Don't Pass by the Deals...

You've probably been to your local store where you suddenly come across an out-of-place set of shelves or a bin filled with a bunch of out-of-place "stuff" that the store is trying to get rid of... there could be good "stuff" in there, so don't just walk by thinking there's nothing decent amidst all those randomly dumped items! Maybe items are nearing their "sell by" date, or maybe the store just needs to clear out some old merchandise for newer items coming in... the bottom line is that these products are still useable for somebody - maybe that somebody is you!

Just yesterday, I almost walked past one of these clearance bins at a Harris Teeter. I thought I'd stick to my list and not get suckered into any impulse buys - but I backed up to check out what was there. Lots of bottles of hair care products - including conditioners, which I had just noted within the last few days that I needed to start stocking up on again. Just in case, I took out my coupon organizer and searched through my hair care coupons - I had a match! $1 off a bottle of Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner - and the bottle of Garnier Fructis conditioner that I had just found in the clearance bin was marked down to $1.27 - that meant I would get that entire bottle (large bottle, not just a sample or travel size) for just $.27!

Needless to say, I gave into one item that wasn't on my shopping list...

Another Source of Coupons...

Ever hear of All You magazine? Maybe you have, maybe you haven't - but if you don't already get it, you may find it worth your while. Whether or not you care about the articles, All You features a load of manufacturer's coupons in each of their monthly issues.

Not sure if you want to subscribe to an entire year or two? Test it out first. Pick up a copy at your local WalMart - but first, print this coupon. (Would you really expect me to tell you to pay full price for something?) It's worth $.75 off one issue of All You, taking the $2.49 cover price down to just $1.74!

Here's a list of the savings you'll find in the August 2010 issue:

• $1/1 Advil Infants or Children Product, exp. 9-23-10
• $2/1 Ageless Reflection Product, exp. 10-31-10
• $0.35/1 Banquet Fruit Pie, exp. 10-10-10
• $1/1 Body Fortress Product, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials, 10-27-10
• $1/1 Colgate ProClinical Toothpaste (4 oz.), exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Contessa MicroSteam or On the Stove Meals, exp. 10-31-10
• $0.50/1 Country Time Hard Candy Bag (14 oz.), exp. 11-30-10
• $1/1 Disney or Marvel Multivitamins, exp. 9-3-10
• $0.75/1 Dole All Natural Fruit Plastic Jar, exp. 10-31-10
• $1/2 Dole Frozen Fruit Bars, exp. 11-20-10
• $1/3 Dole Fruit Bowls, Gels, or Parfaits, exp. 10-31-10
• $1/1 Enforcer Flea and Tick Product, exp. 10-31-10
• $2/1 Ester-C Tablets, exp. 9-3-10
• $10/$25 Fashion Bug Purchase, exp. 8-27-10
• $3/1 Flex-A-Min Supplement, exp. 9-3-10
• $1/2 Fruit of the Loom Packaged Underwear or Casual Sportswear, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Glade Car Scented Oil Air Freshener or Refill, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Greased Lightning Product (32 oz.), exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Hartz Crunch 'n Clean Dog Biscuits, exp. 3-31-11
• $1/2 Kleenex Bundle Pack Facial Tissue, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/2 Lean Cuisine Market Creations, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Met-Rx Product, exp. 9-30-10
• $0.50/1 Mezzetta or Napa Valley Bistro Product, exp. 12-31-10
• $1/1 Neutrogena Cleansing Product, exp. 9-10-10
• $3/1 Neutrogena Cosmetics Product, exp. 9-10-10
• $1/1 NYC New York Color Product ($1.72+), exp. 9-8-10
• $3/1 Osteo Bi-Flex Caplets, Softgels or Powders, exp. 9-3-10
• $1/1 Osteo Bi-Flex Liquid Joint Aid, exp. 9-3-10
• $3/1 Phillips' Colon Health Probiotic + Fiber Product, exp. 12-31-10
• $1/1 Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons (18 ct.+), exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Powerade Multipack, exp. 10-31-10
• $1/1 Pure Protein Jillian Michaels Whey Protein, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Pure Protein Product, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Reddi-Wip Can (6.5 oz.+), exp. 10-10-10
• B1G1 Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail, exp. 8-31-10
• $1/1 Scott Extra Soft Double Roll Tissue (12 pk.), exp. 10-23-10
• $0.50/1 Scott Flushable Moist Wipes Tub, exp. 10-23-10
• $1/1 Scott Towels Mega Roll (6 pk.), exp. 10-23-10
• $0.40/1 Shedd's Spread Country Crock Spread, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Simple Green Product (22 oz.+), exp. 12-31-10
• $1/1 Smithfield Ham, exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 Snickers Marathon Multipack, exp. 12-31-10
• B1G1 Snickers Marathon Single Bars, exp. 12-31-10
• $1/2 VitaminWater Zero Bottles (20 oz.), exp. 8-31-10
• B1G1 Weight Watchers Yogurt Cups (6 oz.), exp. 9-30-10
• $1/1 White Cloud Product, exp. 9-23-10
• $4/1 Zegerid OTC Heartburn Remedy, exp. 9-30-10

Harris Teeter Deals - Week of July 28 - August 3, 2010

I love to post a few deal highlights that will get you products for less than half price! I also tend to favor deals that do not require coupons from a newspaper (i.e.: no coupon needed or printable coupons available) or deals that only require recent coupons.

A few things to remember about Harris Teeter Policies:
- All coupons with up to $.99 face value will double
- Use up to 3 doubled coupons for three of the same deal
- Double up to 20 coupons per day per household
- Buy 1, Get 1 Free Deals will generally scan at half price, so you do not need to buy 2.

[Read the detailed Harris Teeter Coupon Policy.]

Now on to some of this coming week's highlights...
*Prices may vary at different Harris Teeter locations

• Daisy Sour Cream - 2 for $3
  -$.55/1 printable coupon (print 3 as allowed by HT policy, use back button or more than one computer)
  Buy any 5, get $5 off your next order
  Sale Price: $1.50; Final Price: -$.16 each!
• Trans Ocean Crab Classic (8 oz pkg) - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$1/1 from Trans Ocean website
  Regular Price:$3.49; Final Price:$.75 each
  
• EZ Peel White Shrimp (2 lb bag, 21-30 ct) - Buy 1, Get 2 Free! (limit 6)
• Hefty One Zip Storage Bags - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$1/2 printable coupon
  Regular Price: $4.25; Final Price: $1.63
• HT Alkaline Batteries (4 pk. AA/AAA, 2 pk C/D, 1 pk 9V) - Buy 2, Get 3 Free
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
• HT All Natural Ice Cream (48 oz) - Buy 2, Get 3 Free
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
• Smithfield Regular or Thick Sliced Premium Bacon (16 oz.) - Buy 2, Get 3 Free (limit 10)
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
• Lay's Potato Chips (10.5-11 oz.) - Buy 2, Get 3 Free (limit 10)
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
• eVic: HT Old Fashioned or Thin Sandwich Bread (20-24 oz.)
  Sale Price: $.67; (Non-eVic Price $.99)
• eVic: HT Large White Eggs (1 dozen) (20-24 oz.)
  Sale Price: $.67; (Non-eVic Price $.99)
• eVic: HT Milk (1 gal)
  Sale Price: $1.97; (Non-eVic Price $2.47)

Free Backpacks at Staples & Office Max

Who ever said nothing in life was free?

Buy a backpack at Staples or Office Max this week (through July 31), and get a rebate to reimburse you for the cost.

Yep, it's like getting a backpack for free!

>>Don't forget to browse the other deals available at these stores - get paper, pens, highlighters, and other back-to-school items for $.25 or less!

KMart - $5 Birthday Bucks for Kids

Sign your kids up for the KMart Birthday Club, and they will receive $5 in KMart Birthday Bucks to spend, plus a birthday crown, a happy birthday certificate, and a birthday fun pack!

>>See other great club deals for the family on the "Cents of Family" page under "Ongoing Promotions."

Cheesecake Factory Deals - July 29th & 30th

National Cheesecake Day is coming up on July 30th! Visit your nearby Cheesecake Factory on July 30th and receive any cheesecake slice for half price!

But wait... there's more! If you want to be among the first to try the NEW Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake for a mere $1.50, "like" the Cheesecake Factory on Facebook to receive your special coupon good on July 29th only.

(Seriously... peanut butter, chocolate, cake, and cheesecake, all melded together in one dessert - and just for $1.50?! How could you go wrong? Sure sounds heavenly to me...)

Can You Imagine... No Money for a Year?

Josh Stevans is in the middle of the ultimate challenge - no money, not even touching money, for an entire year! How does he get by? Well, with the kindness of strangers, bartering skills, and his endless supply of Groupons. (You can follow Josh and his daily adventures across the country via Live Off Groupon on Facebook.)

For the typical person, Groupon is a way of getting deals on stuff to do in your own city. Each day, a new deal is featured, and as long as enough people agree to pay a certain discounted price to do it, the deal is on! Daily deals can be found on the Groupon website, in your email, and even on Facebook.

I've seen deals for spa services, fitness classes, restaurants, and more. I recently snagged a $100 Groupon for any purchase at Ashley Furniture, and I paid just $25 for it!

Check out Groupon and see if it's available in your city. It's easy to sign up without any obligations, and you may find some great bargains!

Disney World on a Budget - Get Your Questions Answered!

One of my favorite places in the whole world is Disney World. My family (from young kids through grandparents and great-grandparents) can all enjoy themselves there. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon, for which we planned on using a major chunk of budget, but since then I started learning all types of ways to save money on a Disney trip, considerably cutting costs and making it possible to go back again and again. Along the way I've found some very useful tools.


The DISboards.com - Disney Discussion Forums is a great place to learn how to take a trip to Disney World. Find out anything from the basics to the obscure. There are special Budget forums and Family forums and lots more areas where you can ask questions and/or share your knowledge about all things Disney!




The Couponing to Disney Blog is a great place to learn how to save on your year-round expenses to make your goal of a Disney vacation more attainable.

(Permanent links have now been added to the "Cents of Family" page.)

Register for Your Proctor & Gamble Coupons

Sign up for Proctor & Gamble Everyday Solutions to receive free coupons by mail! Coupons currently available may include products from Pantene, Tide, Cheer, Bounty, and more.

Harris Teeter Deals - Week of July 21-27, 2010

I love to post a few deal highlights that will get you products for less than half price! I also tend to favor deals that do not require coupons from a newspaper (i.e.: no coupon needed or printable coupons available) or deals that only require recent coupons.

A few things to remember about Harris Teeter Policies:
- All coupons with up to $.99 face value will double
- Use up to 3 doubled coupons for three of the same deal
- Double up to 20 coupons per day per household
- Buy 1, Get 1 Free Deals will generally scan at half price, so you do not need to buy 2.

[Read the detailed Harris Teeter Coupon Policy.]

Now on to some of this week's highlights...
*Prices may vary at different Harris Teeter locations

• Coke 12-pack cans - Buy 2, Get 3 Free! (limit 10 packs)
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
  
• Mead Marble Notebooks - Buy 2, Get 3 Free
  *must buy 2 to get 3 free
• eVic: Dannon 6 oz. Light & Fit or Fruit on Bottom Yogurt 10/$4
  -$1/10 coupon from SmartSource 6/13
  Final Price: $.30 each
  
• Hefty One Zip Storage Bags - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$1/2 printable coupon
  Regular Price: $4.25; Final Price: $1.63
• Daisy Sour Cream
  -$.55/1 printable coupon (print 3 as allowed by HT policy, use back button or more than one computer)
  Buy any 5, get $5 off your next order
  Regular Price: $2.35; Final Price: $.69 each
  
• Dannon Danimals or Crush Cups
  -$1/1 from SmartSource insert 7/18
  Sale Price: $1.99; Final Price: $.99
  
• Dannon Activia or DanActive, 4 ct.
  -$1/1 from SmartSource insert 7/18
  Sale Price: $2; Final Price: $1
  
• Crest Pro Health, Vivid, or Plus Scope Toothpaste
  -$.75/1 from P&G insert 7/4
  Sale Price: $2.99; Final Price $1.49
  

>> Find a more thorough list of current deals here.

Back-to-School Specials - through 7/24/10

These deals may vary regionally.

Office Depot
* Don't forget to use the printable $10 Off $25 Office Depot Purchase Coupon for your shopping order.

• Expo Dry Erase Markers, Fine (4 pk.) - $5.29 (Limit 1)
  FREE after mail-in rebate
• Purell Hand Sanitizer Pump - $4.99 (Limit 5)
  FREE after mail-in rebate
• PaperPro Nano Mini Stapler - $4.99 - (Limit 3)
  FREE after mail-in rebate
  
• Post-It Removable Label Pads - $.99
  FREE with printable Post-It Coupon
• Sharpie, Expo, Liquid Paper, & Paper Mate Products
  40% Off Select Items
  
• 2-Pocket Portfolios - $.05
• Office Depot Filler Paper - $.25
  
• Really Useful Boxes (plastic storage boxes) - $.99-$21.99
  Buy 2, Get 1 Free
  
• Elmer's School Glue Sticks - $1.99
  Buy 2, Get 1 Free
  
• Fiskars Scissors for Kids - $1.99
  Buy 2, Get 1 Free
  
• Pencil Pouches & Bookcovers, $2.49-$4.99
  Buy 2, Get 1 Free
  
• Office Depot Single-Hole Punch (with padded handle) - $3.99
  Buy 2, Get 1 Free
  
• Carson-Dellosa Books
  25% Off
  
  

Office Max

• Purell Original Hand Sanitizer (.05 oz.) - $.10
  -$1/2 Red Plum coupon from 5/16 makes these FREE
  
• Just Basics Ballpoint Pens ( 10 pk.) - $.20
• Westcott 5" Blunt or Pointed Scissors - $0.20 (Limit 3)
• OfficeMax School Glue & Glue Stick Combo Pack - $0.25 (Limit 3)
• Sharpie Singles - $0.25 (Limit 3)
• X-Acto Pencil Sharpener - $0.25 (Limit 3)
• BIC Cristal Pens (10 pk.) - $0.50 (Limit 3)

Find other deals in the Office Max circular, but these listed are among the better deals.


Staples

• Staples Washable School Glue (Limit 2) - $.01 through Wed 7/21
  
• Slider Pencil Case - $.25 (Limit 2)
• BIC Matic Grip Mechanical Pencils (5 pk.) - $.25 (Limit 2)
• Staples 3x5 Index Ruled Index Cards (100 pk.) - $.25 (Limit 2)
• RoseArt Washable Markers (10 pk.), $1
• Westcott 5" Microban Scissors, $1 (Better deal at Office Max)
• Staples Photo Plus 4x6 Paper (60 sheets) - $9.99 (Limit 2)
  $0.25 after Staples Easy Rebate!
• HammerMill CopyPlus Paper (500 sheets) - $6.79 (Limit 2)
  -$1.80 instant savings
  $1 after Staples Easy Rebate!

Find other deals in the Staples circular, but these listed are among the better deals.


Target

• Bic Cristal Ballpoints Pens (10-pk., black, blue, red) - $.60
  -$1/2 Bic stationary items printable Target coupon
  Final Price: $.10 each
• Spiral Notebooks - $.15
  
• Marble Composition Notebooks - $.25 (variety of colors)
• NXT 1-Subject Notebooks - $1
• NXT 3-Subject Notebooks - $2
• NXT 5-Subject Notebooks - $2.50
• Scotch Magic Tape (3-pk.) - $2.50
  
• Post-It Note Cubes - $3.50
  Match up with Post-It Coupons ($2 off $10 Post-It Purchase; $1 off Post-It Cube)

Find other deals in the Back-to-School section of the store, where there are some good prices, even if unadvertised in the circular such as a few I have posted above.

Walmart

• 1 Subject Notebook - $.10
• 2 Pocket Folder - $.10
• Crayola Crayons (24 ct.) - $.15
• Elmer's Glue Sticks (2 ct.) - $.15
• Composition Book - $.15
• Plastic Ruler - $.50
• 100 White Ruled Index Cards - $.75
  
• 1" Binders - $1
• Fiskars Safety Scissors - $1
• Plastic Pencil Box - $1
• Zippered Pencil Case - $1
• Bic Ballpoint Pens - $1
• Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils - $1
• Crayola Colored Pencils (12 Ct.) - $1
• Crayola Markers (10 Ct.) - $1
• Sharpie Markers (2 Ct.) - $1
• Pink Erasers (2 Ct.) - $1

Don't wait until it's too late to get back-to-school deals. Pick up needed supplies as bargains become available on those items you need - be cents-able!

More Restaurant Deals!

Warning: Try not to sign up for too many restaurant email clubs and coupons all at once. You may find you have too many coupons to use before they expire!

• Backyard Burger - Join the Backyard Burger eClub and get a coupon for a free burger.
  
• Bob Evans - Get a free kid's meal with the purchase of any $5.99+ Bob-B-Q from their Facebook page or the above link to their website.
• Dairy Queen - Join the "Blizzard Fan Club" to receive up to six BOGO blizzard coupons every year, including one when you join.
• Old Country Buffet / Ryan's - Join the eClub and receive a Buy One, Get One Free buffet coupon, along with updates and promotions throughout the year.
• T.G.I. Friday's - Buy two Caribbean entrees and get a $10 gift card for use on a future visit. (Offer valid through 9/6/10)

Find my original list of Restaurant Savings here, which has now been updated to include the above. Share some of your restaurant deals with me too!

I Don't Clip Coupons...

I remember checking out at the grocery store one day with my handful of coupons, waiting for the cashier to finish scanning my items so I could see my total start going down instead of up. There's a woman at the next register who sees me and comments to the cashier, "I don't clip coupons. It takes too much time." I simply chuckled in my head as I then commenced watching my grocery total go from over $120 down to about $50. If only she knew I didn't clip coupons either...

No, I don't clip coupons, and I personally don't even buy newspapers. Then, what kind of couponer am I? I like to think I'm the type who works smarter, not harder... and here is one way I do it: I let somebody else do it for me...

I use The Coupon Clippers (www.thecouponclippers.com).

The Coupon Clippers is a company that clips and sorts the coupons for me. By using their services, not only do I save time going through newspapers with a pair of scissors in hand, but I also get to order larger quantities of the coupons that I intend to use most!

Here's an example of how the pricing works. Let's say a toothpaste coupon has a face value of $.75. I might pay a handling fee of $.10 for it. It's a small price to pay for the savings, especially when the coupons get doubled or even tripled at the store - yes, that coupon that cost me $.10 could end up saving me up to $2.25! Let's say I want to stock up on toothpaste. I could spend $.30 to get three of those coupons, and now, when tripled, I can save up to $6.75 on my purchase at the store. See how the savings adds up quickly?

So why don't you give it a try? Sign up at www.thecouponclippers.com and start saving - save money, save time, AND save your fingers from potential paper cuts and newspaper ink stains!

Food Lion 3-Day Sale - Through Sunday, 7/18

Food Lion coupon policies may vary by region - some double some coupons, some do not. Consider your store's policies before using certain coupons.

Bounty Paper Towels -6 Big Rolls - $4.99
-$1 Off from Proctor & Gamble newspaper insert (7/4) or coupon booklet
Final Price: $3.99

Charmin Bath Tissue - 9 Large Rolls -$3.99
-$1 Off from Proctor & Gamble coupon booklet
Final Price: $2.99
*Lesser value coupons have been available recently too - still a good deal with this sale price, and if you have a $.50/1 coupon, get it for the same price as above if your particular store doubles these coupons.

Pampers Jumbo Diapers or Training Pants (19-50 ct.) - $7.99
-$1.50 Off printable store coupon
Final Price: $5.49

Gain Laundry Detergent - 100 oz. - $7.99
I can't find coupons to match this one, but this is still a decent price for a detergent that should last you a while.

Back-to-School Specials - through 7/17/10

It's that time of year again... Back-to-School Sales! (Watch your kids' eyes roll... "didn't summer just begin?!")


Walgreens has some great deals - several items for less than $.39 each with in-ad coupons:

Novelty Pencil or Splash Mini Highlighter - $.09
Penway School Supplies (flexible ruler, pencil or pencil/crayon sharpener) - $.29
Corner Office Index Cards(3x5 in. - 100-pack) - $.39
Legal Pad (5x8 in. or 8.5x11.75 in. - 50 sheets) - $.29
2 Pocket Folder with Prongs - 8/$1
Paper Mate Write Bros. Mechanical Pencils 10 pk. - $.39

And there are even more deals for ~$1!


Walmart has also begun their back to school sales with several deals up to $1:

Marble Composition Notebooks (in a variety of colors) - $.25
Post-It Notes (90-count) - $1
Sharpie Markers (2-pack) - $1
Bic Mechanical Pencils (6-pack) - $1
Paper Mate Pens (10-count) - $1
Magic Tape (300-in.) - $1

And more deals may vary by store, but check out all the school supplies!

Restaurant Savings through Websites & Emails

Why pay more than you have to at restaurants? Here are some of the restaurants I like that offer savings opportunities via website and/or email:

• Backyard Burger - Join the Backyard Burger eClub and get a coupon for a free burger.
  
• Bob Evans - Get a free kid's meal with the purchase of any $5.99+ Bob-B-Q from their Facebook page or the above link to their website.
• Boston Market - regularly has coupons available, usually $1 off an individual meal, $2 off a $10 purchase, and/or $4 off a $20 purchase. They also have a catering coupon code good through December 31, 2010: Get $25 off a $100 catering purchase by entering CATERINGDAY10 at checkout.
• Buffalo Wild Wings - Sign up for email club "Buffalo Circle" (under "Be Here") to receive regular specials and coupons.
• Dairy Queen - Join the "Blizzard Fan Club" to receive up to six BOGO blizzard coupons every year, including one when you join.
  
• Denny's - Join Denny's Rewards for special offers and promotions. Also remember that Kids Eat Free at participating locations on certain nights (I've found this on Tuesday nights at several locations). Up to two children can eat free for every paid adult meal!
• IHOP - Sign up for the "IHOP Pancake Revolution" email club. Receive a free meal upon sign up, and more special deals on your birthday and on your sign-up anniversary.
• Old Country Buffet / Ryan's / Fire Mountain - Join the eClub and receive a Buy One, Get One Free buffet coupon, along with updates and promotions throughout the year.
  
• Ruby Tuesday - Click on "So Connected" to sign up for email club and receive a Buy One, Get One entree for free (true as of June 2010), with various offers arriving in your email down the line.
  Also, get a free dessert with two entrees at Ruby Tuesday by printing the coupon here. (Expires 7/31/10)
• Souper Salad - Sign up for "Souper Fresh" email club to receive regular promotions, discounts, and birthday specials.
  Also, get a $1 Off a Buffet coupon here. (Expires 8/13/10)
• T.G.I. Friday's - Buy two Caribbean entrees and get a $10 gift card for use on a future visit. (Offer valid through 9/6/10)
  

Even if you don't have these restaurants in your area, or you just prefer others, I encourage you to check those restaurant websites for email clubs, printable coupons, and other special offers before you dine out. A couple minutes of your time could save you several dollars! That's right - be "cents-able!"

Harris Teeter Deals - Week of July 14-20, 2010

I love to post a few deal highlights that will get you products for less than half price! I also tend to favor deals that do not require coupons from a newspaper (i.e.: no coupon needed or printable coupons available).

A few things to remember about Harris Teeter Policies:
- All coupons with up to $.99 face value will double
- Use up to 3 doubled coupons for three of the same deal
- Double up to 20 coupons per day per household
- Buy 1, Get 1 Free Deals will generally scan at half price, so you do not need to buy 2.

[Read the detailed Harris Teeter Coupon Policy.]

Now on to some of this week's highlights...
*Prices may vary at different Harris Teeter locations

• Starkist Solid White Tuna (5 oz.) - Buy 2, Get 3 Free
  Regular Price: $1.89; Final Price: 5 @ $.75 each
  
• Breyers Ice Cream (48 oz.) - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$.75/2 Breyers Ice Cream Coupon from SmartSource 6/27
  Regular Price: $5.49; Final Price: 2 @ $1.99 each
  
• Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches (6 ct.) - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$1/1 printable coupon from Breyers
  Regular Price: $4.99; Final Price: $1.49
  
• Airwick Freshmatic Starter Kit - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$4/1 printable coupon from Airwick (sign up to receive coupon)
  Regular Price: $13.99; Final Price: $3.99
  
• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers
  -$.50/1 printable coupon from Pepperidge Farm
  Sale Price: $1.67; Final Price: $.67
  Update 7/16:
  -$.75/1 printable coupon now available for Goldfish Grahams from coupons.com
  Sale Price: $1.67; Final Price: $.17!
  
• Ocean Spray Blueberry Juice Cocktail - Buy 1, Get 1 Free
  -$1/1 printable coupon from Ocean Spray
  Regular Price $3.89; Final Price: 1 @ $.94

>> Find a more thorough list of current deals here.

Pizza! Pizza! Print Your Savings!

Tombstone Pizza
Visit Tombstone Pizza on Facebook, share what fun things you and your family will do with your extra time this summer, and you will get a $2/1 coupon for a Tombstone pizza!

Red Baron Pizza
Print a $2/1 coupon for Red Baron Pizza by the slice at the SmartSource coupon website. Great deal to match up with the low prices for Red Baron pizza at Target and WalMart (where they generally run $2.50-3.00).

DiGiorno Pizza
Print a DiGiorno Pizza & Breadsticks coupon for $1.50/1 at the Coupons.com website.

Kid's Party on a Budget

My son just had his 7th birthday. We really did not have a lot to spend on his party, but we really wanted to make him feel special. I hope this inspires someone to not break the bank on our beloved children...

Gifts: We had a gift card for some returned items at Toys 'R Us, so I checked the store out for deals he would like. (Fortunately, we try not to be too specific when the kid's ask for items on their wish lists... helps tremendously with the budget.) We found a great Toy Story 3 puzzle that looks 3-D for $5. It was a great gift, as we just saw the movie, the kids are totally into Toy Story (they also just got a Toy Story room makeover) and they are also fascinated by 3-D, as that is how we saw the movie! We also picked up some CitiBlocs on clearance (~$11 for 200) - these were the same types of blocks our son had played with on a recent family trip to a science museum (Discovery Place, Charlotte, NC - where we went on a free day, of course!) Another hit! (His mother also had fun playing with these... hehe) Because of the store credit, these two gifts didn't cost us a dime!

Theme/Decorations: Pirates of the Caribbean (a favorite family ride in Disney World)... I'll be honest - I could not find much with this theme in the store (though I didn't check the Disney store...), but maybe it's for the best! I found some pictures online to decorate with. I made a centerpiece out of pirate flags, and added some pirate flags to the kids' disposable cups (affixed with clear packaging tape to make it smooth). Maybe some adults might find it tacky, but my son loved it! We also managed to get the red from some pirate flags and blue from water to be the theme colors - which works out perfectly with some after-Independence Day clearance items - like the blue napkins I got. I also had red and blue streamers on hand already from some past parties. I also got hubby to find the music from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disney World to play in a loop while we were together. It brought back memories of Disney trips (that we only went on with fabulous discounts, of course).

This was just a family party, but had we had a bunch of kids, we would've easily expanded the evening with party games like a treasure hunt, or pirate races to and from treasure chests (easily made from cardboard boxes). Lots of party game ideas can be found with just a simple Internet search.

Food: Domino's has a 5-5-5 deal, which we utilized for dinner. Now, this was a splurge, as I could've cooked myself or gotten free Boston Market meals (I have gift cards), but still, my son always asks for pizza, and after the tip, 3 medium pizzas for $20 or so isn't bad - plus Domino's has that great tasting new crust! Best of all, I have leftovers for future meals, including the kids' lunches for their summer fun program. That makes things easy!

Birthday Cake: Really, it was pretty simple to make this cake... I made a pirate ship cake. It was chocolate cake (mix on sale for $1 in the store), with chocolate frosting ($1.24 in the store). Chocolate is brown, as is the wood on a pirate ship, so I didn't even need to color frosting! I made marks in the frosting to indicate boards that the ship was made of. I used another printed out pirate sail & flag attached to a chop stick (free from a free Chinese meal we had gotten) to make the mast. It turned out great! Just over $2 for a cake that my son adored!

There you go... birthday on a budget - tailored to my son!

Making Cents of this Blog...

See those handy tabs at the top of the page? I've been creating pages to help sort through tips and deals that I come across. Here's a little summary of what you'll find on each page:

• Cents-Ability: The basics - reviewing your expenses, cutting back, and earning more money
• Cents of Taste: How to save on dining in (groceries) and dining out (restaurants)
  
• Cents of Family: How to save on family fun

Deals will be updated regularly!

What's Your "Cents of Purpose"?

Cents... what may sound like a very small amount of money can add up quickly. That's why it's important to be "cents-able," and take note of where your cents are, or should, be going.

How often do you eat out? Is this necessary? How much do you typically spend on groceries? Is this necessary? Hey, that's a nice new phone... wow, you can surf the 'net from it?! Is that really necessary?

Trying to get out of debt? Saving for a new car, college, a vacation, or a house? Maybe you'd like to sponsor a child in a third world nation, but just thought you had enough trouble keeping up with expenses for your own children. Maybe your heart's desire is to support a local homeless mission, but with your low-paying job, you're just hoping to not become homeless yourself.

What's holding you back? Where is your money going? Where should it be going?

Set your goal, and go for it! Develop your "Cents-Ability" and you are well on your way to goal, or your "Cents of Purpose."