.00/2 Lay’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, SunChips MultiGrain Snacks or Rold Gold Pretzels, any 8.5oz or larger coupon from the 5/1 “Moments of Savings” Pepsico 5/1 special insert
AND Use 2 Sierra Mist Natural 2-Liter FREE WYB Sunchips MultiGrain Snacks Or Lay’s Kettle Cooked Chips, any 8.5 oz or larger (valid up to $1.99) coupon from the 5/1 “Moments of Savings” Pepsico 5/1 special insert (Note: I’m not sure if this coupon “One per customer”, if it does, just buy 1 Sierra Mist & use 1 coupon along with the 2 bags of chips)
Final Cost $1.98 for all 4 items (or 3)
PowerBar (1.58-2.3 oz.) - $1.00
Buy 2, Use BOGO PowerBar Triple Threat Energy Bar coupon from the 5/1 SS insert or from HERE
Final Cost $0.50 ea.
Hostess Snack Cakes or Muffins (8-18 oz.) - $2.50
Buy 2, Use $1.00/2 Hostess Cupcakes coupon from HERE
Final Cost $2.00 ea.
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding (4 ct.) - $1.00
Buy 4, Use B3GO Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding 4-pk All You magazine, April issue
Final Cost $0.75 ea.
CANNED/CONDIMENT/PASTA
Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce (18 oz.) - $1.00
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, any 18 oz coupon from the 5/22 SS insert
Final Cost FREE
Heinz Ketchup (40 oz.) - $1.99
Use $0.50/1 Heinz Tomato Ketchup, any coupon from the 5/22 SS insert (doubles)
Final Cost $0.99
Kraft Salad Dressing (16 oz.) - $1.69
Use $0.55/1 coupon HERE (no longer available, hopefully you had a chance to print)
Or Buy 2, Use $1.00/2 Kraft Dressing, 14 oz. or larger bottles coupon from the 5/15 RP insert
Final Cost $0.69-$1.19 ea.
Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes (4.5-6.6 oz.) - $1.00
Note: Watch for $0.50/2 peelies on the boxes which would make them only $0.50 ea. after doubling
Frank’s Hot Sauce Small Bottle $1.29
Use $0.50/1 Frank’s Redhot Sauce coupon from the 5/15 SS insert or HERE (doubles)
Final Cost $0.29
This post is copyrighted and is a Frugal Fritzie original. Thanks for stopping by!
NON-FOOD
Purina One Beyond Cat Food (1 lb. bag) - $2.49
Use $2.00/1 Purina One Brand Dry Cat Food, any coupon from the 5/22 SS insert
Final Cost $0.49 {Donate}
Note: Pampers Kandoo Wipes 42 ct. were on sale last week for $1.00, you might check this week to see if they’re still on sale. If they are, please feel free to leave a comment, thanks! (Use the $1.00/1 coupon from the 4/3 P&G insert which doesn’t expire until 12/31 to get them FREE) {Donate}

How to Help: Online Donation Drive Tornado Relief for Joplin, MO


I was thrilled to have heard from Frugal Fritzie last night!  She's a deal blogger that happens to live in Joplin, MO.  Thankfully, she is alright and her home was spared.  
Since I happen to live in Springfield, MO...just an hour away from Joplin, many readers from out of state or several miles away have emailed me or messaged me asking how they, as couponers, can help out.  Some of you have wanted to package up your stockpiles and mail them, but have no idea where to mail them to.  
Fritzie has put together a list of needs and she now how an address to mail them too.  Go over to her blog to read her post.   She also includes information on where to send financial donations too.  Everything helps no matter how big or how little!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Nexcare bandages...possibly free at Walmart




Many Walmart locations have Nexcare bandages on rollback for $1.  Use the $1 printable HERE to get them FREE!
thanks, iheartthemart!

Bath & Body Works...Free printable




Stop over HERE to print a coupon good for a free full size Signature Collection item with any $10 purchase.  Valid through 6/9.

FREE printable summertime subway art!



Thought this was so bright and cheery I couldn't pass up on posting it today!  Go to The Simple Crafter to download your free summer subway art!

Staycations Around America



Thanks to I Think I Can for compiling this list!  To see a list of Staycation ideas for a city near you go HERE!



Springfield has so many things to do for families, many of them free to pass the time in summer!


Go to a movie:
Campbell 16 theatre runs free children's movies on Wednesday's and Thursdays. Check out their website for a complete list

Movies at Founder's Park are awesome! Me and the crew look forward to these. On Friday nights, it's a family movie. On Saturday, it's a "date night" movie. Both are shown outside. Bring your chairs or blankets, dinner and snack and enjoy a movie under the stars!(pick up tickets at several locations, including Mediacom Ice Park and Mediacom Offices)


If art is more your thing:
First Friday Art Walk, downtown Springfield, the first Friday of the month. Peruse downtown stores that have work displayed by local artists or take in street performances
 
Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 10 a.m. to Noon.

The Springfield Art Museum is open year round with displays for browsing. There is no admission charge and check out special events like Watercolor USA. 
 


Bookworms in your family?
Check out the Springfield-Greene County libraries! Awesome programs for babies through adults(all at no charge!), storytimes, movie nights, and a summer reading programs. Pick up the details at any branch library or ontheir website 

Barnes and Noble..read 8 books and earn a free book! this is great to go along with the SGL program! Also check out story times!


Outdoorsy types:
Bass Pro Shop is open for browsing! Check out the alligator, aquariums and waterfall in store!
Springfield Nature Center is open for your enjoyment. Located by Springfield Lake, it offers trails and a learning center(all free!)

Swim, swim, swim! The Springfield Park Board has various pools open for your use. Check out the website for pricing and hours. Many pools offer discounted swimming after 5 pm and even free swimming with a non perishable food donation. The McGee-Mcgregor wading pool is FREE for kids ages 6 and under!

The Botanical Center is now open at Nathaniel Greene Park. Also check out the Butterfly House, The Japanese Stroll Gardens(small fee), The Gray-Campbell Farmstead, and more while you are there! Also, check out one of our other spectacular parks!



Take a splash in the Jordan Valley Fountains downtown, next to Medicom Ice Park and Hammons baseball field.

There is so much to see and do in Springfield! Parks, lakes, museums and more!

Some ideas for things to do that charge: Jump Mania,Jumpin Joeys, and Wacky World are indoor bounce houses, the Discovery Center is a hands on children's museum,check out a Springfield Cardinal's baseball game, ice skating at Mediacom Ice Park, 1984(a retro arcade!), live performances at Springfield Little Theatre and don't forget about the Dickerson Park Zoo!
 

Monday, May 23, 2011

Monday's Menu

 Hey, Good Lookin' Recipe Box
I had a very busy day today and didn't have time to post this earlier.  I had a great morning spending time with some of my girlfriends over a lunch we all threw together.  We celebrated the completion of a Bible study that we had all been doing together over the last 12 weeks.  I can't wait to do another one with them!


Last week was crazy and we had more leftovers than I had planned so I didn't cook all the things on my list.  Some of them are posted for this week (if you even noticed that...).


Monday:
Leftover pasta dish (from our lunch today)
green beans
garlic bread
broccoli salad


Tuesday:
Potato Soup (in the crock pot since I have a coupon class to teach)
Cornbread
Salad



Wednesday:
Corned Beef (another crock pot meal...I love my crock pot!)
Carrots and potatoes
Green Beans



Thursday:
Mexican Casserole w/chicken as the meat
Refried beans
rice
salad


Friday:
Homemade pancakes
Scrambled Eggs
Succotash grapes



Saturday:
Homemade pizza 
cheesy noodles, 
grapes 

green beans
pizza sauce recipe



Sunday:
Leftovers!


Snacks/Desserts:
Goldfish crackers
Popcorn
Apples
Strawberry/mango Sorbet  

Homemade donuts (recipe to come later!)
Homemade Muffins


Series: Becoming Debt Free...The 3rd and 4th Years




*** In this post the continuation of our story is somewhat explicit as I talk about some medical issues I was having.  I considered leaving this part out of the story, but it would defeat the purpose of this series as I want to explain the reasons behind our debt.  Sorry if it offends anyone.  This is your "heads up" to skip this post if you'd like.  I talk more in-depth about some this in future posts too!


Go HERE to read The 1st and 2nd Years.

Last week we left off where our first-born, David, was added to our family.  What a blessing he was and still is today.  I loved being able to stay home with him during his infant stages.  I don't think I missed a single milestone of his!  Still, times were tough and we didn't see Brian much as he was still working and going to school full-time.  It didn't pay me to get a job considering child-care costs, and honestly, my hearts desire was to stay home.

Somehow, we managed to always have food on the table and carried on with our daily activities.  Our first little rental house was TINY!  It had two small bedrooms and a kitchen so small that we could hardly fit a table in it.  In fact, when we had company over we would have to move the table into the living room for everyone to fit around that table!  Nothing in the house was new.  Everything we owned was given to us by others including our bed (a wedding gift), our kitchen table and chairs, the couch and recliner, etc.  We LOVED being out of the apartment and in a house!

At this point in our lives we managed to pay off one of the college loans.  We also owned 2 vehicles that we paid for with cash.  Still, there was hardly any savings.  We both knew to save, but we didn't really understand how to go about it.  Neither of us had been taught how to save, how to set up a budget, how to manage our money instead of our money managing us.  We lived paycheck to paycheck.

David was a preemie and as usual with preemie babies they tend to have more health problems.  We were at the pediatrician constantly with him due to various illnesses.  He was on an apnea monitor for a full year, plus he had terrible problems with allergies and eczema.  We had insurance, but insurance doesn't cover some expenses.  If you're on a tight budget you know that deductibles and co-pays add up!  Along with David's medical issues I started having some medical issues of my own.

When David was around 6 months old I found myself sick quite frequently.  I was having a lot of nausea, vomiting and chronic diarrhea.  I had lost tons of weight and couldn't keep any food in me.  The only foods that didn't bother me were potatoes and rice.  After seeing my primary physician I was referred to a Gastroenterologist (G.I.)  The G.I. basically took down my symptoms and told me that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and that there was nothing he could do for me.  After several more months I went back and he continued to tell me that I wasn't as sick as I lead on.  I had a few tests done and nothing was found as being abnormal.  The doctor pretty much released me from his care and I never went back to him again....partly because I was discouraged, and partly because we couldn't afford for me to go to the doctor anymore.  Especially, when I wasn't getting treatment for my symptoms anyway!

As time went on I started feeling much better, was able to eat more, and gained some weight back. The episodes of diarrhea were still frequent, but manageable.  The neighbor next door to us moved and we inquired about renting the house.  The landlords let us move in!  It was a little bit larger than ours (meaning that we could sit people around the kitchen table!  It also had a laundry room with a huge pantry!)  The rent was $25.00 less per month than we were paying so it was a win/win!  I baby sat my nephews and another little boy for some extra income, but only for around 6 months and I continued decorating a few cakes for people.

Money was tight and seemed to be getting tighter.  Eventually I realized that Brian was hiding some spending from me.  We had an agreement early on in our marriage that we wouldn't spend over a certain amount without consulting the other first.  Let me pause here to say this...my goal isn't to paint an awful picture of my husband.  Those of you that know him personally know what a wonderful man he is.  But remember how young we were.  We were inexperienced with handling money, clueless as to what a budget was about, etc.  We were short $60 per week and I didn't know where it was going!  Eventually, Brian fessed up to buying some tools for his job.  He's a mechanic and mechanics need tools.  Mechanics are also bombarded by tool companies that encourage them to purchase the latest and greatest tools by paying weekly for them!  Basically, it was a small loan!

We decided during this time that I would get a job.  David was now 18 months old.  Brian's mom kept David while I worked an early morning shift at a fast food restaurant.  I was home by noon, so at least I didn't miss much of him!  I worked until David was 2 1/2 years old because I found out that I was pregnant again.  Because of the complications with my first pregnancy we decided that I should not work and just try to ride this pregnancy out nice and easy!

As time went on we found that we were in a hole and didn't know how to get out of it.  Not wanting to burden our parents, we called our Pastor and asked for some help with budgeting.  He came over that evening and took a look at our bills and paychecks, etc.  I'll never forget him saying..."Well, I found the problem... you have more going out then you have coming in!"  I know it sounds ridiculous to many of you, but it really was the first time that Brian and I realized that we needed a budget.  Our Pastor helped us do that and over the course of the next few months we had managed to save up some money, paid off our second college loan and paid off Brian's tool bills.

As we headed to church one Sunday morning we noticed a house for sale.  We honestly had no business buying a house, but we were still really clueless in financial matters...very clueless.  We didn't have much savings, I wasn't working, we were living off one income with a 2 year old and a baby on the way.  I had a strange gastrointestinal issue going on...I'm not sure where our brains were!  However, the house was everything we were looking for and somehow we were approved for a loan!  It was 2 blocks from our church which came in handy as we could walk there!  We moved in April, 1998 and were very proud of our purchase!  I was due to deliver the baby in mid-December.

In the early summer months I was already having problems with my pregnancy.....I found myself on bed rest once again.  I was eventually admitted to the hospital on October 16 and put on medicines to try to keep me from giving birth.  Unlike David, the medicines failed to work and I gave birth to 4 pound 1 ounce Jacob only 10 days later on October 26, 1998...two months earlier than his due date!  He was a sick, tiny preemie baby with unknown issues.....


 Points I wanted to make in this post:
1.  Be proactive in your health.  If you know you're sick keep pushing for help from other doctors if necessary.  Also, do research of your own!
2.  To make a point that medical bills were beginning to affect us...in ways we did not foresee!
3.  Make a budget!  Get on the same financial page with your spouse and stick to it!


Tune in next week as I continue to share our story....

Joplin, MO. Tornado Relief

Joplin Tornado Info

UPDATE:  I'm not sure where donated items can be mailed to by those of you that live hours away or in other states.  I'm hoping to find that out soon and then I'll put an update on here.  Thank you all so much for your willingness to give!  It will be very appreciated by those that receive!  :)  Please continue to pray as the rain continues.  It's dark, cloudy and thundering which I'm sure makes recovery even more difficult.
Here's a link that might help if you're wanting to give financially:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/joplin-missouri-tornado-victims/story?id=13665690&sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4dda921721fbf2f1,0

In cooperation with fellow blogger, Savvy Savings...we're teaming up to collect items from our stockpiles to provide to those in need.  As most of you now, Joplin, MO. was hit hard by a tornado yesterday and they need our help!


You can drop your donation off at Grace Chapel Church in Springfield, MO. Put the name "S. Yarnell" on the bag or box. If you know me personally you can bring your donation to my house. Grace Chapel's address is: Grace Chapel Church 1120 East Plainview Road Springfield, MO 65810. We're looking at either Convoy of Hope delivering our items or a medical friend of ours. Items they need:


Clothing: please put complete outfits in a ziploc bag labeled with the sex and size on the outside of the bag to make it easy to distribute. Snack foods, bottled water, any hygiene items such as toothpaste, soaps, deodorants, feminine products, first aid products, etc. Thanks again for your help!  Working together we CAN make a difference!


Another place to donate items is my church...Jefferson Ave. Baptist Church in Springfield Mo. located on the corner of Jefferson Ave. and Sunshine.  Donations will be accepted for this project through Wednesday evening.  Thanks again for your help!


There's more information on the facebook page as information continues to pour in.  Check it out HERE and "like" us while you're there!