$10 off of $25 at JCPenneys - Printable Coupon

JCPenney's has a printable coupon good for $10 off of a purchase of $25 or more, good now through Sunday, March 31st.  Click here to print your coupon.  This coupon is also available to use for an online purchase at the JCPenney website.  To get your discount online, use code SPEND25 and serial number 0658155248.  You can also use this coupon on discount, clearance, and sale merchandise. 

To Coupon Or Not To Coupon - That Is The Question

We've all heard stories about people who clip coupons and save tons of money off of their grocery bill.  I am always amazed at how they manage to do it - it has never worked out that well for me!  Saving lots of money on your grocery bill, whether you coupon or not, does take some planning.  My planning often involves reading the weekly grocery ads and planning my shopping trips accordingly, as well as planning connections with local food producers when they are selling their products.  My planning has also recently included ordering and picking up produce and bread products from the Bountiful Baskets food co-op. 

While I do use the occassional coupon, depending on couponing to regularly save money on my groceries has never been a successful strategy for me.  Much of my grocery shopping lists consist of whole, fresh, foods - I do alot of my cooking from scratch.  I have never had much success finding coupons for these types of food.  They may be out there, but so far they have eluded me!  For things like meat, milk, and honey I have been able to find local producers that offer a higher quality product for similar, and sometimes cheaper prices, than the grocery store.  One of the things I like about buying locally is that I am also supporting my local economy and food producers, as well as receiving a high quality food product in return.  I live in a state where agriculture is a large industry, so my access to these food producers may be different and more affordable than if I lived somewhere else.  I have also wondered if couponing success differs upon where you live.

How do you save money on your grocery bill?  Do you coupon successfully to save large amounts on your grocery bill?  Share your stories!  I'd love to hear your ideas!

P.S. Be sure the check out my handcrafted doily Thanksgiving giveaway!

Kohl's Discounts - Just Sign Up For Their Emails

Do cashiers at department stores ever try to convince you to sign up for their credit cards because of the coupons and discounts you will get if you do?  This is the script I hear oftentimes when I shop at Kohl's - all the wonderful discounts imaginable will be mine if I just sign up for their credit card (they just don't mention the exhorbitant interest fees on the card that will eventually cancel the discounts out in the long run).  Of course, I always decline.  I don't want their credit card! 

Kohl's consistently offers extra discounts to those who do not hold their credit cards, you just have to sign up for their email.  I signed up in the store a few years ago, and I often receive printable coupons and online coupon codes for and extra 10-15% off of my total purchase, and this includes all sales and clearance items too.  When I shop at department stores, most of the time the only things I purchase are on the super duper clearance racks.  It ends up being an even better deal when I add my coupon.  Over the years, I have gotten some really great deals at Kohl's, and I get higher quality clothing at sometimes cheaper than Wal-Mart prices by doing it that way. 

You can sign up for the discounts at the store, or online here.  Right now when you sign up online, you get a $5 off coupon for your next in-store purchase, and a 10% off coupon towards your next online purchase. 
In my experience, the best deals are found in the store, but there are still a few good deals to be found online.

Awesome Cloth Diapers - Great Price!!!

I recently had a baby and have been using Kawaii cloth diapers for several months now.  I have to say that I am so pleased with how well they have worked for us.  I bought the one size snap closure diapers, which will fit from newborn to toddler stages.  It is a pocket style diaper with two microfiber inserts.  I like that each diaper comes with two inserts, as it allows me to adjust using one or two at a time depending on the absorbancy my baby needs.  I never thought I would ever in a million years say this, but I think I like these cloth diapers way better than any disposable I have ever used on my kids.  I have had less problems with leaks, and I am sure they are more comfortable for my baby than disposables are (they definitely look more comfortable, anyways!).  Plus, they are really cute!

As far as the cost of these diapers go, at $6.99 a piece these diapers are a bargain in the cloth diapering world.  If you plan on cloth diapering and bought 20 of them at that price, it would come to just under $140 for a stash that most likely could be used for as long as your baby needs to be diapered.  If you exclusively use cloth for your baby's entire diapering experience, that is an incredible savings over a 2-3 year time period.  According to the Real Diaper Association, the average cost of diapering a child over the span of two years in disposables is roughly $1,600. 

When I first considered cloth diapers, I was concerned about the extra work it would take to launder them.  I have a stash of around two dozen Kawaii diapers, which leaves me to wash diapers roughly every two days.  Really, it averages out to an extra 3 loads of laundry a week.  In the larger scope of things, it was not as bad as I imagined it to be.  Washing the diapers has become integrated into my routine around here.

As a side note, I should add that Kawaii diapers has not asked me to endorse their product.  I just like these diapers so much, that I thought I would share :) 

Tracfone Promo Codes - Lots of 'Em!!!

I just got my hands on a calendar from Tracfone that has lots of promo codes for free bonus minutes, and I am passing them along!

Valid for the month of June 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 85416
200 minute card or greater- 40 bonus minutes:88591

Valid for the month of July 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater- 20 bonus minutes: 81167
200 minute card or greater- 40 bonus minutes: 86043

Valid for the month of August 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater- 20 bonus minutes: 80967
200 minute card or greater- 40 bonus minutes: 89058

Valid for the month of September 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater - 30 bonus minutes: 88773
200 minute card or greater - 50 bonus minutes: 89592

Valid for the month of October 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater - 30 bonus minutes: 80778
200 minute card or greater - 50 bonus minutes: 84800

Valid for the month of November 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 81752
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 89306

Valid for the month of December 2011, 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 81756
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 86692

Valid for the month of January 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 85727
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 81550

Valid for the month of February 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 83703
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 85476

Valid for the month of March 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 81041
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 88398

Valid for the month of April 2012
120 minute card or greater - 30 bonus minutes: 88827
200 minute card or greater - 50 bonus minutes: 86290

Valid for the month of May 2012
120 minute card or greater - 20 bonus minutes: 81502
200 minute card or greater - 40 bonus minutes: 80033

Valid until December 31, 2012
1 year card - 200 bonus minutes: 89784
Double minutes for life card - 50 bonus minutes: 86546
1 year + double minutes card - 100 bonus minutes: 86950

Add Grease Cutting Power To Your Vinegar Cleaner

I keep finding more ways to adapt my standard vinegar cleaner to my various cleaning needs. The latest way I have found to adapt it is by adding a squirt of dishsoap to help cut through the grease when I clean. The vinegar cleaner itself seems to work well for the most part, but adding the dishsoap into seems to give it a little bit more power in grease cutting. This is basically my standard vinegar cleaner, plus some dishsoap. Here is the adjusted recipe:

Grease Cutting Vinegar Cleaner

1 part vinegar
3 parts water
10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
1 squirt of liquid dishsoap

Combine ingredients in a liquid spray bottle. Shake well before each use.

Diapers.com Coupon Code

I recently had a baby, and after sorting through all of the promotional materials they sent home with me from the hospital, I came across a pretty good coupon code for diapers.com. This code is good for $10 off, plus free two day shipping, any order order over $49. The catch is that the order must include diapers or formula. This offer expires 9/30/2011. The code is SIMJUN10.

Easy Mocha At Home Recipe

Every now and then, I love to treat myself to a mocha from a local coffee shop. It is only an occassional treat, as I find it difficult to shell out $3-$4 for one cup of fancy coffee. I have discovered a really easy way to enjoy a mocha at home, for basically a few cents per cup of coffee. I take a packet of hot chocolate mix, pour it in a cup and add freshly brewed coffee instead of hot water. Then I add a splash of milk. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could add a dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon on top. I am enjoying a cup of mocha right now, so yummy!

October Vitacost Coupon Code

If you need to order more supplements and supplies from Vitacost.com, now would be the time to do it. There is a coupon code this month for 10 percent off your entire order, no minimum order required to use it. Lots of times, Vitacost coupon codes for percentages off require at least an order of $50, but not this time! I had a smaller order to put in, and I was still able to get the discount. If you decide to order, when you get to the checkout, enter the promo code EMOCT, which will get you the 10 percent off. It's good through the end of October.

Dryer Balls

I have been wanting to try out a pair of dryer balls for quite a while. A local store carries wool dryer balls, but they are a little bit pricey. At a garage sale this summer, I found a brand new pair of "As Seen On TV" plastic dryer balls for 75 cents, so I decided to give them a try (and hey, for 75 cents, it can't hurt to try it out!). I have been using them for a few months now, in place of a dryer sheet, and have found them to be quite successful at keeping away the static electricity.

Eventually, I would like to have some wool dryer balls. Because of the cost of the wool dryer balls, I will probably make some at some point in time. There is a good online tutorial about how to make your own at this web address: http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama/2008/05/make-your-own-wool-dryer-balls.html . It looks relatively simple, and much more affordable than buying them.

Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener

I have known for a long time that vinegar is a natural liquid fabric softener. The only reason I never made the switch was because I was in love with the fragrances of store bought. I have been wanting to switch, though, in the effort to continue to cut unneccesary chemical usage out of my home, as well as for the purposes of cutting costs. I finally found a pleasing solution to that problem.

It is really quite simple, and I can't believe I never thought of it before! Basically what I did was to take a large jug of vinegar, and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of a fragrant essential oil. Before each use, I shake the jug, just to make sure it is all mixed up well. And for ease of use, I use a Downy liquid fabric softener ball to dispense my homemade fabric softener during the wash cycle. It has been working quite well for us so far, and right now my fabric softener is lavender scented. I won't be buying any more of the store bought liquid fabric softeners, although I will be buying some new scents of essential oils to experiment with :) While essential oils can seem expensive, since a little bit goes a long ways, they really do last for quite a while. For saving money on my essential oils, I order them from www.vitacost.com .

Canning Season

'Tis the season for an abundance of fresh produce! If you garden, have fruit trees, have a farmer's market nearby, or even hit some good produce sales at the store, you will have plenty to can and store for use during the rest of the year. At first, doing home canning kind of scared me, but I started learning how to do it about two years ago. I have successfully made and canned apple butter, apple sauce, chokecherry jelly, pickled beets, and homemade salsa. I'm just getting started this year and made some salsa yesterday. I am planning on making more chokecherry jelly, and trying my hand at wild raspberry jam, among other things this year.

Some things to keep in mind when canning are safety procedures to ensure safe food, elevation considerations, and having adequate supplies. It is very important to research what you plan to can by using tested recipes and by studying proper canning methods. If food is not canned properly, it can become contaminated with botulism and cause serious illness. Some foods are fine being canned using a water bath canning method, others require pressure canning to ensure safe food.

When canning, you want to keep your elevation level in mind. Living in higher elevations require longer processing times to ensure proper food preservation temperatures. You can usually do an internet search to find out your elevation level, and proceed accordingly. Last, but not least, make sure you have the proper supplies. A water bath canner/pressure canner to use for processing, glass jars with lids and rings, a funnel, and a jar lifter or set of tongs for removing hot jars from the canner. The jars and rings can be saved and used again, but you will need new lids every time you can something new in a jar.

Here are some links for some good general information on canning:
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/canning-fruits-vegetables-14786.aspx
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/canning-fruits-vegetables-how-to-preserve.aspx

Here is a link for elevation guidelines:
http://canningusa.com/IfICanYouCan/TechniqueAltitudeAdjustment.htm

Yet Another Reason To Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Recently, there have been reports that have come out stating that women who use commercial cleaning products more frequently have higher rates of breast cancer. Many of the chemical ingredients in these cleaning products are harmful and toxic to the human body. And, because of government regulations, manufacturers of these products are not required to disclose all the ingredients in the cleaners. I have tried to read the labels of these products before, and I have seen many that said, for example, "Ingredients: Surfactants", and that's all it will list.

I started making my own cleaners mainly because of my asthma, as the fumes in the commercial cleaners really bothered my lungs. However, I also realized that making my own was quite a bit cheaper than buying them, and you also get rid of the chemical exposure when using natural ingredients in your cleaning solutions. Another reason I love making my own is because my children can safely use them when I ask them to help me clean, and because it is non-toxic to them (and pets!) when used as the main household cleaning products.

Here are some links to previous posts with homemade cleaning recipes:
http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/add-some-oomph-to-your-vinegar-cleaning.html

http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/steam-cleaner-solution-alternative.html

http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/homemade-softscrub-recipe.html

http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/another-cleaning-cost-saver-recycling.html

http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/cutting-costs-on-laundry.html

http://thethriftyhousewifeblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/saving-money-on-household-cleaning.html

For further reading on the latest reports on this subject:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100719205630.htm


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=68555


http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Environment/household_cleaning_products_linked_to_breast_cancer_2107100645.html


There are several experts who disagree with the findings of the study, and report that since household cleaning product use was self-reported (after the patient was already diagnosed), that the information is skewed and unreliable. However, in light of that, I don't agree that the information should just be ignored. I don't trust using these chemicals in my home, for my asthmatic health reasons, but also because I do tend to believe that they are poisonous and do have the potential to cause harm to human bodies.

Printable Hobby Lobby Coupon

In lieu of the Christmas craft post I previously did, I thought I would post a link for a printable coupon for Hobby Lobby. It's for 40% off, and you can use one per day on regularly priced items. Here it is:

http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/coupon.cfm

Christmas in July?

If you are someone who likes to make your Christmas gifts, it might be a good time to start planning and thinking about what you would like to make. I find that not only does making gifts save alot of money, but people really appreciate the personal touch you put into it. And it really is the perfect thing to give someone who already has everything! I have found it easier to make my gifts over the years, because I have morphed my expectations into reasonable ones instead of grandiose ones (for example, there is no way I will be able to make an afghan for everyone on my list).

Smaller projects enable you to give nice gifts, and to be able to make several items. Some ideas for those who do needlework (knitting/crocheting) are doilies, hats, gloves, scarves, slippers, socks, hair pieces, potholders, dishcloths, etc. I have also made things like homemade jams/jellies for gifts (which go nicely with potholders or dishcloths as a gift). My kids have been begging me to crochet them some stuffed animals (they have seen the pattern books in the store, LOL). That just might make it onto my Christmas project list as well! To be even more thrifty, use a free pattern from http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/ or http://www.ravelry.com/ . They have tons of patterns and ideas! My only problem is choosing which ones to use!

If you start your projects now and stick with it, you should have Christmas covered by the time it gets here, and you will have less stress because most of it will be done by the time the season rolls around so you can focus on enjoying family and friends. Go forth and craft in peace!

P.S. The picture comes from www.clipartheaven.com .

Homemade Hurt-Free Antiseptic

A while back, I posted a recipe for a homemade astringent. Now, several months later, I can tell you that I have found another handy use for the stuff. Johnson & Johnson makes a hurt-free antiseptic for wound cleansing, which we have used in the past quite successfully. I have discovered that my homemade astringent also works quite well as a hurt-free antiseptic for cleaning small wounds, cuts, and scrapes. It doesn't sting like peroxide or rubbing alcohol does.

It is really quite simple to make. Take a bottle of witch hazel, add 25 drops of tea tree oil and shake. Shake well before each use. I have used this with my children, and it effectively cleans their scraped knees and minor owies quite well, all without the added pain of standard antiseptics.

For a little bit of information on how this works, witch hazel has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The tea tree oil also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, but in addition is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. As you can see, using this concoction has the ability to thoroughly clean a wound without the additional pain. And really, it's not that expensive at all to make.

Bargain Shopping at Department Stores

I am a bargain shopper. By bargain shopper, I mean that I frequently buy new things at the same price a thrift store would charge. Basically, I can get new items for the cost of used ones. Awesome! For example, today I took my kids to JCPenney's and ended up buying 10 items of clothing (cute t-shirts, capri leggings, etc.) for around $30 total. My receipt at the end said that I had saved $118.18! Woohoo!!!

I often prefer to shop at places like JCPenney's and Kohl's for my kids, rather than Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. My reasoning for this is that often times, the clearance at the nicer department stores are priced better than what I could even get at the other places, plus I end up with higher quality clothing for my kids. And lots of times, Kohl's and Penney's have extra coupons that I can use on top of the clearance discount. I have also found plenty of nice, quality clothing for myself and my husband at steep discount prices at these stores.

I have a method to how I shop the department stores. Most importantly, the only things I ever really look at are on the clearance racks. If I have a specific item I need, I always check the clearance items first. Most of the time, the stores will have the clearance sorted by percentage off. I usually stick with the racks that say 80-90% off, or "final clearance". By doing this, I have been able to keep my kids clothed in fashionable items for rock bottom prices (OK, some of the stuff on the clearance racks I question whether anyone would actually wear, but I also find *plenty* of very cute clothes).

One of the biggest drawbacks to shopping this way is that sometimes you have to shop for your kids out of season and estimate what size they will be in when, say winter, rolls around again. Amazingly, this has always worked out for me. If it doesn't end up fitting, you can always donate the item/s or try to sell them on Ebay. Today I purchased summer clothing for my kids, but since we will still have several more months of warm weather, my kids can start wearing them now. My kids have nice things to wear, and I really haven't spent a whole lot of money.

Plan Ahead and Bring Your Own Snacks

We just got back from a short weekend roadtrip. One of the things that we regularly do when we know we will be out of the house for a while is to plan ahead by packing some snacks and drinks. This saves lots of money when you're on the road. Convenience store snack and drink prices are outrageous! Multiply that times 5 people, and it adds up even more quickly. Plus, by packing your own, you can make sure there are plenty of healthy snack and drink choices available. Convenience store really don't have a whole lot of that available. On one stop at a gas station this weekend, one small apple was $1.09! Holy cow! I can get a whole pound of apples for that at the grocery store!

When traveling with children, inevetitably someone is going to start saying, "I'm hungry" or "I'm thirsty". With snacks already packed and with you in the vehicle, these problems are solved immediately, and we don't have to stop anywhere and pay outrageous prices for a small snack.

We usually take a cooler along, packed with drinks and snacks that need to be kept cooler. Some ideas of quick snacks to pack are granola bars, string cheese, fruit, crackers, etc. For drinks, we usually pack some bottled water, juice boxes, etc.

Packing our own snacks and drinks on outings saves both time and money, and it keeps people's needs easily met as we travel along.

Netflix

OK, so I finally broke down and joined Netflix. My reasoning for this is that my local video store was running out of "appropriate" movies for me to rent. I don't watch rated R movies anymore, and even many of the PG-13 movies nowadays are just out of line, in my book anyhow. And there really aren't a whole lot of PG movies to choose from at the local video store, unless I am looking for kids movies.

I am so glad we did decide to join. We have been members for around 2 months now, and I do really like it alot. We got the package for 2 dvds out at a time, which runs around $13.00 a month. At the video store, we were spending around $20 a month on rentals, so it is a small monthly savings for us. In addition to the 2 dvds a month, they also have some of their movies on instant play through the computer. We have utilized this feature quite a bit as well.

Netflix has alot of interesting documentaries, family movies, tv series, etc. to view that my local video store did not have. They also have exercise and fitness dvds available to rent. Don't get me wrong, I really do like my local video store and the employees, but when searching for things that we feel are appropriate to watch, the selection was getting pretty thin. Plus the fact that every dvd we have rented from Netflix has come in better condition than the ones we rented at the video store. We have had no issues with the dvds skipping or "getting stuck" in a spot the way we often did with the video store.

We do not have cable or satellite TV, but if we did, I would seriously consider cancelling and just going with Netflix. My reasons are that there are no commercials, and you get to pick exactly what you want to watch and when you want to watch it with the instant play feature.

And last, but not least, is the fact that you get to keep the dvds for as long as you want with no late fees. We are very pleased with their service so far, and I really hope we continue to be happy with it.

Homemade Whole Wheat Bisquick Mix Recipe

I have avoided buying Bisquick for years now because it doesn't come in whole wheat (at least not where I live), contains bleached flour, and it also contains hydrogenated oils (which is where trans-fats come from). Not exactly a healthy food product! I try to avoid these types of food products if at all possible. The downside of avoiding Bisquick is that there are lots of yummy recipes that call for Bisquick. I found an alternative, though! I can make my own Bisquick! And another added bonus is that by making my own, I will also save money over buying it at the store. I tweaked it slightly, but I got this recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/25102/homemade-bisquick.html .

Whole Wheat Bisquick Mix

4 Cups unbleached flour
4 Cups whole wheat flour
1/4 Cup baking powder
4 Teaspoons salt
1 Cup shortening or oil
1 1/3 Cups dry powdered milk

In large bowl, blend unbleached flour, salt, and baking powder. Add shortening (or oil) and mix until crumbly. Stir in powdered milk, and then the whole wheat flour. Store in an airtight container, refrigerate if made with the oil.

I made mine using oil instead of shortening. My reasoning for this is that shortenings are usually a hydrogenated oil, and they are REALLY bad for you! I tried this mixture out in a recipe I made for dinner, and it turned out great!