Cookie Coupon

 
Head over to Kraft Foods on Facebook, "Like" them, and then print out a coupon that gives you Buy 1 package of cookies and 1 gallon of milk and get another package of cookies free.  See if this LINK will work.

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

End/Begining of Month Coupon Maintanence

It's the beginning of a new month so it's time to clean up those coupons.  There were a TON that expired at the end of April.  Go through your coupon inserts from the past months and throw out the ones the expired April 30 and even 5/2 or 5/3.  If you have been writing the date on the front cover of the insert and filing it away then some of your inserts will look like piece meal when you get rid of the expired coupons.  I would get and envelope for each insert and cut out the remaining coupons.  Write the title of the insert and the date on the outside of the envelope then file it right back where you had it.  That way you can still look them up by the coupon "code" (ie:  RP 5/2 or SS 4/17).

I don't organize my coupons that way.  Since I use the binder method then I just flip through the pages, pull out, and trash the expired coupons.  At month end the binder method is easier but it is definitely more work the rest of the time.  However, it works for me because I need to SEE the coupons.

The other order of business is to visit all the coupon printing sites and print the coupons you THINK you will use.  Head over to Coupons.com, Redplum.com, Smartsource.com...don't forget Target.com (I found a Q for $2 off Merona women's pants, skirts, shorts, etc.).  Check out CVS too, sometimes they have good coupons.  Then cut them out and organize them however you do!

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Stamp Out Hunger~May 8th

 

Each of us can help to feed the hungry in the US this Saturday.  All you have to do is place a bag of canned goods by your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives.  When he/she makes their rounds they will pick up the bags of food and give it to a local food bank.  You can read more about it HERE.

I'm expecting the couponers of Middle GA to do their part.  I know I will!

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Coupon Inserts for Middle GA

SmartSource 5/02

$1 off Aleve 40 ct (exp 7/31)

$2 off Aleve 80 ct+ (exp 7/31)

.55/1 Baked Sun Chips or Rold Gold Snacks 7 oz+ (exp 6/20)

.50/1 BirdsEye Steamfresh Vegetable, Pasta or Rice (5/30)

$1 off California Pizza Kitchen Pizza (exp 6/30)

.50/1 Egglands Best Cage or Organic Dozen Eggs (exp 9/30)

.35/1 Egglands Best Eggs (exp 9/30)

.35/1 Egglands Best Hard Cooked & Peeled Eggs (exp 9/30)

$1 off Energizer Batteries or Flashlight (exp 6/12)

.55/1 Hormel Compleats Microwave Meal (exp 6/27)

.35/1 Hormel Pepperoni Product (exp 6/27)

.55/2 can Hormel Premium Chicken Breast (exp 6/27)

.55/1 Hormel Bacon Topping (exp 6/27)

$1 off Hormel Always Tender Product (exp 6/27)

.75/1 Jack’s Original Pizza (exp 6/30)

.55/1 Kraft Dressing 14 or 16 oz (exp 6/19)

$3 off Lysol No-Touch Handsoap System Starter Kit (exp 6/29)

$1 off Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair (exp 6/27)

.55/1 Shout Laundry product (exp 6/12)

$15 off SonicCare FlexCare+ or FlexCare Rechargeable Toothbrush (exp 6/30)

$10 off Sonicare HealthyWhite, Essence or Sonicare For Kids Rechargeable Toothbrush (exp 6/30)

$5 off Soinicare Healthy Heads Multi-Pack  (exp 6/30)

.50/1 White Castle Microwaveable Hamburgers or Cheeseburgers (exp 7/31)

Redplum 5/2

$10 off Alli 60 ct, 90 ct, or 120 ct

$1.50 Beano Meltaways - 15 ct or larger

$2.00 Bengay (exp 6/30)

$1 off Centrum Cardio

.40/1 Domino sugar 2lbs or larger (exp 6/30)

.35/1 Domino organic or demerara sugar (exp 6/30)

$3 off Fiber Choice - 90 count (exp 5/31)

$1 off Nivea Body Lotion - 8.4-16.9 fl oz

$3 off Nivea Body Wash for Men - 16.9fl oz  (exp 6/30)

$4 off Nivea Body Wash for Women - 8.4oz-16.9oz  (exp 5/31)

$1 off Nivea Lip Care - .17-.35oz

$1 off Polident

$1 off Russell Stover - 7.75 oz or larger (exp 11/2)

$1 off Russell Stover Boxed Chocolate - 8.25oz or larger (exp 11/2)

$1 off Sensodyne ProNamel Toothpaste

.75/1 Sensodyne Toothpaste or Sensodyne Iso-Active Foaming Gel

$1 off Super Polident Free Denture Adhesive

$1 off Whitman’s Boxed Chocolate, 7oz-12oz (exp 11/2)

$2 off Whitman’s Sampler, 24 oz Whitman’s Sampler boxed chocolate (exp 11/2)

(note: coupons without expiration dates are coupons that will be regional, meaning some papers will not have them)

PG 5/02

All coupons expire 5/31/10, unless specified

$5 off Align product

$1 off Always Infinity 14ct or higher

$1 off Always pads, clean or feminine cleansing cloths

$1 off Always Pantiliners 34ct or higher

.50/1 Bounce dryer bar

.25/1 Bounce dryer sheets

.25/1 Bounty towels or napkins

.50/1 Cascade Complete

.25/1 Cascade

$1 off Cascade rinse aid

.25/1 Charmin product

$1 off Covergirl product

$2.50/2 Covergirl products

$5 off Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid 14ct, Gentle or Stain Shield Whitestrips

$10 off Crest 3D White professional effects whitestrips

.75/1 Crest rinse 946ml or larger

.75/1 Crest toothpaste 4.0oz or larger liquid or gel

.25/1 Dawn

.50/1 Dawn Hand Renewal

$1 off Downy liquid or sheets

.50/1 Dawn PLUS

$2 off Downy 90 or more loads

.50/1 Febreze air effects

$1 off Febreze candle

$1 off Febreze fabirc refresher

$4 off Febreze noticeables starter kit

.50/1 Fixodent 1.2oz or larger

$1.50/2 Fixodent 1.2ox or larger

B1G1 Gillette Body Wash

$4/2 Gillette deodorant or body wash

$1 Gillette Fusion razor

$4 any Gillette Mach3 cartridge

Free Odor Shield Body Wash wyb Gillette Clinical Odor Shield Deodorant

$1 off Gillette shaving gel 7oz or 9oz,

$1/2 Head and Shoulders shampoos or conditioners

$1.50/3 Iams dog cans, (5) cat cans or (1) variety or multi pack

$3 off Iams premium protection cat food

$3 off Iams premium protection dog food

$2 off Mach3, Sensor3, Custom Plus3, Venus disposable, Simply Venus, Daisy or Daisy3

$3 any Mach3 or Venus disposable 6ct, Sensor3 8ct or Custom Plus3 8ct

$3 off size Metamucil

$3 off Metamucil fiber singles, capsules or wafers

$1/2 Mr Clean erasers, liquids or sprays

$2/3 Mr Clean erasers, liquids or sprays

$2 off Natural Instincts hair color product

$2 off Nice and Easy hair color product

$1 off Nyquil sinus, DayQuil sinus or Sinex product

Free Body Wash wyb Old Spice Fresh collection Body wash or Deodorant, (exp 6/30)

Free Old Spice Body Spray wyb (2) Old Spice Body wash or Red Zone Deo, (exp 6/30)

$1/2 Old Spice Deodorant or body wash (exp 6/30)

Free Fresh Collection Deodorant wyb Old Spice body wash or Deodorant, 1.7 oz + (exp 6/30)

$2 off Olay Facial Cleanser or Active Hydrating facial Moisturizer

$1 off Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser

$1 off Olay Body Wash, in-shower body lotion, bar soap or hand & body lotion

.75/1 Oral-B Pulsar, Crossaction, Advantage or (2) Indicator toothbrushes

.50/1 Oral-B Stages or Zooth manual or power toothbrush

.50/1 Oral-B Stages, Zooth or Kid’s Crest toothpaste or liquid gel

$1 off Pantene styler, hairspray or treatment

$1/2 Pantene products

$1.50 off Pampers diapers or pants

$2 off Pampers diapers or pants and (1) Pampers wipes 60ct or larger

.75/1 Pepto product

$1 off Prilosec OTC

$3 off Prilosec OTC

.55/1 Satin Care shave gel

.50/1 Secret (exp 6/30)

$2 off Secret Clinical Strength or Soothing Effects (exp 6/30)

.75/1 Scope 473ml or larger

$2 off Swiffer starter kit

$10 mail in rebate wyb $20 Swiffer refills - form at www.swiffer.com

$1 off Tampax 18ct or higher

$2 off Tampax Pearl or Compak Pearl 18ct or higher

$1 off Tide stain release

$3 off Tide stain release, 26-50 ox powder, 15-34 duo pac or 36-68 oz liquid

$1 off Tide detergent

.35/1 Tide to Go

$2 off Venus bikini kit or Venus Embrace or Spa Breeze refillable razor

$2 off Venus cartridge

.55/1 Vicks product

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Month End and Year To Date Totals

 Boy am I glad April is over.  Now that it's May, I can start fresh with the grocery budget.  Here's the breakdown for the month of April:

Total Shelf Cost:  $819.24
Coupons:  $386.37
Store Discounts:  $255.61
Rebates:  $38.03

Total Out Of Pocket:  $177.56 for a savings of 78%. 

This breaks down to $44.39 a week.  I told you I broke the budget!  Ugh.  I can't believe it!  I was doing so good.  Oh well, live and learn.

Year To Date Totals:


Total Shelf Cost:  $2408.63
Coupons:  $922.03
Store Discounts:  $914.62

Total Out Of Pocket:  $571.98 for a savings of 80.91%

This comes out to about $35.75 (I'm just using a 4 week month whether it has 4 or not).  I guess I'm not as far off target as the numbers above suggest when you balance it out with all the other months.  I just don't like seeing those numbers up there.  However I do like the Total Shelf Cost compared to Total Out Of Pocket and the savings percentage!

Israel Update:  We have saved almost $9000 for the trip.  We are just over $1000 shy of what we need but we still need to save up for spending money while we are there.  I did send in a deposit of $600 the other day so we are really, really, really going on this trip!  Have I mentioned how excited I am?!?  We are even going to get to see one of my cousins while we are there!  I haven't seen her since she was about 4 or 5 years old.

For a little while I was at a loss as to what I would write about once we had all the funds we needed for Israel but we have decided on another goal.  Once Israel and the spending money is all saved up for...by the way, this will make it a PAID FOR TRIP before we even get on an airplane!!!  Did I mention I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being debt free?!?  You can do it too.  Okay, back to the subject at hand:  the next goal will be home improvements.  Our home is around 20 years old, so are the floors, the AC unit, the siding, the roof, etc.  We have our work cut out for us.  Also, while we are doing home improvements we will also be squeezing pennies to try and have the house completely paid for in under 5 years.  If I get a full time job then we could probably do it in less than that (which means I can get a larger home much quicker)!!!  I stand amazed at what and how God has worked in our lives.  I thank Him daily for my husband's job but more importantly, my husband's character.  We decided before we got married that we wanted to honor the Lord with our finances resulting in us doing all we could to be debt free.  I brought all the debt into our marriage but as soon as we said "I do" Bubba tackled it as if it was his own.  We paid off the remaining credit card debt I had, then tackled the truck payment (we haven't had a car payment since), and then the second mortgage we had on our home.  All paid off within the first 4 years of our marriage!  All because of the man of God I married.  The character of the person you marry absolutely matters and when you marry someone who lives for Jesus Christ and wants to follow the path God has for them, in general, you can't go wrong.  My Bubba is fun loving, athletic, out-going, and generous but he is also a solid man of God who puts Jesus before everything and everyone.  Whew, have I told you lately how blessed I am?!?  I just love that man!

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Upcoming Events on The Blog

I know I said this a while ago but we will be hosting our first giveaway in the coming weeks.  I am so excited to be working with the owner to iron out the details.  Once we have it worked out then I will announce it to all of you.  I hope you will tell your friends about us so that we can give a good showing to the owner.  I also hope, that once you folks find out about her that you will remember her when you are in the market for what she makes!

Something else I am working on is an All You Magazine deal for you, my readers.  I have been in touch with one of those companies that sells subscriptions and we are ironing out the details.  All You is a magazine for the frugal minded individual.  It is always full of coupons too!  I subscribed because of the coupons but then when I got the magazine I enjoyed reading it too.  I LOVE the fact that they use women of ALL shapes and sizes to model outfits, jeans, etc. in their articles.  It's not an anorexia model magazine!  There are women in it that look like me.  That impressed me very, very, very much.  Even when I was at my thinnest and most in shape I didn't look like the ladies in Cosmo or Elle and I never will.  I am, however, an All American Real Woman so reading a magazine that celebrates the many shapes and sizes of women has been refreshing.  I just chased a rabbit...sorry.  All of this to tell you to keep your eyes open for when I post the deal for All You Magazine.  It will be one you won't want to pass up!

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Pottery Painting

I'm probably one of the last hold outs on going to one of those pottery painting places to hand decorate something.  When it comes to painting and pottery the best I can do looks like a 3 year old did it.  I don't put colors together well especially when the color that you are painting it is NOT the color it will end up being!!!  My brain doesn't work that way.  So, when the women in my Sunday School class wanted to do a ladies get together at the local pottery place, I groaned, literally.  I totally wasn't going to go but one of my friends, Baby Sam's Mama, LOVES to do that kind of thing.  She emailed me all day yesterday to find out if I was going and could we ride together and all those female details that we need to know.  I went, seriously, only because she wanted to go.  Just being honest!  Once again, I'm glad I went!!!

We went to Art By U on the corner of Hwy 41 and Gunn Road.  The address is Byron but it's not all the way into Byron.  The "studio" is very well laid out and every thing is easily accessible.  The ladies that were working last night were BEYOND helpful and encouraging.  I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed by all the white pottery pieces that there is to choose from and thought, "This is never going to happen."  If they hadn't had finished pieces throughout the store then I probably wouldn't have done anything.  In one corner I saw something that I liked and asked how it was done.  The great thing is they have books and books of ideas if you are like me and can't look at a blank "canvas" and visualize anything.  They have varying sized sponges, all kinds of stencils, and if that isn't enough they will print you something that you can trace onto the pottery with trace paper.  That is what I did so that I could color in the lines!

I ended up doing 2 pieces...not 1 but 2!!!  :-D  I made us a decorative plate to hang somewhere in the house, remember...I don't visualize anything.  I also made a little something for my Mom for Mother's Day.  I won't say what but I will post pictures after next Sunday because I think she reads my blog. ;-)

I had fun (I mean I really had a good time painting those things).  I think it was extra fun because of the ladies I was with but I had a good time.  There was a mother-daughter duo there and a father-son!  When we were wrapping up a few friends came in on a double date night...do you think Bubba would do something like that with me?

If you have never done pottery painting then I highly recommend it!  You don't have to be artistic or creative OR have a steady hand.  Just go and the folks that work there will walk you through everything and you will have a good time.

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Belks Charity Days

I did it.  I went to Belks this morning to stand in line to receive a Belks Gift Card.  We got there at 5 am and were probably the 20th folks in line.  I was very surprised at how few people were there.  By the time they opened the doors at 6 am and handed out the gift cards there were about 50-60 people there.  Next time I will just show up at 6 am!  My poor hubby got very little sleep and now has to spend the day in the heat at the ballfield.  I did reward him with a trip to Waffle House after we got our gift cards.

The gift cards ranged in value between $5 and $1000.  Bubba and I received $5 gift cards so it wasn't a deal for us.  Some lady behind us received a $25 gift card.  I did, however, get some good deals on a few things I wanted and a few I needed.  I wanted another pair of Yellow Box flip flops to add to my collection.  I needed a couple pair of capris for this summer and fall.

Here's how Belks Charity Day works:  you buy a ticket for $5 and that money goes to various charities that Belks has decided to donate to.  I don't have a full list of charities but I saw Habitat for Humanity and a battered women's shelter among them.  Once you have your ticket, you can shop the day before and put your merchandise on hold for the next day or wait until the Saturday of the event to shop.  I shop the day before.  The ticket gets you an additional 25% off what you buy except clearance items.  The ticket also gets you $5 off your final bill so you basically get your $5 back AND you helped a local charity!  The Sale is between 6am and 10am so you must get there somewhat early.  If you are crazy like I was this time then you can get there early and stand in line for one of the 100 gift cards they give away.  Hopefully, your luck will be better and you will get more than $5.

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

VistaPrint Deal

I am so excited!  I just order 500 Mrs. Bubba $ave$ business cards from VistaPrint and all I paid was $6.15 in shipping.  Now when folks ask me:  "How did you do that?!?" when they are in line behind me at the grocery store I can hand them a business card and tell them about the blog.  :-)

Do you have a home business?  Or do you need an easy way to hand out your name, number, or email address?  There are things called "Mommy Cards" and you could use these business cards to have an easy way to keep in touch with the Mom's you meet at the play ground or your child's school.  If 500 is overwhelming then go for 250.  Head over to VistaPrint and pick your card, type in what you want it to say, make sure you select "blank back", and I chose the slowest shipping option they offer. 

They have all kinds of designs!  Are you a baker?  They have cards for that.  Do you make jewelry?  They have cards for that.  Are you a retired (or active) CPA?  They have cards for that!  If you have been holding out on ordering cards, like I have, now is the time.

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba

Gillette Deal at Target 5/2

Kerry over at Totally Target has listed a deal that I am most confident that we will be able to cash in on.  I saw the Gillette Men's Body Wash (small bottle) and Sport Deodorant (small, like .5 oz) marked down at the Target on Watson Blvd.  HERE is the deal IF we get that coupon in our P&G insert!

Standing on His promises,
Mrs. Bubba