The New Frugal Mom

Giveaway: $100.00 eGift Card to Target.com {Courtesy of ShopAtHome.com!}

2009-11-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

Oh boy! Am I excited to share this giveaway with my wonderful readers!

ShopAtHome has quickly become my *fave* cash back shopping site.

Why?

:: Their cash back percentages are generally the highest compared to other cash back shopping sites that I use.

:: They run daily double deals where one store a day offers DOUBLE cash back on your purchase.

:: And ShopAtHome is making your gift shopping easier by offering a daily WILD deal - one smoking hot deal each day that is deeply discounted and puts $$ back in your pocket; click here to see today's WILD deal.

I just received my first check from ShopAtHome last week for my account balance through the end of September. When they tell you the check is in the mail, they really do mean it!

This week, ShopAtHome wants to help you get a head start on your holiday shopping (shop early = more time to actually enjoy the holiday season).

From Monday, November 9 - Monday, November 16, 2009, ShopAtHome is offering EXTRA cash back at some of hottest stores for your holiday shopping. Here's just a few:

Target.com – 6% cash back
Walmart.com – 4% cash back
Kohls.com – 4% cash back
Snapfish.com – 20% cash back
Gap.com – 12% cash back
OldNavy.com – 10% cash back
Macys.com – 8% cash back
Barnes & Noble – 14% cash back
Best Buy – 4% cash back

To get these special holiday extra cash back deals (and many more!), shop from this page.

ShopAtHome also lists available coupons for many of their retailers and they have a Free Shipping Guide to help you save even more money. Follow ShopAtHome on Twitter and fan them on Facebook for exclusive deals.

Hmmm....cash back, coupon codes, free shipping...you can see why my ~~cheap~~ frugal self {hearts} ShopAtHome!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when ShopAtHome contacted me and asked if they could sponsor a giveaway here! And this is a GOOD one, my frugalista friends!

ShopAtHome is sponsoring a giveaway of (1) $100.00 eGift Card to Target for me to give away to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. You MUST be a member of ShopAtHome to qualify for this giveaway; if you aren't already a member, you can get your FREE account (and $5.00 for signing up!) right here. The winning entry MUST have a ShopAtHome account to receive the prize; without an account, you will be disqualified!

2. Leave a comment telling us whether you're an early holiday gift bargain hunter (before Thanksgiving) or a last minute deal seeker. Which one works for you and why?

You can earn an additional (3) chances to win as well.

1. Tweet about this giveaway then come back here and leave me a separate comment to let me know you tweeted (add the url from your tweet please).

2. Post about this giveaway at your blog with a link both to this post; come back and leave the URL of your post in a separate comment.

3. Subscribe to my RSS feed by reader or email and leave a separate comment to let me know you're a new subscriber; you can also drop me a separate comment to let me know if you're already a subscriber for this extra entry.

Remember, you MUST leave me some way to find you online (by email or by your Twitter handle) if you don't have a blog - and if you do have a blog that is not public, be sure to leave me a means of contacting you. Entries with no contact information or means of contacting you online will be disqualified.

This giveaway will end on MONDAY, November 16, 2009, at 10:00 pm EST . I will announce the winner (selected by Random.org) on WEDNESDAY, November 18, 2009.

Good luck!

*DISCLOSURE: I received NO compensation of any sort - money or products or coupons for free products - for writing this post and offering this giveaway. The $100.00 eGift Card is fully sponsored by ShopAtHome; I'm happy to be able to offer this giveaway to my readers. The links to ShopAtHome.com contained in this post are my personal referral link for ShopAtHome.com's Refer-A-Friend program. For more about my personal disclosure policy, read here.

The Dollar Menu: Week of November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T22:34:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned here, I'm compiling the best deals for $1.00 or less at my fave stores each week and posting them as The Dollar Menu posts for each store.

To make it easier for you to navigate this site and find The Dollar Menu posts each week, I'm posting the links to each post here on this master post. I'll do this every week from here on out.

To find The Dollar Menu posts from my header, click the "Weekly $1 Deals" tab and you'll find this master post updated each week.

:: The Dollar Menu @ KROGER, Week of Nov 9, 2009

:: The Dollar Menu @ BIGGS, Week of Nov 9, 2009

:: The Dollar Menu @ CVS, Week of Nov 8, 2009

:: The Dollar Menu @ WALGREENS, Week of Nov 8, 2009

:: The Dollar Menu @ TARGET, Week of Nov 8, 2009

:: The Dollar Menu @ MEIJER, Week of Nov 8, 2009

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Meijer: Week of November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

These are the best deals for $1.00 or less; to see the full ad matchup courtesy of Mommy Snacks, click here.

Remember that Meijer will double coupons up to a maximum doubled value of $1.00 and has a limit of (2) identical coupons per (2) identical items per transaction.

You can also stack a manufacturer's coupon with a printable Meijer store coupons (found at Meijer Mealbox) for even greater savings.

Sale + coupon matchups for $1.00 or less.

Whole Pineapple, $1.99 ea
$0.75/1 Del Monte Pineapple printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Totinos Pizza Rolls, 15 ct, $1.00 ea
$0.40/2, GM 09/30
$1.00/5, GM 10/04
Final price: $0.60-$0.80 ea

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel or Scrambles, $1.99 ea
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Betty Crocker Warm Delights, $1.99 ea
$0.50/1 printable here & here & here
$1.00/4 at Meijer Mealbox
Final price: $0.75 ea

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, $1.79 ea
$0.50/1 printable here & here & here
$1.00/2 at Meijer Mealbox
Final price: $0.50 ea

Betty Crocker Frosting, 12-16 oz tub, $1.49 ea
$0.50/1 printable here & here & here
$1.00/4 at Meijer Mealbox
Final price: $0.25 ea

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, $1.69 ea
$0.50/2 printable here
$1.00/3 at Meijer Mealbox
Final price: $0.86 ea

Shedd's Country Crock Spread, $1.51 ea
$0.40/1, RP 09/20
Final price: $0.71 ea

Clorox Liquid Bleach, 82-96 oz, $1.50 ea
$0.50/2, RP 10/04
Final price: $1.00 ea

Sale items for $1.00 or less.

Broccoli or Cauliflower head, $1.00 ea

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Kroger: Week of November 9, 2009

2009-11-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less this week at Kroger (these are for the Cincinnati region; check for your Kroger ad here).

I've highlighted the best deals for $1.00 or less; to see the full ad matchup, click here (thank you, Mommy Snacks!).

Hot Deals!

Ground Beef, $1.25/lb (sold in 1 lb, 3 lb, & 5 lb chubs)

Save $4.00 instantly when you buy 4 General Mills or Quaker Cereals, $2.50 ea (4/$10.00)
$0.55/1 Kix printable here
$0.55/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch printable here
$1.00/2, SS 11/01 & SS 11/08
$1.00/2 printable here
Final price: $0.50-$1.00 ea

Sale items + coupon matchups for $1.00 or less.

Keebler Townhouse Crackers, $2.00 ea
$1.00/1 Flips printable here
Final price: $1.00 ea

Sandies Cookies, $2.00 ea
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $1.00 ea

Dole Canned Fruit, 15-20 oz, $1.00 ea
$0.50/1 printable here
$1.00/3 Tropical Fruit Mix, SS 11/08
Final price: FREE-$0.67 ea

Del Monte Canned Vegetables, $0.60 ea
$1.00/5, RP 09/20
Final price: $0.40 ea

Land O Lakes Butter, 1 lb, $1.99 ea
$0.50/1, SS 11/01
Final price: $0.99 ea

Nestle Cookie Dough, 13.5-19 oz, $2.00 ea
$1.00/1, SS 10/11 & SS 11/01
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $1.00 ea

Duracell Batteries, 1-4 ct, $1.88 ea
$1.00/1, PG Esaver
Final price: $0.88 ea

Other sale items $1.00 or less.

Bananas, $0.39/lb

Avocados, $1.00 ea

Eggs, 1 doz, $1.00 ea

Kroger Cream Cheese, 8 oz, $0.99 ea

Remember, Kroger redeems unlimited doubled coupons and doubles coupons to a maximum value of $1.00 ($0.50-$0.99 face value coupons all double to $1.00; $0.49 or less face value coupons simply double).

Did you score some sweet deals at Kroger this week? Come join the fun at my Let's Go Krogering! post every Tuesday. Post your trip and drop your link!

Did I miss any $1.00 or less deals? Leave a comment and add what you know!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Biggs: Week of November 9, 2009

2009-11-08T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at Biggs this week. Be sure to check the weekly ad for Biggs right here for more deals.

Hot Deals!

FREE Gallon of Milk when you buy (3) Kellogg's Cereals (assorted varieties; prices not given in ad)
-->$1.00/1, RP 11/08
-->$1.00/1 Cornflakes Touch of Honey printable here
-->$1.00/2, SS 10/18
Final price: varies on cereal; milk is FREE!

FREE Breyers Ice Cream when you buy (1) Sara Lee Oven Fresh Pie, $3.49
Final price: $3.49 for both the pie and the ice cream!

Coupon matchups for $1.00 or less

Yoplait Light Yogurt Cups, 6 oz, $0.50 ea
$0.40/6, SS 11/08
Buy6Get1FREE, SS 10/18
$1.00/8 printable here
$0.50/6 printable here and here
Final price: $0.38-$0.44 ea

Coffee-Mate Creamers, 16 oz, $1.99 ea (holiday flavors)
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Lindsay Olives, 6 oz, $1.39 ea
$1.00/2 printable here
Final price: $0.89 ea

Green Giant Vegetables, 7-10 oz, $1.25 ea
$0.60/3, SS 10/4
$0.50/2 printable here
Final price: $1.00-$1.05 ea

Colgate Toothpaste or Toothbrush, $1.99 ea
$1.00/1, SS 10/25 & SS 11/01
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Sale Items for $1.00 or less

Farm Fresh Grade A Frozen Turkey, $0.59/lb

Flavorite Cream Cheese, 8 oz, $0.99 ea

Handi-foil Rack Roaster, 16"x11", $0.99 ea

Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener, $1.00 ea

Now through January 4, 2010, earn TRIPLE Pumps Perks on participating gift card purchases!

Remember, Biggs does NOT double coupons during normal sale weeks. Twice this year (June and early October), Biggs held triple/double coupon sale events - let's hope they decide to hold them more frequently!

This post is part of the Grocery Gathering at BeCentsAble. You can find the best deals at your stores at the Grocery Gathering.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Target: Week of November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at Target this week, courtesy of Marcy at Stretching a Buck (click on over to see the full ad matchup!). Be sure to check the weekly ad for Target right here for more deals and your regional prices.

Remember you can stack a manufacturer coupon with a printable Target store coupon for extra savings. ;-)

Be sure to check out the ongoing $Money Maker$ Gift Card deal on Glade Holiday Scented candles right here.

Coupon + sale items for $1.00 or less.

Dannon Activia Yogurt, $2.00 ea
-->$1.00/1, SS 08/09 & SS 10/04 & SS 11/01
Final price: $1.00 ea

Mr. Potato Head Spud Buds (Christmas themed), $5.99 ea
-->$5.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Ongoing items for $1.00 or less.

Chex Mix, 8 oz bag, $1.99 (Cincinnati region price)
$0.50/1 printable here
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.24 ea

Skippy Peanut Butter, $1.99 ea (Cincinnati region price)
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls, $2.29 ea
$1.00/2, RP 8/30
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.79 ea

Duncan Hines Cake Mix, $0.97 ea
$0.55/2, SS 10/11
$0.50/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.20-0.45 ea when you buy 2 and use 2 Target coupons

Kraft Marshmallows, $1.02 ea
$1.00/2 Target printable here
Final price: $0.52 ea when you buy 2

Degree Body Spray and Deodorant, $3.29-3.99 ea
$1.50/1 printable here
$3.00/2 Target printable here
Final price: $0.29-$0.99 ea

Musselman's Totally Fruit, $1.54 ea
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.54 ea

Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, $0.69 ea
$0.60/2 printable here
Final price: $0.39 ea when you buy 2

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Pasta - $1.19/ea
$1.00/2 printable here
Final price: $0.69 ea when you buy 2

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Walgreens: Week of November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at Walgreens this week. Be sure to check the weekly ad for Walgreens right here for more deals.

New to shopping at Walgreens? Not sure how it works? Learn about the RR (Register Rewards) program and more in my How to Save Big at Walgreens post.

Click here for the full matchup here (thank you, Bargain Briana!).

**It was reported that there would be a $5.00/$25.00 coupon in this Sunday's Walgreens Ad (a wraparound); I can't confirm this as my Sunday paper inserts did not include a Walgreens ad this week. Check page 18 of your ad for yours if you don't see a wraparound. ;-) **

RR + Coupon matchups for $1.00 or less.

Breeze 2 or Contour Meter, $14.99 (earns $5.00 RRs)
-->$30.00/1, RP 10/25 (coupon price will be adjusted down to $14.99)
Final price: FREE + $5.00 overage after RRs
(These are great donation item!)

Coupon matchups for $1.00 or less.

Betty Crocker Frosting, 1.29 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4
-->$0.50/1, SS 10/25
Final price: $0.79 ea

Gold Medal Flour, 5 lbs, $1.50 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4
-->$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $1.00 ea

Betty Crocker Warm Delights, $0.99 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4
-->$0.50/1, SS 10/04
Final price: $0.49 ea

Progresso Soup, $1.25 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4
-->$1.00/4, SS 10/25
Final price: $1.00 ea

Carnation Evaporated Milk, 12 oz, $0.99 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3
-->$0.50/2 printable here
Final price: $0.75 ea

Kleenex Tissues, $1.09 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3
-->$0.50/3 printable here
Final price: $0.93 ea

Glade Spray, $0.99 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3
-->Buy1Get1FREE, SS 11/01
-->$1.00/2, SS 11/01 (different regions)
Final price: $0.50 ea

Halls Cough Drops, $0.99 ea
-->$1.00/2, SS 11/08
Final price: $0.50 ea

Sale items for $1.00 or less.

Encore Gourmet Spices, $0.50 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 6

Chicken of the Sea Tuna cans, $0.69 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Baking Soda, Salt, Baking Powder, Corn Starch, $0.50 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Jiffy Muffin Mix, $0.50 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Ajax Dish Liquid, $0.89 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3

Eggs, 1 dozen, $0.99 ea

Deerfield Farms Cream Cheese, $0.89 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Jell-o, $0.50 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Royal Instant Pudding, $0.25 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 4

Blue Bonnet Margarine, $0.66 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3

Libby's Pumpkin, 15 oz, $0.99 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3

Jet Puffed Marshmallows or Fluff, $0.99 ea (with in-ad coupon) limit 3

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ CVS: Week of November 8, 2009

2009-11-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at CVS this week. Be sure to check the weekly ad for CVS right here for more deals.

New to shopping at CVS? Not sure how it works? Learn about the ECB (Extra Care Bucks) program and more in my How to Save Big at CVS post.

Click here to view the full ad matchup (coutesy of SlickDeals!).

FREE after ECBs

Nova Max Blood Glucose Meter, $9.99 (Earns $9.99 ECBs) limit 1

EARinse, $7.99 (Earns $7.99 ECBs) limit 1

$1.00 or less after coupon + ECBs

Crest Pro Health 6 oz, with Scope 8 oz, Vivid White or Sensitivity 4.1 oz Toothpaste, 2/$6.98 (Earns $4.00 ECBs) limit 1
-->$1.00/1 (all varieties included), PG 11/01
Final price: $0.48 ea after (2) coupons + $4.00 ECBs

Sale Items $1.00 or less.

Welch's, Veryfine, or Lipton, juice or iced tea, 14-20 oz single bottles, $1.00 ea

Bowl Appetit! or Simply Asia Entrees, $1.00 ea

Gatorade, 32 0z, $1.00

Izze, 12 oz, $1.00

Glade Spray, $0.99 ea
-->Buy1Get1FREE, SS 11/01
-->$1.00/2, SS 11/01 (different region)
Final price: $0.50 ea

Renuzit Aroma Air Freshener, $0.99 ea
-->Buy2Get1FREE, SS 11/08, SS 10/04
Final price: $0.66 ea

Ajax Dish Liquid Soap, 16 oz, $0.77 ea

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz, $0.88 ea

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Super Savings Saturday: November's Grocery Budget Challenge!

2009-11-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

I detailed the final tally of my October budget challenge in this post last Saturday. I overshot my goal of $250 for the month but still beat my original budget amount.

Now that it's November, I'm challenging myself once again. With the great Mega Event at Kroger the past two weeks, I'm optimistic that I can hit or beat my goal of $250 this month.

So how did I do this week?

Kroger:

For details on the coupons I used, see my Let's Go Krogering post here

Spent: $68.76
Saved: $102.19, or 59%

Walgreens:

Used (2) $1.00/1 Mitchum, SS 11/01 + sale priced Mitchum $1.99 with in-ad coupon
Used $9.00 in RRs that were expiring

Spent: $3.24
Saved: $18.00, or 85%
Earned: $5.00 RRs on the (4) boxed chocolates (which will be saved for teacher gifts!)

And I had a quick trip into Kroger last Sunday for bagels, donuts (a treat for the kiddos for *mostly* behaving at Mass), and an extra newspaper after church.

Spent: $9.26
Saved: $0.50

My weekly totals:

Spent: $81.26
Saved: $120.69, or 60%

I'm above where I should be for the week (to come in at or under $250 for the month, I should be spending about $62 per week) but I'm confident I'll be spending less next week. I plan on heading to Kroger for the last freebies and cheabies from the Mega Event and...drumroll please...the new Aldi's just opened in our town! Even better, there were $5.00/$30.00 coupons for Aldi's in my circulars last weekend. Sweet!

If you've never shopped at Aldi's before and have wondered if there are great deals to be found, the answer is yes and no. Aldi's is a basic grocery store with no frills; when we lived in Illinois and my shopping choices were few, I discovered how to shop and save at both Aldi's and Save-A-Lot.

The best savings at Aldi's are on staple pantry or baking items (flour, sugar, pasta, canned veggies, etc), things you'll likely be using quite a bit of as the holiday season gets into full swing. You can also find decent savings on fresh fruits and veggies as well as on eggs, cheese, and milk.

Looking for recipes for meals you can make with items you buy from the more limited selection at Aldi's? Click here or here; Amy at MomAdvice has already done the work for you!

I hope you saved a *ton* this week with your humble little coupons . If you find that your pantry - like mine - overfloweth, consider donating some of your extras to your local food pantry; click here to locate one close to you. The need is great, my friends, and we can help!

This post is linked to Money Saving Mom's weekly Super Savings Saturday - click over and see how much smart frugalistas around the blogosphere saved this week!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Taking Action: Stuff the Shelves at Brighton Center in NKY

2009-11-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Coupons, coupons, coupons -- do they really work?

Can you really save money and have a well-stocked pantry?

Yes, you can, and what's more, you find yourself with more than you need more often than not. More than you can use in a month, much less two or three.

And that is where the ability to give to others in need becomes part of the frugal couponers life.

If you're in the greater Cincinnati/Northern KY area and are more connected than I've been this last 24 hour cycle, you've likely heard about how Heather Tenney (aka LMKIA) sparked a HUGE donation drive to the Brighton Food Pantry which as of Thursday was down to their last box of Cheerios.

Not so any longer - go here to see just some of what local tri-state frugalistas donated (along with some of my fave hometown corporations and radio stations) on Friday. Absolutely amazing.

It all started with this post by Heather putting out the call to her readers of the dire situation at Brighton Center. Since Brighton Center served more than 800 families in October of 2009, having no food on their shelves would have been devastating.

Thanks to all who drove down and donated today, that won't happen.

I take for granted how easy it is for me to donate to my local food pantry here in Lebanon; at our church and school, we have a basket in the foyer to receive donations. All I have to do is toss my extras in the van on my way to school drop off and walk them in with my kiddos.

For those of you out there who read about the amazing frugalista faith in action down in NKY today, those of you who wanted to donate but couldn't make it there, I urge you to locate your local food bank so you can make plans to give from your house of plenty. The need is higher than ever this year and the cold winter months are still ahead of us.

Click here to locate the food bank nearest you via FeedingAmerica. If your church or school or community center doesn't already have a donation basket or barrel for your local food bank, I'm betting the folks who run the food bank would be happy to partner with you in making that happen.

Now I need to hop off and gather some more goodies from my own pantry to haul into church on Sunday!

Have a wonderful evening and remember the next time you're in line with your stack-o-coupons and someone behind you in line gets irritated with you, you can tell them that your "little" coupons not only equal {lots} more cash in your pocket but also equal WAY more donations for your food bank.

Let 'em stew and get Scrooge-y over that, m'kay?! ;-)

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom

Freebie Roundup!

2009-11-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Time to grab some freebies and make your mailbox happy!

:: Worried about H1N1? Request a FREE Flu Pak here.

:: Fan Gorton's on Facebook and request a 2010 calendar and $10.00 of coupons right here.

:: Philly readers - or readers w/friends in Philadelphia - click here to register for (2) FREE tickets to a Sixers game. Free fun!

:: Get (2) FREE issues of Family Circle Magazine here.

:: Request a FREE sample of Kirkland Signature Supreme Diapers right here.

:: Shipping gifts this holiday season? Request a FREE sample of Avery Shipping Labels right here.

:: Print a coupon for a FREE small spaghetti at Fazoli's right here. (Exp. 01/2010) Yum!

:: Print a coupon for a FREE oil change at Tires Plus right here (Exp. 12/31/09). To find a Tires Plus near you, click here.

:: Fighting the potty battle with your little one? Request a FREE potty training kit from Pampers right here.

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales Information Sites

2009-11-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you're planning on shopping during the Black Friday sales this year (the day - or night - after Thanksgiving), get a head start on your planning with these sites.

:: DealTaker.com Black Friday 2009

:: Master Index of Black Friday Ads 2009 at SlickDeals.net and Official Black Friday 2009 Deals & Ad List & Discussion Thread at SlickDeals.net

:: Black Friday 2009 Ads posted & listed at HotCouponWorld.com

If you're more like me and prefer to avoid the crazy crowds and shopping during the wee hours of the night, you can get ready for Cyber Monday (11/30/09) this year with these sites; they don't have too much information yet but I would definitely bookmark them and check throughout the month:

:: DealTaker.com Cyber Monday 2009

And while Black Friday is traditionally an in-store event for retailers, you'll see online deals on Black Friday as well.

Don't forget when you shop online to shop through a rebate site that pays YOU a percentage back when you shop online.

ShopAtHome ($5.00 bonus for new members)

Ebates ($5.00 bonus for new members)

Cashbaq ($5.00 bonus for new members)

Mr. Rebates ($5.00 bonus for new members)

Big Crumbs

Because all of the above sites offer varying percentages back at the same stores, it's a good idea to join all of them. Then when you're getting ready to do any transactions online (all the time, not just for Cyber Monday), you can search to see which site will rebate you the highest percentage.

Do you know of any great sites for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Share 'em in a comment below!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Hip Hip Hurray Giveaway - Link YOUR Giveaway!

2009-11-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have a great giveaway coming up next Monday (November 9) so be sure to check back then!

Are you running a giveaway over at your webjoint? Drop your giveaway post link and spread the news!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Let's Go Krogering! Week of November 2, 2009

2009-11-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

Do love finding deals at your Kroger? This feature is for you! Link your post about what deals you found at your local Kroger or Kroger-affiliated store. Simple rules are here; the 149x149 button is in my sidebar. {This week, it really is!}

Feel free to link up to this all week and share the good deals you find at your local Kroger or Kroger-affiliated store! As always, please add a link back to me in your Krogering post. Not sure how to do this? Just email me and I'll walk you through it!

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You can view the ad matchup for this week at Kroger (it's an awesome Mega Event week!) right here (thanks to Andrea at MommySnacks!).

Looking for the very best deals? Click here to see deals for $1 or less at Kroger this week.

My Kroger trip, Monday, November 2, 2009:

Spent: $68.76
Saved: $102.19, or 59%

Yes, I know. I bought a lot of Cheez-Its this week. ;-)

The extra coupons I ordered from this coupon clipping service arrived and I put some of them to use on this trip. The Cheez-Its are a HUGE deal for my family as all my kids love snacking on them. Getting 10 boxes for $2.50 after all the coupons and sales means big savings for me!

I also stocked up on the Del Monte Tomatoes; I use them in all sorts of recipes, especially in the cold weather months when fresh tomatoes are spendy.

I still have several coupons left for items that are worth stockpiling for my family (hello - $1.00 laundry detergent!) and I'll likely make one last trip to Kroger on Sunday evening before the sale ends.

Once again, on the left side of the table are my Mega Event sale purchases. I had a total of (40) Mega Event items this week. I {heart} this kind of sale.

I picked up our Thanksgiving turkey, too! They're $0.77/lb this week with an additional $10 purchase. ;-)

Here's the coupons I used:

$1.00/5 Del Monte Tomatoes, RP 09/20

$1.50/2 Cheez-Its, RP 10/4

$0.55/1 Hormel Pepperoni, SS 11/01

$0.75/2 BumbleBee Tuna Pouches, Kroger catalina (I had 2 of these)

$0.50/1 Frank's Hot Sauce, SS 10/04

$1.00/1 Nestle Toll House Morsels, SS 11/01

$0.50/3 Kleenex, SS 11/01

$1.00/2 Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies, printable here

$0.75/1 Wishbone Dressing, printable here

$0.75/1 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, printable here

$1.00/1 Dannon Multipack, SS 10/04 & SS 11/01

$1.00/1 Kroger Fresh Selections Salad, Kroger catalina

This sale is a 2 week event, ending November 8, 2009. You still have time to order coupons from a coupon clipping service like this one or this one if you see items in the sale that are worth stockpiling for your family.

How'd you do at Kroger (or your Kroger-affiliated grocery store) this week? Link *your* Let's Go Krogering! post all week and help another reader save some $$!

**As always, please add a link back to my Let's Go Krogering! post in your Krogering post and be sure that you add your post's permalink to the Mr. Linky so everyone else can find your deals (rather than just linking back to your blog's homepage). Need help doing this? Email me and I'll walk you through it!**

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Baking Day Live Blogging with Money Saving Mom & Life as MOM

2009-11-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away (3 weeks and 3 days, but who's counting?); if you're the hostess with the mostest this year, getting a head start on your holiday baking and prepping will save you oodles of time...and stress!

Crystal at Money Saving Mom and FishMama from Life as MOM are hosting a live-blogging Freezer Cooking Day tomorrow, November 2. You can get all the details you need to know right here.

I won't be participating in tomorrow's Freezer Cooking Day - I've got a full day - but I'll definitely be tying on my apron and getting my kitchen messy as Thanksgiving draws closer. I host Thanksgiving each year; I'll chat more about getting ready to cook for and host the big day later this week.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Free Sample of Folger's Coffee

2009-11-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

Request a FREE sample of Folger's Coffee right here; when I requested mine, there were still 3,100 samples left!

I have to tell ya, free coffee samples are one of my faves - this mom runs on coffee!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Meijer: Week of November 1, 2009

2009-11-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Dollar Menu @ Kroger: Week of November 2, 2009

2009-11-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less this week at Kroger (these are for the Cincinnati region; check for your Kroger ad here).

Holy cannoli! It's another week of the deal-busting 10 Item Mega Event at Kroger and the ad matchup is re-DONK-ulous! I'll highlight the best deals for $1.00 or less but to see the full ad matchup, click here (thank you, Mommy Snacks!).

10 Item Mega Event Coupon Matchups $1.00 or less

Pepperidge Farm Frozen Bread, $1.99 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/4
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Birdseye Steam Fresh Veggies, $2.00 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/18
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Chex Mix, $1.99 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/25
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Cheez-Its, 7.5 oz, $1.49ea
$1.50/2, RP 10/4
Final price: $0.24 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Nestle Toll House Morsels, $2.49 ea
$1.00/1, SS 11/01
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Carnation Evaporated Milk, 12 oz, $1.00
$0.50/2, SS 09/27
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, $1.49 ea
$0.75/1 printable here
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Heinz Ketchup, $1.99 ea
$0.75/1, SS 10/04
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Frank's Hot Sauce, $1.99 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/4
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies, $1.49 ea
$1.00/2 printable here
Final price: $0.49 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Pepperidge Farm Cookies, $2.49 ea
$0.55/1, SS 9/27
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Pepperidge Farm Crackers, $2.49 ea
$1.00/1, SS 10/4 & SS 11/01
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Quaker Instant Oatmeal, $1.99 ea
$1.00/2, RP 10/11
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Ball Park Hot Dogs, $1.99 ea
$1.00/2, RP 10/18
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Del Monte Canned Tomatoes, $0.99 ea
$1.00/5, RP 9/20
Final price: $0.29 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Duncan Hines Frosting, $1.67 ea
$0.55/2, SS 10/11
Final price: $0.67 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Krusteaz Pancake Mix, $1.67 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/11
Final price: $0.17 ea

Dannon Yogurt, $1.99 ea (multi-packs)
$1.00/1, SS 10/04 & 11/01
Final price: $0.49 ea

Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough, $2.49
$0.55/1 printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

All Laundry Detergent, $3.49 ea
$2.00/1, RP 10/04
Final price: $0.99 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Snuggle Fabric Softener, $3.49 ea
$3.00/1, RP 10/04
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Aquafresh Toothpaste, $2.50 ea
$1.00/1, RP 9/20
Final price: $1.00 after Mega Event discount + coupon

Ricola Cough Drops, $1.00 ea
Buy1Get1FREE, SS 10/11
Final Price: (2) FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Kotex Products, $2.50 ea
$2.00/2, SS 10/04
Final price: $1.00 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Carefree Liners, $2.50 ea
$1.00/1, SS 08/30
Final price: $1.00 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Kleenex, $1.49 ea
$0.50/3, SS 11/01
Final price: $0.67 ea after Mega Event discount + coupon

Sunny Delight, $1.39 ea
$0.55/1 printable here
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Wishbone Salad Dressing, $1.99 ea
$0.75/1 printable here
Final price: $0.49 after Mega Event discount + coupon

Bumblebee Tuna Pouches, $0.99 ea
$0.55/1, SS 09/13
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Land o Lakes Spreadable Butter, $1.49 ea
$0.50/1, SS 11/01
Final price: FREE after Mega Event discount + coupon

Other Sale Items $1.00 or less

$0.77/lb Private Selection Frozen Butter Basted Turkeys (with additional $10 purchase; limit 2)

$1.00 ea Half Gallon Milk

$1.00 ea Pomegranates

Remember, Kroger redeems unlimited doubled coupons and doubles coupons to a maximum value of $1.00 ($0.50-$0.99 face value coupons all double to $1.00; $0.49 or less face value coupons simply double).

Did you score some sweet deals at Kroger this week? Come join the fun at my Let's Go Krogering! post every Tuesday. Post your trip and drop your link!

Did I miss any $1.00 or less deals? Leave a comment and add what you know!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Target: Week of November 1, 2009

2009-11-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at Target this week, courtesy of Marcy at Stretching a Buck (click on over to see the full ad matchup!). Be sure to check the weekly ad for Target right here for more deals and your regional prices.

Remember you can stack a manufacturer coupon with a printable Target store coupon for extra savings.

Be sure to check out the ongoing $Money Maker$ Gift Card deal on Glade Holiday Scented candles right here.

Coupon + sale items for $1.00 or less.

Huggies Baby Wipes (tub, 64-72 ct), $1.99 ea
$0.50/1, SS 10/25
$1.00/1 Target coupon, SS 10/25 (not all regions received this coupon)
Final price: $0.49 ea

Healthy Choice Frozen Meals, $2.50 ea
$2.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.50 ea

Kelloggs Cereal (various) $2.66 *BUY 3, GET 1 FREE Sale!!*
Various printables available here
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.25-$1.00 ea when you buy 4 and use (3) Target coupons

Ongoing items for $1.00 or less.

Chex Mix, 8 oz bag, $1.99 (Cincinnati region price)
$0.50/1 printable here
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.24 ea

Skippy Peanut Butter, $1.99 ea (Cincinnati region price)
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls, $2.29 ea
$1.00/2, RP 8/30
$1.00/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.79 ea

Duncan Hines Cake Mix, $0.97 ea
$0.55/2, SS 10/11
$0.50/1 Target printable here
Final price: $0.20-0.45 ea when you buy 2 and use 2 Target coupons

Kraft Marshmallows, $1.02 ea
$1.00/2 Target printable here
Final price: $0.52 ea when you buy 2

Degree Body Spray and Deodorant, $3.29-3.99 ea
$1.50/1 printable here
$3.00/2 Target printable here
Final price: $0.29-$0.99 ea

Musselman's Totally Fruit, $1.54 ea
$1.00/1 printable here
Final price: $0.54 ea

Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, $0.69 ea
$0.60/2 printable here
Final price: $0.39 ea when you buy 2

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Pasta - $1.19/ea
$1.00/2 printable here
Final price: $0.69 ea when you buy 2

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Walgreens: Week of November 1, 2009

2009-11-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Dollar Menu @ CVS: Week of November 1, 2009

2009-11-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at CVS this week. Be sure to check the weekly ad for CVS right here for more deals.

New to shopping at CVS? Not sure how it works? Learn about the ECB (Extra Care Bucks) program and more in my How to Save Big at CVS post.

Click here to view the full ad matchup (thank you, Bargain Briana!).

ECB + Coupon matchups for $1.00 or less.

Colgate Total Toothpaste, $2.99 (earns $1.00 ECB)
$1.00/1, SS 10/25
Final price: $0.99 after coupon and ECB

Gillette Disposable Razors, 2-12 ct, $5.99 (earns $2.00 ECBs)
$3.00/1, PG 11/01
Final price: $0.99 after coupon and ECBs

Coke 2 Liter, $1.50 ea (earn $1.00 ECB when you buy 2)
Final price: $1.00 ea after ECB

Plackers Dental Flossers, $2.99 (earns $2.00 ECBs)
$0.50/1, RP 11/01
Final price: $0.49 after coupon and ECBs

Sale Items $1.00 or less.

Hershey or Nestle Singles, $0.67 ea
Dawn Dish Liquid, $0.97 ea
$0.25/1, PG 11/01
Final price: $0.72 ea

Combos $1.50 ea
$1.00/2, RP 09/13
Final price: $1.00 ea

Pert Plus for Men, $2.50 ea
$1.50/1, SS 10/18
Final price: $1.00 ea

Sure Deodorant, $2.50 ea
$1.50/1, Ss 10/18
Final price: $1.00 ea

CVS Cough Drops, 1.00 ea

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The Dollar Menu @ Bigg's: Week of November 1, 2009

2009-11-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here are the best deals for $1.00 or less at Bigg's this week. Be sure to check the weekly ad for Biggs right here for more deals.

Coupon matchups for $1.00 or less

Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, 6 oz, $0.50 ea
$1.00/10, SS 10/25 & SS 09/27 & SS 09/13
Final price: $0.40 ea

Colgate Toothbrush or Toothpaste, $1.99 ea
$1.00/1 Toothpaste, SS 11/01 & SS 10/25 & printable here
Final price: $0.99 ea

Dial Holiday Hand Soap, $1.33 ea
$0.35/1, SS 10/04
$0.55/1 printable here
Final price: $0.78-$0.98 ea

Del Monte Fruit Cups, 8 oz, $1.00 ea
$1.00/2 printable here
$1.00/3 printable here
Final price: $0.50-$0.67 ea

Sale Items for $1.00 or less

Michigan Red Delicious Apples, $0.35/lb (sold in an 8 lb bag for $2.80)

Farm Fresh Grade A Frozen Turkey, $0.59/lb

Ajax Dish Detergent, 16 oz, $1.00 ea

Welch's Grape Juice Cocktail, 11.5 oz frozen, $1.00 ea

Hunt's Manwich, 15-16 oz, $1.00

Mangoes, $1.00 ea

Idaho Spuddies b-sized Russet Potatoes, 2 lb bag, $0.99 ea

Buddig Thin Sliced Lunch Meats, 2 oz, $0.50 ea

Sylvania Soft White Light Bulbs, 4 pk, $0.89 ea

Remember, Biggs does NOT double coupons during normal sale weeks. Twice this year (June and early October), Biggs held triple/double coupon sale events - let's hope they decide to hold them more frequently!

This post is part of the Grocery Gathering at BeCentsAble.net - find the best deals at your stores at the Grocery Gathering.

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Baby Einstein Refund: $15.99 per DVD Title (Up to 4 per Household)

2009-11-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

If you bought any Baby Einstein DVDs between June 5, 2004 and September 5, 2009, you can get a refund of $15.99 per title (up to 4 titles per household).

Seems that the Baby Einstein DVD series (owned by Disney) claimed to be educational; this claim was challenged in court and the result is a few extra dollars in your pocket...up to $63.96 extra dollars!

To see the full article about the refund at iVillage, click here.

To print the refund form (and all the legal fine print) click here.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Monthly Savings: October Grocery Challenge Tally

2009-10-31T03:00:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned in a few of my posts this month that I challenged myself early in the month of October (right after the fantastico Triple/Double Coupon Event at Biggs) to see if I could keep our monthly grocery and household budget to $250, a full $100 less than I had budgeted for the month.

As October finishes up, here's how I did:

Total spent: $292.44

That amount includes everything I spent on groceries, household items, and drugstore items for my big-eating family of five (who drink more milk than a bunch of calves, I tell ya!). It's way past my challenge amount of $250, but still a respectable $57 less than I had budgeted.

I wish I could give you an accurate amount of just how much I saved this month because then you'd get a fuller picture of just how far I've stretched my dollars with the help of some humble little coupons. But this intrepid mom blogger wasn't quite that detail-oriented. My weekly savings at Kroger are documented in my Let's Go Krogering! posts but other than that, I didn't track the amount saved on each receipt from CVS, Walgreens, and Meijer.

I do feel confident in making an estimate of at least 50% savings on average, and that's a low average in my opinion given many of the stellar sales and deals I found this month.

Saving a minimum of 50% means I saved at least $292.44 on what I bought this month, or, to look at it another way, I bought $584.88 worth of stuff this month and paid only $292.44 for it.

Why post about this? Why post pictures of what I buy, how much I spent, how much I saved, and what coupons I used each week when I go Krogering and deal hunting elsewhere?

Because I wasn't always a couponer. I used to shop far more impulsively a few years back - despite even then having a weekly meal plan - without considering current sales, sale trends, coupon matchups, stockpiling, and holding onto every.darn.coupon that comes my way until it expires.

I spent much more in those days and wondered how, oh how, would I feed my growing family in the coming years as they grew and ate more...and more...and more.

Maybe that's you - maybe you've stumbled across this blog as you search online for ways to slash your grocery budget. Maybe you're struggling like so many folks are in this current economy, trying to keep everything paid while feeding the family and maybe, just maybe, putting a little aside for your future.

If you're new to couponing, click around this blog and please, visit the sites listed on my blogroll. Read and learn and give it a try.

Coupons, when used strategically with sales, will consistently week-after-week save you BIG money. And as my friend Carrie says, saving money is making money.

You can also get a great start by reading my Couponing Crash Course, a four part series, right here. Feel free to comment with questions and I'll do my best to answer them in the comments.

I'm going to challenge myself once again for November, even with Thanksgiving coming, to $250 for the month. I'll keep you updated!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Target Toy Coupon Book - In Store November 8, 2009

2009-10-30T17:36:00.001-07:00

Target's Toy Coupon Book is already available at stores in certain regions; for a glimpse of what it looks like, see Coupon Cravings post about it right here (thanks Erin!).

I popped into my Target store today to grab a few things and asked the ladies at the Customer Service Desk if they had any copies of the Toy Coupon Book. They did not, but they did have a memo about when/how it will be available that they were kind enough to share with me.

Target Toy Coupon Books:

-->Mailed to customers on the coupon mailing list on or after November 4, 2009. If you regularly receive coupons from Target (the latest ones have been for their rebranded Up&Up generic items), you'll likely get the Toy Coupon Book in the mail as well.

-->Included in the Sunday newspapers on November 8, 2009.

-->Available in-store on/after November 8, 2009.

I'm in the greater Cincinnati region, so these dates may be specific to our region. If you're at your Target this weekend, take a minute to ask when/if the Toy Coupon Books are available at the customer service desk.

Remember, these are Target store coupons, meaning they would be stackable with any available manufacturer coupons.

To see the full list of coupons in the book, click here.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!