Savings In Over 5000 Stores!!!

As many of you know by now - I am the "Savings and Discount" Queen.... I discovered the benefits of coupons and discounts when I had the delusion that being a cashier at Target would be fun - a nice break from the stress of the mortgage lending industry..... It was anything but nice..... I have earned a very high respect for cashiers... let me tell you. Not only are cashiers treated like 2nd class citizens - by the end of the day - their feet are in so much pain from standing for several hours that they can barely walk... I'm talking from experience... Needless to say that stint in the retail industry only lasted a couple of months... I will take the stress of Realtors breathing down my neck any day... seriously....

In my short-lived career in (crazy what the heck was I thinking) retail - I met people that brought coupons and saved a lot of money. I purchase the LA Times - Sunday edition now just for the coupons and every week I save in excess of $15-20 on groceries that I buy... no kidding...

In my quest to save more money I discovered savings coupons at Savings.com. At Savings.com - you can find discounts up to 50% off at Macy's.. Discounts at Kohls... and my all time Valentine's Day store - Harry and David's.... Love their Moose Munch! Can you believe there are over 5000 stores that you can find coupons and discounts to.... Crazy..

In addition to stores - you can find some great Restaurant coupons - many of my favorite restaurants are here! Chick-fil -A, Ruby Tuesday, Hometown buffet, and Pizza Hut.. You have got to check this out - a lot of savings is to be had here.... seriously! You can get a free dinner at Black Angus on your birthday - I'm telling there are some amazing coupons here.

Not only does savings.com have excellent coupons and deals for almost every store and restaurant imaginable - they have incredible coupons for Best Buy - I so wish I had found this site before I spent way too much money on our TV and computer! There are coupons that help you save in upwards of $1000.....

There are savings to be found through coupons in your newspaper.... on line... and many different blogs offer very good savings ideas... Here is another great tip from me to you..... If anything - click on this link Savings.com and see for yourself........

Freebie Friday

I was exploring Free Stuff/Freebie/Free Samples and ran across an offer for a free Snuggie Blanket - not sure how legit it is but I signed up.... Click here for the possibility of a free Snuggie.

One of the things I really like about being a blogger - is learning about all the great free stuff to be had. Free is one of my most favorite words...... I'm sure it's probably yours too....

One of my deepest desires is to one day go into the mission field - the thought of bringing God's word to the unreached is something I feel very strongly about and I know it will happen - in God's timing. While surfing the free stuff site - I ran across this free book called Revolution in World Missions - yesterday I ordered and click here if you are interested as well.

If you look on the side bar of this blog you will see the opportunity to get coupons.. These coupons are for everyday products that you can buy at your grocery store - there is no charge to you.... You only save money.... I average $30 - $100 a month on coupon savings and discounts at my favorite movies, fast food, and restaurants...

** Please note that the coupons and/or discounts offer no guarantee - but so far they have worked for me. Have a great "Freebie Friday"

Frugal Family Target Shopping

I have learned in my "old" age the value of money... I have learned it does NOT grow on trees like I once believed.... I have also learned the importance of being prepared for that rainy day... that unexpected twist in our lives...

Almost two (2) years ago I had a major wake up call. After 23 years of working his way up the corporate ladder and achieving much success as a VP of Sales - my husband's company was bought out by another company and all the VP's were terminated...... I remember the morning that my husband walked in the door and told me he had been fired like it was yesterday.... I seriously thought he was joking.... No one with his track record gets fired.... not possible - especially after he landed the largest contract the company had ever negotiated a few weeks prior... ..

I think the four months that my husband was unemployed - I was in a bubble.. I was neither afraid or sad.. I just was... there... I did learn that he depended a lot more on me than I realized.. I learned that I was the rock in our marriage... our life.... in that season of our marriage.

I know that Dusty (my husband) was in a state of shock.... bad things never happen to him... He had always been blessed with the golden touch.. This upset in his life made him question his worth.. His normal very self assured personality had diminished... He was for the first time in his entire life scared..... What I find amazing is that I was not scared... I knew that we would be okay.. I also believed that Dusty would get a job very soon.. I did not think about our friends who had lost jobs and a year had gone by with no prospects.... I did not fear.... I did have peace... and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt the peace did not come from me...

We have always been a frugal family - always paying off our credit cards each month, paying cash for cars and such, and paying extra on our mortgage payment. I thought I was doing all that I could do to save money..... until I discovered coupons and Target grocery shopping.. In my quest to stretch our dollars - I have had great time saving money with coupons....

Today shopping at Target - I saved$15.75 with normal groceries I purchase.... I love to take my kids shopping - I sent them on a scavenger hunt looking for the items that I have coupons for... I don't do it every time.. Just often enough for it to be fun every time.. The shoppers get a kick out of watching my kids pose with their coupons and found items... Today was fun.... After the shopping - I received a coupon to buy one pizza get the 2nd free... So guess what my kids had for lunch???

Today my husband is working - I am working from home... We have a learned not to take our careers for granted... we have learned to live more modestly... We have learned that God will Always provide.. We have learned that there is a time for each of us to be the strong one in the marriage... and we have learned that Target's prices beat out most super market prices...

The Target Scavenger Hunt

Many times I have shared that I love love love Target and so do my kids. Well, when they are shopping for themselves.. Dusty's parents...my kids grandparents gave the girls the ultimate gift... Target gift cards. They received them Friday night and they were ready to jump in the car for a shopping spree..who cares if it was 9:30 at night!!!
Well I had my own Target shopping to do as well... I was itching to use my 10% for the whole day discount and the coupons I had accumulated.. Did you know that my 10% coupon can work with Target gift cards too? More bang for the buck I tell you...
The girls were raring to go buy up all they could with their $20 gift cards.... they did not want to wait while I got my shopping done.. so I decided to have some fun with it. I created the "I've Got A Coupon Scavenger Hunt" I gave each of the girls a bunch of coupons and told them to find the item and the first one who collects all their stuff wins..... Good thing the girls are extremely competitive like their mom so this became a fun time.....except for the fact I had my handy dandy camera with me and decided to take pictures....Kara my youngest is the world's biggest ham so she thought this was great.... Nikki the moody teenager...well, decided to humor me.. check out her facial expressions......Priceless...

My Discount Target Shopping List!

As you know, I love to shop at Target.... Yesterday I received in the mail my 10% off everything for a whole day card....Yipppeeee.... and I have a ton of coupons to add on to my savings... This is so much fun.... If you are not getting the Sunday paper..you gotta start... I tell you ...you just gotta... Here are my deals for this shopping spree.....
Scott Natural paper towels $1.00 off
Scott Natural bath tissue $1.00 off
Glade plugIns buy 2 $1.00 off
Glade oil warmer buy one - get one free
Coppertone Nutrashield $1.50 off - great product
Coppertone product $1.50 off
Reynolds wrap $.55 off
Hefty waste bags $1.00 off
Pedigree dog food $1.50 off
L'Oreal mascara or any eye product $1.00 off
L'Oreal hip eye shadow, liner or mascara $2.00 off - Nikki loves this!
Litehouse bleu cheese dressing $1.00 off
Texas Toast $.50 off yummm
Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner $2.00 off - kid's favorite
ThermaCare (yes again - I'm old) $1.00 off
Lawry seasons buy 2 $.50 off
Grands Pillsbury $.30 off
Bryers Ice cream buy 2 $1.00 off
Energizer batteries $1.00 off
Kellogg's cereal any one box $1.00 off
Treetop apple sauce buy two $1.00 off
Star red wine vinegar $.50 off
Trail mix Crunch Cranberry Vanilla cereal $1.00 off - hubby will be so happy
Green Giant frozen vegetables buy two $.50 off
Bisquick $.60 off
Clorox Clean up $.75 off
Ziploc bags $.55 off
Pine sol $.50 off
All items above can be purchased at Target - Now combine Target with their everyday lower prices, my coupons, and my All Day 10% off Coupon my savings exceeds... - $33.25 savings!!!
Know what else came in this week's Sunday paper? Discounts for Knott's Berry Farm save $22 per person up to 6 people....Nikki wanted to go to Knott's for her 13th birthday in June and now we can! Savings for 4 of us $88!... and Boston Market - my favorite "fast food" has a buy one get one free meal this week....One night of no cooking.. Yeah for me! and one last thing. Pick up Stix has a buy one get one free entree.....I'm thinking I just might have to surprise one of my kids.. or both for a Pick up Stix lunch..hmm quality time together and saving money...What can a mom ask for?

I Am A New Coupon Shopper

I have never been one to look for "deals" at home. I never looked for coupons in the newspaper ( I never read the paper), I never looked at the advertisements that come in the mail, and I certainly never used coupons or any form of discounts. Not that I am a snob or anything...I just never thought about it. I had always considered myself frugal... When I went shopping I would shop at less expensive stores, like Target... (read my previous blog about Target and get some great ideas).. I would buy things that we needed and if they were on sale..yeah So in my mind I was saving our family money....Now I know, I wasn't doing that great of a job. With the discovery of coupons, I have saved our family much much more. I have invested .55 cents a week to get the Sunday paper and Here are the coupons I have used this week:
Hefty $.55
ThermaCare $1.00 (a must have)
Max face product - buy one get one free $7.99
Colgate toothpaste children $.50
Kraft Mayo (2) $1.00
Kraft salad dressing Ranch $1.50
Tums (a must have) $1.00
Gogurt (2) $.75
Treetop applesauce (2) $1.00
French's fried onion (bean casserole yum) $.50
Oust air sanitizer $2.00
Fruit chillers (2) (my kids love them) $1.00
Pledge $.55
Windex $.75
Welch's grape jelly $.55
Energizer batteries $1.00
Playtex (a must have) $.50
All items are things I buy..not just because I have a coupon...

Total Savings on Coupons not counting Target's lower prices $22.14 This savings will pay for my Easter HoneyBaked ham, I have a coupon for $19.99....They are usually around $40.00! In addition to the coupon savings, I have found dinner savings: Prime Rib dinner for $13.99 at Black Angus. I also found out that Round Table Pizza has a Tuesday Family Night Buffet for $6.99 per adult and $3.99 for kids. This would be great for when Dusty is out of town on business and I just don't feel like cooking!

In today's hard economic times it's great to find some deals...so cut those coupons and read your advertisements in the mailbox!

Target Shopping Advice

Last year I took a job at Target. Why you may ask... I thought it would be fun to play cashier. After three months of having feet that were so sore I couldn't walk and dealing with a few very rude people, I quickly decided that it was not for me! I did however , gain a new respect for the cashiers at Target or any store for that matter. Next time you talk to a cashier be nice and give them a smile..

I love shopping at Target. Their prices on many items are much lower than regular supermarkets. I buy all my paper products, hair products, cleaning supplies, makeup, prescriptions, yogurt, kids' snacks for school, and much more. They have everything you need for your home and family. Clothes, decorations, DVDs, CDs, electronics, toys, and school supplies..

There are many things I learned working at Target. The inside end caps is usually where you will find great deals...20% up to 80% off on things from beauty products to towels and sheets. If you go into the clothing areas, in the back you will find racks with mark downs from 30% - 70%. If you are making a purchase of $100 or more get a Target Visa card...You get 10% off on the entire purchase...If you shop at Target often, use their card (pay it off each month - high interest) because for every $1000 you spend you get a coupon in the mail for an entire day of 10% off.

A big thing I learned at Target was coupons are good...they are very good. There were people that came in with coupons galore and they saved a ton of money on things I buy everyday! I had never paid attention to coupons in the past. I always threw them away. Not anymore. With Target's low prices, throw in coupons, and my 10% off coupon and I got a HUGE savings!I get the Sunday paper just for the coupons. Last week I saved $22.78 just using coupons...that's without the 10% coupon.

In these hard economic times, it's a good idea to save money where you can...If you have shopped at Target or used coupons...give it a try...I'm sure you'll be happy you did.