Sunday 8-21-11

Don't forget to get your papers today! Check out I Am That Lady and Coupon Mom for week's coupon match-ups.

Save $$$ on Bubble Bath

I ran out of bubble bath for my LO yesterday. I haven't seen bubble bath deal yet, so I've been holding out on restocking (although I paid less than $3 for a 64 oz bottle that has lasted me months). I decided to use my bodywash as a substitute (White Rain purchased at Shoprite for $.66). Problem solved! Two squirts produced tons of bubbles that lasted the entire bath. The bodywash actually worked a lot better than the bubble bath I was using. I'll try one squirt tomorrow.

Couponing Tip #1: DON"T Clip!!!

Despite tons of advice not to, I clipped all my inserts my first few months of couponing. I ran out and bought a binder and baseball card sleeves and put together a beautifully organized system. As my coupon stockpile began to grow I quickly ran out of sleeves, which cost $8/pack of 30. I waited until I had a 40% off coupon and paid $4.80, but at the rate I was going this was going to get expensive, defeating the whole purpose of couponing in the first place. Clipping every insert every week was also taking way too long, and by the next Sunday I had a fresh new pile of inserts to go with the pile of half clipped inserts from the week before. Coupons were everywhere! This method was not going to work for my family and I.

I cleared out a shelf in the bookcase I use for craft supplies. I began sorting my inserts by type (RP or SS), date, and paper (different papers have different versions of the same insert). I then clipped my sorted piles together, wrote the date in black marker on the front cover of the top insert, and stacked them on the shelf. My coupons are still organized and easy to find, but the time I save is invaluable.

Excellent Websites for Toddlers and Preschoolers

I'm always looking for fun, easy, and free ways to teach my 2 yo. Online games are perfect for this. Here's a list of some amazing sites for toddlers and preschoolers:

Fisher Price
This site has games that are user friendly for infants right through preschool. It was the only site I was able to use with my son before he mastered the mouse. The infant games only require tiny fingers to strike the keyboard! This is a great way to introduce you LO to computers.

PBS
This is currently one of my son's favorite websites. The games are fun, highly educational, and easy enough for children to play by themselves (great when mommy needs to get something done).

Nick Jr.
This is another one of my son's favorites. Like PBS, the games are fun and easy to use, but I prefer PBS for actual learning.

Starfall
This is my favorite site right now.  This site focuses on phonics, and is perfect for early readers. The games are easy enough for young children to do alone, but I highly recommend you do the activities with your child to get the most out of it.

What are some of your favorite websites for preschoolers?

6/12-6/18 Deal Ideas

Price Chopper

• Kotex Maxi Pads
• 2/$5 - $2/2 coupon = 2/$3
• Kotex Tampons
• 2/$5 - $1.50/2 coupon = 2/$3.50

Shoprite

• Think Thin Protein Bars
• $1.49 each - $0.50/1 coupon doubled = $0.50 each
• coupon here: Think Thin Coupons

Stop & Shop

• General Mills Cereal
• 2/$4 ($2/box) - $1/3 coupon = 3/$5
• Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta
• 10/$10 ($1 each) - $1/1 coupon = FREE
• Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries
• 2/$5 ($2.50 each) -$1/1 coupon = $1.50 each
• Hormel Compleats
• 2/$4 - $1/1 coupon - $3 WYB 8 = 8/$5

Walgreens

• Dial Bodywash
• $2.99 - $2/1 coupon = $0.99

Menu Monday

Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Lasagna w/ Veggies
Wednesday: Grilled Steak, Hotdogs, & Kielbasa w/ Rice & Veggies
Thursday: BBQ Meatloaf w/ Veggies
Friday: KFC Style Chicken Bowl

6/10 Shopping Trip

I went out yesterday to get the Bounty paper towels, but the Staples near me did not have them on sale. I went to a few other stores in the area and found some other deals:


SHOPRITE:

• (3) Brut deodorants
• on sale for $0.99 each - $1/1 coupons = FREE
• (6) Zone protein bars
• on sale for $1.25 each - $0.75/1 coupon, which doubled to $1.50 = FREE
• (7) Ken's Steakhouse marinades
• on sale for $1.99 each - $1/1 coupon = $1.00 each

Retail Value: $38.18
I paid: $8.07
I saved: 30.11 or 79%

WALGREENS

• (1) Tylenol Precise Heat Patch
• (1) Tylenol Precise Pain Reliever Cream
• both on sale for $5.99 - $2/1 coupon = $3.99 each
• (1) Silly Bands (added so I could use my RR)
• on sale for $0.25 - $4 RR

Retail Value: $18.47
I paid: $8.07
I saved: $14.24 or 77%

 RITE AID

• (2) Disney Gummies multivitamins
• BOGO sale $7.29 - $1/1 coupon = $3.15 each

Retail Value: $14.58
I paid: 6.99
I saved: 50%

My stockpile is growing!