You Brew My Tea: July 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Walgreen's Ad Matches for 7/29/12 - 8/4/12

This week I will be giving a few of what I feel are the best deals at Walgreen's space here on my blog. Although I don't do a lot of shopping at Walgreen's (with Register Rewards more up front out of pocket), I do know they have great deals that many like to stock up on.

This week not only do they have great sale items that match to coupons, great Register Reward items but also they have several items that will be free or moneymakers after mail in rebate. The question when dealing with items that have rebates is, "Do you have the out of pocket money at this time?" For some this is a yes, for most this is a no. Although I think they are great deals - I will be putting them at the bottom of my list because I know I (and most I know) will not be grabbing these due to the up front out of pocket costs involved.

In addition, there are a few items that have been widely advertised as being FREE after coupons that were in today's inserts. For local people - we did not receive these coupons today. They were in the Red Plum insert that we don't receive locally. There WILL be some of these available later this week (I order) so if interested, feel free to get in touch with me.

Now - on to the deals!

Accu-Chek Nano Blood Glucose Monitor - $9.99

Use Following Coupon:

$10/1 Accu-Chek Nano Smartview System from Red Plum insert 7/29

Final Price: FREE

Listerine Smart Rinse (16.9oz) - $2.99

Buy 1, Receive $1.00 Register Reward

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Listerine Smart Rinse Anti cavity Fluoride Rinse (500ml or larger) or 1 Reach Kid's Toothbrush from Red Plum insert 7/29

$1.00/1 Listerine Mouth Rinse Product from Coupons.com

Final Price: Out of Pocket (OOP) $1.99 with coupon $0.99 after Register Reward

Reach Children's Toothbrush - $2.99

Buy 1, Receive $1.00 Register Reward

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Listerine Smart Rinse Anti cavity Fluoride Rinse (500ml or larger) or 1 Reach Kid's Toothbrush from Red Plum insert 7/29

$1.00/1 Reach Kid's Mouth Wash or Toothbrush

Final Price: Out of Pocket (OOP) $1.99 with coupon $0.99 after Register Reward

Reach Total Care Toothbrush or Floss (30yd) - $2.99

Buy 1, Receive $1.00 Register Reward

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Reach Toothbrush from Red Plum insert 7/29

$1.00/1 Reach Total Care Floss product from Red Plum insert 7/29

$2.00/2 ANY Reach Toothbrush from Coupons.com

$1.00/2 Any Reach Floss from Coupons.com

Final Price: Out of Pocket (OOP) $1.99 with coupon $0.99 after Register Reward

Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner (10.2 - 13oz) $2.50 each (when you buy 2)

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner Treatment from Coupons.com

$1.00/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment from Red Plum Insert on 6/24

$1.00/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment from Red Plum insert on 7/29

Final Price: $1.50 each with coupon when you buy 2

Nabisco Cookies or Crackers (3.5-8oz) - $1.49

Use In AD Coupon (limit of 3)

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/2 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers from Smart Source.com

Final Price: $0.99 each, when you buy 2

Splenda Sweetener (100 packs or Granulated 3.5oz) - $2.99

With In Ad Coupon, (limit of 3)

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 off Splenda Product from Smart Source.com

Final Price: $1.99

Purell Hand Sanitizer (8oz) - $2.99

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer (8oz or larger) from Smart Source insert on 7/29

$1.00/3 Purell Products from Smart Source insert on 7/29

Final Price: $1.99 each with coupon

Gillette Venus or Fusion ProGlide Razor System - $10.99

Buy 1, Receive $4.00 Register Reward

Use the Following Coupon:

$4.00/1 Gillette Venus & Olay Razor from Smart Source insert on 6/17 (expires on 7/31)

$3.00/1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor , when you buy (1) Gillette Fusion ProGlide Cartridge from Proctor & Gamble insert 7/1 (expires on 7/31)

Final Price: Out of Pocket (OOP) $6.99 with $4.00 Register Reward

Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers - $9.49

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.50/1 Huggies Diapers from Smart Source insert on 7/8

Final Price: $7.99 each with coupon

Huggies Wipes (64ct) - $2.50 each (when you buy 2)

Use the Following Coupon:

$1.00/2 Huggies Baby Wipes (56 ct or larger) from Smart Source insert on 7/8

Final Price: $2.00 each, when you buy 2

In addition to these specific deals at Walgreen's, there are several items that are in various categories of, "Buy $10, $15, or $25 of these products receive $3, $5 in Register Rewards". Although many of those items have coupons available to help discount, their prices are not easily figured due to either %off or regular price which varies store to store. Take a few minutes to look in the ad and see if there are any products you would USE or actually NEED at this time, check your local store prices and determine if the out of pocket expense is worth it for you. The same policy goes with the MANY mail in rebate products in this weeks ad. Check to see if they are items you would actually USE or NEED and go from there.

Have Questions? Comment, Email, Inbox on Facebook, Comment on the page or if you know me personally - text me!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Letting go of Mementos - Keeping Memories

This week I was faced with one of those pit of the stomach dreadful feelings that I hate. I had a bill due that I simply didn't have the money to cover. It wasn't one of those kind that you can call and let them know will be late, nor one you can suck it up and pay late charges on - it HAD to be paid.

I make money from random things. I do odd jobs here and there, I sell crafts, I get a few checks a month for blogging and things related to writing, I even sell Avon, but for the most part - my money situation is up and down and never known from week to week. So far, I have made it and not had any major issues, but that often means coming down to the wire and swallowing my pride and asking my Beau for money to pay my personal bills. That is something I avoid doing at all costs. It's bad enough that I don't contribute to our household income and am only barely able to cover my own personal bills. I'm independent and hate knowing someone else is basically paying my way in life.

So, as I was doing some cleaning this week and sorting through copious boxes of my junk I've been meaning to weed out for months anyway - I came across something that brought back memories and made my heart ache. I wasn't exactly out to find something to "sell" to make a few bucks, but I was getting some stuff cleaned up in prep for posting on swap shop this coming week. It helps me clean the house up, gets rid of junk we don't need and on occasion puts a couple bucks in my pocket. By no means it that a way for me to "make a living". As a matter of fact, often I would say it costs me more to get rid of junk than I make in the process simply from the gas to go meet people with it.

So here I am on one of my few days at home with no classes, errands or big tasks to handle, sorting through a box in my closet. At the bottom was a little Ziploc baggie with some mementos in it. One of those things was a class ring that belonged to someone I loved very much who passed away rather tragically many years ago. I held it, looked at it and started to put it away.

Then I had this internal conversation with myself that I guess I am still struggling with and that's why I am writing about it today. A friend of mine and I had been talking earlier in the week about her own financial problems. She had mentioned how gold prices are up so high these days and she had taken a couple of necklaces she had from her teen years that she never wears and sold them and made a nice chunk of money to help her make it a few days until pay day. We had laughed at how those items were so completely not worth anything "back in the day" and likely cost under $30 for both of them, but how gold inflation had become such a significant thing that local pawn shops and other gold stores would pay 3-4 times what they were originally worth.

I sat with this LARGE and HEAVY GOLD class ring in my hand. Yes, there were memories attached to it. Yes there was pain in my heart about this man, his life, how he was lost to all who cared about him. But all I could see with this gold band in my hand was dollar signs. And I felt like a miserable shell of a human being. I still feel like a miserable shell of a human being. Because I finished sorting through that box, tossed a TON of trash away and grabbed a few things that I wanted to get rid of (mostly scrapbook items I will never use again) and there sat his ring staring at me. I took a deep breath, tossed it in my pants pocket and went on with my day.

The next morning, as I stood in a local pawn shop and asked what it was worth - my jaw hit the table. Oh, I know exactly what he originally paid for it, and I know what it's sentimental value is worth, but, my ability to be independent and not have to ask someone else to help me financially again - well that was worth a lot more in that moment. It's value was easily triple what it had been 13 years ago. So, as I slid it across the counter and nodded my head at the amount offered, I swallowed my guilt and thanked God for odd blessings tucked in the bottom of boxes.

It's petty. It's silly. It's embarrassing to say I needed that money that badly. But, mostly - it makes me sad. I really thought that letting go of a memento wouldn't mean that much because I still have the memories attached to it. Yet here I am, wondering if I was wrong. I wonder if a year from now I will think back to this and want to kick myself for doing it. Or will I just be thankful that I remember what he looked like, how he sounded, how he smelled and how he impacted my life?

So, I ask you - are memories enough or do mementos really mean that much and keep those memories alive? Even when you don't look at them, see them or touch them every day?

Letting go of the memento...struggling to keep the memory...that is where I am today.

How to get Cheap or FREE Laundry Detergent

Every class I host I have at least one (but usually multiple) people ask me how to get laundry detergent for FREE. This is one of those questions that makes me feel like I am a lousy coupon educator, because I have honest to goodness only seen laundry detergent free one time in the last 5 years. THAT was when I was able to use a $2.00 off 1 Tide product that had no size requirements and got several trial sized Tide pouches for free.

Otherwise, big bottles of laundry detergent - well, they just aren't free. Cheaper? Sure thing. Proctor and Gamble puts out coupons every month for Tide that take anywhere from $1.00 to $2.00 off each package. Unfortunately, it is still tough to get anything of a significant nature for cheap.

Yet, there are "off" brands out there that many overlook that have good deals on them. Kroger or the Dollar General store tend to be the best place to grab these deals at.

Example: All Laundry Detergent routinely has $1.00-$1.50 off 1 bottle coupons at coupons.com. This is in the lower end cost range already - so yes, these can be picked up for $4.00-$5.00 a bottle, which compared to the $10-$12 you would normally pay for the same sized Tide - it's an excellent deal.

This week is what I can call a STELLAR deal on Laundry Detergent at Kroger! Arm and Hammer laundry detergent is on sale for only $2.99 per bottle. It is the 44 load bottle, which is a decent price - then you use a $0.75/2 coupon from a SmartSource insert from last month and WHAM! You have laundry detergent for only $2.61 a bottle!! Now THAT may not be FREE, but it is indeed one of the best deals I have seen in YEARS! And, if you are lucky - your store will have the "Bonus Loads" packages which are actually 50 load bottles instead! Mine did!

My family is rather picky on soap/detergent/skin care products because we all have sensitive skin. Once we find a product that works without irritation - we stick with it. For years Era or Gain have been the only products that worked for me. So, it's even more difficult for me to find laundry soap cheaply. But I wouldn't overlook this deal this week. I am going to attempt to use it - and if we have problems - I will simply post the bottles in my coupon swap page on Facebook and sell at my cost to those who can use it.

What's the cheapest you've ever gotten laundry detergent for?

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Hear Your Life - Book Review & GIVEAWAY

We have all been faced with hearing loss in some way or another during our lives. Whether it be in ourselves, a family member, a coworker or a customer none of us are free of experiencing even minor contact with someone who has hearing loss. In the past I have dealt with patient after patient in the physicians offices I worked in who had minor to severe hearing loss. Then I worked for a man for a few years who had significant hearing loss (hereditary) and had to wear hearing aids at a very young age. Coming from a small community where a Plywood Mill was the largest source of jobs/income, nearly everyone I grew up around in church also had some degree of hearing loss. This subject is not foreign to me, as I am sure it is not foreign to most of you.

Melissa K. Rodriguez has written a book that will as the title says "inspire" and "advise" those dealing with hearing loss. Hear Your Life: Inspiring Stories and Honest Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss was sent to me courtesy of Ms. Rodriguez and Greenleaf Book Group Press to read and review on this blog. I was also given an additional copy to share with my readers! Giveaway time!

Ms. Rodriguez details within the pages of this book what life is like for the various patients who are affected by hearing loss. She covers the causes of hearing loss in everyone from infants to elderly. Although she gives a very lengthy number of causes, there are a few I personally know were not included. Those most likely due to the extreme rarity of their cause. Also within this book are basic coping mechanisms, advise on how to deal with and accept that a hearing aid is needed now or in the future and a few tips on how to deal with spouses/children/loved ones who are in denial about their condition.

I felt this book was informative and educational for sure. From a medical prospective it was neat to see/read the technical terminology as well as hear more detailed information regarding the inner workings of the ear, ear drum and hearing in general. This is not a "coffee table book" that you would buy as a gift for a birthday or holiday for someone. This is not a "fluff" read that you would grab to take on vacation or read while waiting in the doctors office. This is a book you would set out to purchase if you personally were dealing with hearing loss. I give the book 4 stars for overall ease of reading, information included and positivity for the patient. Because of it's specific nature, it loses 1 star on my reading scale. Although I enjoyed reading it, this is not a book I can recommend to ANY person to read. It would not hold the interest of a fiction lover or a history lover. This is specific to those dealing at this time with hearing loss.

It definitely serves a purpose and a need and there are a handful of people in my life I'd like to share this book with to help them learn more about how to cope with their own emotions regarding their personal hearing loss or the hearing loss in someone they love. I especially love the Frequently Asked Questions section in the back of the book for easy/quick go to answers for common hearing loss misconceptions. This and the "clues you may have hearing loss" are definitely worth picking this up and sharing with someone exhibiting hearing loss behavior.

Thanks to Melissa Rodriguez, GreenLeaf Book Group Press and Business 2 Blogger for including me in this opportunity to read and review this book on my blog.

Now - if interested in winning a FREE copy of this book - fill out the simple Rafflecopter Giveaway form below to be entered into the drawing to be held on August 1st, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Current Deal Reminders

Thought I'd put a few items into one post to share today. These are all current freebies, giveaways, coupons or deals that I know are valid/legit and worth your time to look into:

Back To School with Shoe Carnival - $5.00 off any $38.98 purchase at your local Shoe Carnival. Click HERE and print the coupon - this can be used with their B1G1 at 50% off sales and any clearance items. Only stipulation is you must spend $38.98 before coupon discount.

Vistaprint $2.00 T-shirt deal is back. I have done this in the past MANY times when the t-shirts, business cards, calendars, hats, magnets and more were free. The best thing about the T-Shirt deal is that you can customize it. You can put your name, your logo, your kids name, sports team, etc. on the t-shirt. You can upgrade and get more options, but the basic $2 tee is pretty cool. You do have to pay $4.14-$4.25 shipping, but for around $6.50 for a customized t-shirt, you can't go wrong. While you are there check out the other FREE items you can throw in your cart for a couple bucks more shipping. Vistaprint has long been one of my Favorite online "stores" to design, create unique gifts and get business supplies from.

TOMORROW JULY 26TH ONLY: McCallister's Deli's are offering FREE TEA DAY!!!! Stop by and get a FREE Sweet Tea tomorrow! I know I am while I'm out running errands!

So, print a coupon, grab a t-shirt (or two) customized for your business, your family, your kids and then stop and cool off with a free Sweet Tea tomorrow to reward yourself for being so frugal and savvy with coupons and deals!

Kroger Ad Matches 7/25/12 - 7/31/12

Another awesome sale this week at Kroger. A ton of 10/$10 items to choose from, some of which have coupon matches that make them way cheaper and AWESOME deals! Remember with Kroger and the 10/$10 ads that you get the items at that price only when you purchase 10 participating items. You don't have to buy 10 like items, as long as you buy in groups of 10 items included in this ad.

If you have questions - please feel free to comment, email or even call me if you have my number. Remember I am here to help you!

Stayfree Pads (Select Varieties 14-24ct) - 2/$4

Use Following Coupon(s):

$2/1 Stayfree product from Smart Source insert on 7/22

Final Price: FREE with coupon

IVORY or Safeguard Soap (2-3ct bars) - 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1/1 Ivory or Safeguard Soap from Proctor & Gamble insert on 7/1

Final Price: FREE with coupon

Softsoap Hand Soap (7.5oz) 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$0.50/2 Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap Products 7.5oz or Larger on coupons.com

Final Price: $0.50 each when you buy 2

Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick Deodorant (1.4-2oz) 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items

Use Following Coupons:

$1.00/1 Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick from SmartSource insert on 7/8

Final Price: FREE

Arm & Hammer Liquid Detergent (55-75oz) - $2.99 each

Use Following Coupon(s):

$.75/2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent from SmartSource insert on 7/15

Final Price: $2.61 each when you buy 2

Barilla Pasta (Select Blue Box Varieties) - 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$0.55/2 Barilla Blue Box Pasta Varieties from SmartSource Insert 7/15 (doubles to $1.10/2

Final Price: $0.45 each with coupon when you buy 2

Colgate Toothpaste (Select Varieties 4.6oz or Plus) - 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$0.75/1 Colgate Max Fresh from colgate.com

$0.75/1 Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste from colgate.com

$0.50/1 Colgate Kids Toothpaste from colgate.com (doubles to $1/1)

$0.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste from SmartSource insert on 7/8

$0.50/1 Colgate Total, Optic White, Max Fresh or Sensitive Toothpaste from SmartSource insert on 7/15

$0.40/1 Colgate Toothpaste from SmartSource insert on 7/8

$0.35/1 Colgate Total Advanced, Optic White or Sensitive Pro-Relief from SmartSource insert on 5/13

Final Price: As low as FREE up to $0.40 depending on coupon used

Silk Soymilk (half gallon) - $2.99 each

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1.50/1 Silk Product, 4pk, Quart or Half Gallon from Silkcoupon.com

$0.55/1 Silk Product from SmartSource insert on 7/15 (doubles to $1.10/1)

Final Price: As low as $1.49 each

T.G.I.Friday's Snacks or Appetizers (12-17.4oz.) - $3.99

Use Following Coupon:

$1.50/1 T.G.I.Friday's Frozen Snack from coupons.com

Final Price: $2.49 each (great for special occasions/family nights/homedate nights)

Tyson Chicken or Tyson Any'tizers (22-28oz) - $5.99 each

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1.00/1 Tyson Any'tizers Snacks from SmartSource insert on 6/17

$0.75/1 Tyson Breaded Chicken Strips from SmartSource insert on 4/29

Final Price: As low as $4.99 each

Hamburger, Chicken or Tuna Helper (4.7-7.5oz) - 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$0.75/3 Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and/or Chicken Helper from Smart Source Insert 7/15

$0.75/3 Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and/or Chicken Helper from bettycrocker.com

Final Price: $0.75 each when you buy 3

Green Giant Frozen Vegetables (7-10oz) 10/$10 (when you buy 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupons:

$0.60/2 Green Giant Boxed Vegetables from coupons.com

Final Price: $0.70 each when you buy 2 ****GREAT STOCK UP ITEM AT THIS PRICE***

Michelina's Frozen Entrees (4-9.5oz) 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1.00/2 Michelina's Lean Gourmet All Natural Bowls from SmartSource.com

Final Price: $0.50 each when you buy 2

Ruffles Potato Chips (8.5-9.7oz) -$2.00 each

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1.00/2 Ruffles Chips or Dips from Pepsi Moments Insert on 7/22

Final Price: $1.50 each when you buy 2

Kellogg’s Cereal (Select Varieties 12.2-20oz.) - $1.99 each

Use Following Coupon(s):
$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut and/or Kellogg’s Smart Start Cereals – (coupons.com
1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Crispix, and/or Fiber Plus Cereals – (coupons.com)
Also Check Kellogg's.com for a variety of coupons for cereal that could be doubled :)

Final Price: $1.49 or lower

Hillshire Smoked Sausage (13-14oz) - $2.50

Use Following Coupon(s):

$1.00/2 Hillshire Smoked Sausage from RedPlum insert on 7/8

Final Price: $2.00 each when you buy 2

NON COUPON DEALS:

Kroger Buns or Breads: 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Kroger Milk: $2.99 per gallon

Kroger Orange Juice: 2/$3 (half gallons)

Tampico Punch: 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Kroger Large Eggs: $1.88 for 18 count

Boneless English Roast: $2.99 lb.

Honeysuckle Ground Turkey: 2/$5.00

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Lunch Meat: $1.98 each (when you by an 4 participating Oscar Mayer items)

Angel Soft Bath Tissue (4pk) - 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Idahoan Potatoes: 10/$10 (when you purchase 10 participating items)

Please feel free to comment with other deals you have found this week at Kroger! The more deals we share the more we all save!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Kroger & Walmart Haul from 7/23/12

Although this brings our monthly spending total up a bit more than I'd like to see, we are still within our budget range and these items won't have to be purchased or even couponed for until next year!

We hit Walmart last night to browse and pick up a few FREE items. Along with what is pictured below, we grabbed Walmart Mouth Wash (I do coupon for Listerine/Scope but was out - in desperate need and didn't find any better deals than the Equate brand. Seeing it was a double bottle pack for the same as just 1 bottle, we grabbed it), 2 large bunches of bananas and some Equate Contact Lens Solution. Our Walmart Total was: $10.90

Although it was the Glade Refills on Sale for $1.98, I scanned one of these just to see and found that indeed the full unit in this scent was also on sale for $1.98 each.

4 Glade Expressions Sprays: $1.98 each

Used 4 $2.00/1 Glade Expressions coupons

Final Price: FREE (with $0.08 overage)

13 3packs Ivory Bar Soap

Ad Matched to Kroger current sale of 10/$10

Used 13 $1.00/1 Ivory Soap Coupon

Final Price: FREE

Then we hit Kroger for Milk and found a HUGE section of discounted cheese again. Although we already had several bags in the freezer, this is just too good a price to overlook. Plus last time they didn't have any mozzarella and since we use that a lot in various casseroles and such - we wanted to stock up on it too.

Our Kroger Total was: $28.50. This total includes 1 gallon of milk and 16 bags of shredded cheese.

When items like soap or air freshener are completely FREE I will stock up as many as I have coupons for. Things like cheese in these larger bags on sale for a little over $1 each are TOTALLY worth grabbing. FREE cheese is hard to come by, so when you find a large bag this cheap you grab it. We will have cheese for tacos, casseroles, pizzas, lasagnas, spaghetti, enchiladas and more for months to come. Cheese freezes well for up to 9 months and since these are no where near their expiration date - we have plenty of time to use them. And we WILL!

What's your latest AMAZING DEAL? Come share with me!!

K-Cup Iced Brew BzzAgent Review

I recently received a cool pack from BzzAgent that included some iced tea AND iced coffee K-Cups for my Keurig. Along with that was a nice insulated cup and a couple of straw for it. A great "take along" beverage for work or a trip.

The thing is, my parents are the ones that have the Keurig and their thoughts on iced coffee aren't very high. They drink iced tea all the time, but it's much easier to brew a gallon at a time rather than one glass at a time. So...I decided to be generous and offer my BzzAgent prizes to one of my coupon groupies.

Not only was this a way to offer a prize for the ladies (and gents) who attend my coupon classes and coupon swaps - it was a way to get the word out the Keurig now has K-cups for iced products.

The result = One VERY happy lady that works in our local dentists office and a lot of word spread about Keurig and the awesome new products.

The Keurig Brew Over Ice products are just another reason why this company remains in the top spot for Coffee makers and products. I know many people wouldn't know how to function without their Keurig. Even my gym has a Keurig with all sugar free varieties of coffee, hot chocolate, teas and ciders available for patrons to make for free.

Yep - I love some BzzAgent and I love some Keurig iced coffee and iced tea!!! How about you? What's your favorite K-cup blend?

Monday, July 23, 2012

Just Following My Heart

I have blogged now for nearly 5 years. I began shortly after my youngest son was born. I have had multiple blogs during that time. One that was simply for the 40 day Love Dare. One that was all about healthy eating and exercise. One that was a devotional blog that centered around my own personal spiritual struggles and was a tool to help me cope with the loss of my marriage.

You Brew My Tea has been a "blog of all things". I have posted things I found interesting, random thoughts, emotional rants, thoughts and experiences on coping while dealing with elderly family and Alzheimer's patients. I have posted my love story, about my son and the effect divorce has had on him, how I miss some people and wish I'd never met others. I have also posted reviews, read books, done giveaways and offered up coupon tips.

I am not a "coupon blogger". I am not a "review blogger".

I am simply, a blogger.

I am an author who is waiting for that publisher to read her manuscript - swoon & offer millions to publish her. I am a woman who is struggling just like everyone else to make ends meet. I am someone who has tried every known work from home scam/project/online marketing and even sales businesses around. I do whatever I can from transcription, housecleaning, selling Avon, selling handmade crafts and more just to cover my personal bills and expenses. I live frugally and I rarely buy anything just for me. I can't afford to do that. And I am, very much like many of the men and women in my classes each month. Broke every Friday morning waiting for the next pay check. Counting pennies in the drive through to get my son a treat. Thrilled when there is an extra $20 in a coat pocket from last winter because I could really use it right then for gas in my car.

I am a mother, an ex-wife, a girlfriend, a friend, a lover, a daughter and simply a woman.

I have long since bargain shopped, menu planned, budgeted and couponed to keep us within what I still feel is a too large budget for our family. I saw a need in my community to help others and I stepped up to do it. I offered to organize and lead a coupon class, which has now turned into dozens of classes all over the city/county/state. People are skeptics. Most don't think you can really save money. Many think it takes too much time, costs more money or is only for those who have extra rooms in their house to hoard. I want to prove all of those misconceptions wrong. I simply want to show people their mistakes in couponing, help the lightbulb go off in their brain and maybe urge things to finally "click" inside their heads. I want to show men and women alike who are struggling paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet that they can feed their family and save money.

So, when I was featured recently in the Hot Springs On The Go! magazine, I didn't know what to expect. You see, for those of you reading this who are not a part of my local community - I am offering these classes for FREE. I provide a simple folder with printed materials and a copy of all the local coupon policies and then I spend a couple of hours going over start to bottom how to save money, budget and coupon in our area. I also like to provide a question and answer period to help others with things they are unclear on.

Doing this was not to make me "famous". Doing this was not to get me on some TV show. Doing this was not to put money in my pocket (as much as I may need it). Doing this was simply put: following my heart.

What most don't know or don't take the time to realize is, that I cannot ask others to pay me for something I know they can easily find on the Internet for FREE if only they took the time and knew where to look. It's not who I am. After all the help so many people have offered me, I feel it's my duty to at least do this little thing for people like me who need the help so desperately.

I ask people to follow my blog. I take the time to look at ads/coupons and match what I feel is a good deal and post it here to help local people get started couponing and learning to save. I link up to Facebook and Twitter to get my blog info out there. But, take a look around and you will see where my heart is. I post deals and coupons and a few links here and there that will give me a few pennies on occasion, but my site is not littered with hundreds of ads. Your inbox is not packed with 12 notices a day from me for every single new coupon/deal/survey site or other money making post I have at my disposal. Sure, once again, admittedly I could use the extra money - but it's not who I am. I hate seeing all of that cluttering my inbox/news feed, etc. I am NOT going to do that to you - my readers - the people I care about.

So, lest I continue to be judged and lest it continue to be said I only did the classes to make money - take a moment and read. Take a moment to look around. Don't judge before you know the truth.

I'm not perfect. I have made huge mistakes in my life and I struggle daily to make ends meet because of those mistakes. At the end of the day, I am just following my heart here on this blog. I am doing things in my community because it may be the only way I can pay back those who have done good for me. I am doing what I think is the Christ like thing to do. Offer a service to people who need it. Be reasonable. Give willingly. Take sparingly. Love freely.

Why? Because this little guy needs a better example than what the world gives him. He is my heart, my world, my everything. I want him to look back and say he was proud of his Mommy, despite her mistakes. I want him to look back one day and say that she led him by example.

Walgreen's Ad Matches 7/22/12 - 7/29/12

I am officially delving into Walgreen's Ad Matches! I have used Walgreen's off and on through the years and have used Register Rewards, but as I tell my classes, I have often not had the money to spend up front so register rewards just didn't work well for me.

Despite my hesitance, I still end up hitting Walgreen's for one item or another. This week I was actually kicking myself for giving away some coupons (Pure Silk especially) because I didn't think they'd hit my "what I'm willing to pay" price point. Alas, here are what I see as the best deals this week at Walgreen's and a pic of a few items I grabbed today while out and about!

Stayfree Ultra Thin Overnight Maxi Pads (14ct) - $1.99

Use Following Coupon:

$2/1 Stayfree Product from SmartSource insert on 7/22

Final Price: FREE

Pure Silk Shave Cream (8oz.) - $1.29

Use Following Coupon:

$0.80/1 Pure Silk Shave Cream from RedPlum insert 7/8

Final Price: $0.49 each

Butterball Turkey Bacon (6oz) - $1.29 each

Use Following Coupon(s):

IN AD/IN STORE Walgreen's Coupon making them $1.29 each - Limit 3 per transaction.

$0.55/1 Butterball Product (long list including Turkey Bacon) no other coupon may be used with this coupon from Smart Source insert 6/24

Final Price: as low as $0.74 per package

Right Guard Total Defense 5 Antiperspirant/Deodorant (2-4oz.) - $2.99

Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Register Reward at checkout

Use Following Coupon:

$2.00/2 Right Guard Total Defense Antiperspirant/Deodorant from Facebook

Final Price: Potentially FREE or only $0.99 per bottle

Post Cereal (11-24oz. Select Varieties) - 2/$5.00

Buy 2, Receive $1 Register Rewards at checkout

Use Following Coupon:

$1/2 Post Cereals from SmartSource insert on 7/22

$1.00/1 – Post Honey Bunches of Oats, 13 oz or Larger – (facebook.com)
$1.00/1 – Post Shredded Wheat Cereal – (couponnetwork.com)
$1.00/1 – Post Shredded Wheat Cereal, Manufacturer Coupon – (target.com)
$1.00/1 – Post Shredded Wheat Cereal, Redeem at Walmart – (walmart.com)
$1.00/1 Post Grape-Nuts or Grape-Nuts Flakes cereal, limit of 4 like items in one transaction from SS 6/17 (exp 7/29)
$1.00/1 Post Shredded Wheat Cereal, limit of 4 like items in one transaction from SS 6/17 (exp 7/29)
$1.00/2 Post Honey Bunches of Oats, limit of 4 like coupons in same transaction from SS 7/8 (exp 8/19)

Final Price: $1.00-$1.50 per box after coupon & Register Rewards

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor System - $8.99

Buy 1, Receive $4.00 Register Reward at checkout

Use Following Coupon:

$4.00/1 Gillette Venus & Olay Razor from SmartSource insert on 6/17

$2.00/1 Gillette Venus Razor from Proctor & Gamble on 7/1

Final Price: $0.99 each after Register Reward and $4.00 coupon or $2.99 after lower value coupon

Nabisco Cookies or Crackers (3oz.) - $0.99

Use Following Coupon:

$1/2 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers (Except Single Serve) from smartsource.com

Final Price: $0.49 each when you buy 2

Purex Laundry Detergent (33 load) $6.29 regular price

Buy One Get One Free

Use Following Coupon:

$1.00/1 Purex Triple Action Liquid Detergent from freesamplepurex.com

Final Price: $2.15 each when you buy 2

Quaker Cereal (12.3-16oz Select Varieties) 2/$4

Use Following Coupon:

$1/2 Quaker Cereal from commonkindness.com

Final Price: $1.50 each

Carefree Panty Liners - $0.99 each

Use Following Coupon:

$0.50/1 Carefree Product from SmartSource insert on 7/22

Final Price: $0.49 each with coupon

There ARE a lot of other products this week with Register Rewards available at GOOD prices, but these are the ones I think are worth stocking up on. Below is a picture of what I got today on my Walgreen's trip and what I paid for it.

2 Boxes Quaker Oatmeal Squares - 2/$4

Used 2x $1 any Quaker product I received in mail

Final Price: $1.00 per box

2 Packages Carefree Panty Liners - $0.99 each

Used $50/1 Carefree product from SmartSource insert 7/22

Final Price: $0.49 each

2 Venus & Olay Razor Systems $8.99

Received $4.00 Register Reward on each

Used $4/1 Coupon from SmartSource insert 6/17

Final Price: $0.99 after coupon/Register Reward

3 Packages Butterball Turkey Bacon - $1.29

Used in ad coupon to get sale price

Used $.55/1 coupon from SmartSource 6/24

Final Price: $0.74 each

I paid out of pocket $11.54 for all of this (plus a few folders/pencils & a soft drink that aren't pictured). Not too shabby!

Share your best/favorite Walgreen's deal!!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Duck Tape: World's Most Amazing Product?

Several years ago I grabbed a roll of colored Duck Tape and made a few random crafty things with it. I tossed it aside in my craft bucket and forgot about it. Recently, I stumbled upon some cool designs in my local craft store, and for the first time in ages, I became inspired.

And this is what came of it:

Some totally fun to make and pretty darn cute hair bows for friends, family and customers. I've put these on bobby pins, simple snap barrettes and regular silver/old school barrettes as well as pony tail holders and headbands.

Hello Kitty, Spongebob and Zebra are by FAR the most popular at the moment, but I foresee doing a lot in our state Razorback Red/White theme with the upcoming football season. I'm also expecting to make several for the local school colors for pep rally's and football season. I actually have one cheer leading squad that wanted one for each of their girls already!

With dozens of colors available and designs for popular characters and college football teams coming out as well, I imagine having a wall of duck tape in my house before too much longer!

This purse >> well it was a fun little half hour project that makes me happy inside. Duck tape has now become my guilty pleasure. I enjoy the sound of the ripping tape, the coolness of the creations when they are done and the satisfaction of "creating" something that someone else enjoys.

I share odds and ends on this site all the time, but I have long since stopped more personal/intimate posts due to simply not having a lot of time to dedicate to them. Well, I want that to change..and this is part of it. I am making more time for myself to just relax and do things I enjoy. Duck tape projects is a big part of that!

Have you ever made a duck tape craft? What is your favorite duck tape design? Please feel free to share!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Kroger & Dollar General Haul 7/20/12

I hit the ground running yesterday and made a half day event of errands and shopping. One thing I've learned while couponing and trying to stick to my budget is that you have to be prepared and you have to NOT be on a schedule. Going in a store with a list and coupons is a start, but having the time to simply walk the aisles with your binder searching out prices on items you use frequently, that is where you profit the most.

So, my 4 year old son and I hit Kroger yesterday morning with a list in hand, a binder full of coupons and time to simply watch and look. I knew a few items I was headed there specifically to get, but I also wanted to spend some time strolling through the Health & Beauty, Household and Medication aisles. I needed to get accurate prices on a few products I'd like to stock up on like laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent and a few health and beauty items we routinely use.

Although most of the products are overly expensive on an every day basis to pick up at a grocery store rather than a dollar store or Walmart, they do frequently run sales that put them as "loss leaders" or at the minimum excellent ways to stock up when they have coinciding coupons to make them super cheap or even free.

Here is what I got on my trip to Kroger & Dollar General yesterday for only $17.68:

1 25 load Gain Laundry Detergent

1 Purex Crystal Fabric Softener

2 Cascade 16 tab Dishwasher Product

9 cans Pet Pride cat food

1 box Tampax Tampons

2 - 2 Liter Dr. Pepper 10

2 - 2 Liter Coke Zero

1 Kraft Fat Free Caesar Italian Salad Dressing (favorite to make pasta salads with)

2 3 bar packs Zest

3 3 bar packs Ivory

10 Bayer Aspirin Products

8 Old Spice Deodorants

Combining items on sale like the Bayer aspirin ($2.15 each) and using a $3.00 off coupon on each of those, I made money just to take them from the store. These deals are RARE but when you take the time to stroll through the store and notice them, it is TOTALLY worth it. The Old Spice products were on sale also, coupled with coupons their cost was only $0.49 each, but then all the overage from the aspirin more than covered that cost making them essentially FREE. I am generally not an advocate of stocking up on items like that if we don't use them, but since my Mom, Dad and Grandma ALL take one a day as prescribed by their doctor, this wasn't a waste and will be helpful to their budget too.

This haul provided us with a couple of months of soap, a month of laundry detergent, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, 6 months or more of deodorant for my Beau, 3 months of aspirin for my family, and over a week of cat food and a few extras such as the salad dressing and soft drinks that were "splurges" we wouldn't normally grab (both were on sale and had coupons). Under $20 I have stockpiled, provided needed items for my family and stayed well within budget for the month of July.

What are some of your best deals of late? Want to be a guest poster? Send me your deals, a picture of them and how you got them for that price and I will feature you on the blog and Facebook page!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Kroger Ad Matches 7/18/12-7/24/12

This week is another great Kroger event where you buy 10 participating items and save $5 at the register. This generally equals about $0.50 off the already low sale price of those items.

Tips: PLAN AHEAD!!! Menu plan for the week (I prefer monthly) and use ads like this to stockpile items you use frequently or can donate (if free) to those that will. This week is good for some pantry/stockpile items and a few "cool" items that are neat to have on hand for snacks, treats or special nights/events.

Here we go!!!!

Colgate Toothpaste (6-6.4oz) - $0.99 each (when you purchase any 10 participating items)