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Here's What's New - How I Was Able to Donate 30 School Supply Items for Less Than $5 Out of Pocket
- Happy Family Sweepstakes: Share a story or photo & be entered to win $20,000 toward your child’s education!
- Dollar General: Deals for the week of August 11-17, 2013
- Free sample of Nectresse
- Recyclebank: Add 180 free points to your account this week
- Free ebooks: What’s It Like to Be Married to Me?, The Juggling Act, Grace for the Homeschool Mom, Knitting for KnitWits, and Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist
- 10 Weekly Goals (and I’m back after a wonderful summer “break”!)
- 5 Tips to Manage Seasons of Unemployment
- Kohl’s coupon: $10 off $25 Kid’s Apparel + additional 15% off!
- Target coupon: $1.50 Up & Up School supplies = free crayons, glue, pencils, plus more!
- Kelly-Moore Paint Company: Free quart of ColorStudio Collection paint
- Pampers Gifts to Grow: Free 10-point code
- Meijer mPerks: Free gallon of milk!
- Educational Deals & Freebies Round-up
- Kroger: $6 off 4 General Mills cereals e-coupon = free cereal!
- Walgreens: 12 rolls of Cottonelle toilet paper for $2.50 (after coupon & catalina)
- Printable coupons: Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, Lunchables, Claritin, Carnation Breakfast Essentials, plus more
- Free BOB Book Early Learning Printable sets (Set 3, Books 3-4)
Anne emailed in the following about back to school deals she got and donated recently: My husband’s company is having a school supply drive for the YWCA. I told him I wanted to see how many supplies we could get for $5. We paid $4.79 for the 29 items pictured. I owe it to Money Saving Mom® for teaching me how to coupon and how to find local deals through region-specific blogs. My husband and I did separate transactions at Target (because their coupons state one coupon per guest): For $0.90 before sales tax, we got 16 items at Target! We went to the Friends and Family Sale at Fred Meyer, a store in the Pacific Northwest. All school supplies were 15% off with a printable coupon I found on a regional blog: - 6 spiral notebooks (sale price of $0.19) for $0.16 each – total of $0.96
- 4 packs of Bic pens (sale price of $0.99) for $0.84 each – used 2 $1.50/2 printable coupons – total of $0.36 each
- 2 packs of pencils (sale price of $0.79) for $0.67 each – total of $1.34
- 1 pack of erasers (sale price of $0.50) for $0.42
- We used a reusable bag and got an additional $0.05 off.
For $3.03 before sales tax, we got 13 items at Fred Meyer! I also have a 2-pack of Sharpies that aren’t pictured and are the 30th item. I got them while grocery shopping on a 10/$10 sale at QFC (a Kroger-brand store) with a $1/1 e-coupon – so they were FREE! In case you’re keeping track, the sales tax was $0.86 total. After 11 years of teaching fifth and then second grade, I left teaching this June to stay home with our 9-month old daughter. I’m glad we’re able to contribute during back to school time in a small way!
Have you gotten a great deal thanks to a tip you’ve found here on MoneySavingMom.com? Take a picture of your deal/purchase and write a short post on the deal details and submit it here. If your submission is chosen to be posted, I’ll send you a $25 Amazon gift card! Note: the more creative, unique, and well-written your post, the more chance it will have of being posted. Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.    Related Stories 
Here are the best deals at Dollar General this week, with thanks to Anna from Dollar Store Deals for her help with compiling these: Hershey's Syrup, 22 – 24 oz – $1.85
Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon from the 8/11 SmartSource insert
$1.35 each after coupon Angel Soft Bath Tissue, 24 reg rolls – $5.50
Use $0.25/1 printable
Or use $1.50/1 Ibotta coupon
Or use $0.45/1 coupon from the 7/28 RedPlum insert
As low as $4 after coupon Brawny Paper Towels (6 rolls) – $5
Use $1/1 Ibotta coupon
Or use $0.55/1 coupon from the 8/11 RedPlum insert
As low as $4 after coupon Oxi Clean Stain Remover, 1.3 lb – $3.50
Use $2/1 printable
$1.50 after coupon Glade Carpet & Room, 32 oz; or Scrubbing Bubbles Drop-Ins (2 ct) – $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1/2 printable here or here
$1 each after coupon Smart & Simple Bath Tissue (6 pk) – $1 Post-It Notes, 3 in x 3 in – $1
Use $2/1 printable
$0.80 after coupon See the full list of deals at Dollar General this week here. Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
We’re back from our annual extended family week-long trip to Arkansas and Bull Shoals Lake last week (you can see a few pictures over on my Instagram account). It rained most of the week, we lost electricity one of the days, and the internet barely worked a few hours per day and the rest of the time it wouldn’t work at all — so it was a relaxing, unplugged week. We went to bed early, played games, talked, read, sat and watched the rain, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and got in some time in the boat/water-skiing when it wasn’t raining. 
The highlight of the trip for me: seeing Kathrynne (8) punch her fears in the face & get up on her very first try at water-skiing! A few of you have written in to say you’ve really missed my personal posts around here. I’ve missed them, too.  I scaled way back from my regular blogging this summer so I could invest my extra time and energy on making memories with my family. We had a great summer, albeit anything but quiet (I believe there was only one day the entire summer long that I stayed home all day!). We’re beginning our new fall homeschool schedule today (I’m so excited about our plan this year and the different books and subjects we’ll be studying!), so I’m back to regular blogging again. Expect regular pictures, recipes, personal posts, shopping trips, money-saving tips, challenges, series, and posts on whatever I’m currently mulling on. I had a wonderful summer, but I’m so glad to be back to much more regular blogging — and a regular routine. I’ve missed the rhythm of a good routine! Goals from two weeks ago: Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals 1.  Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children. Finish reading Viking Adventure with Kathrynne. Finish reading Hugh Pine with Kaitlynn. Read a few picture books with Silas. 2. Write a love note to Jesse.
Personal Goals 3. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-21.
4. Exercise six times. Run 10 miles total.
5. Finish Hidden Places, Almost Amish, The Great Gatsby, Grace, Gold, and Glory, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, and Seasons of a Mother's Heart. Homemaking Goals 6. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.
This week’s goals: Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals 1. Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children. Finish reading The Queen’s Smuggler with Kathrynne. Finish reading They Led the Way with Kaitlynn. Read a few picture books with Silas.
2. Write a love note to Jesse. 3. Start our fall homeschooling schedule. 
Personal Goals 4. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-22. 5. Start the ChaLean Extreme Program. Run 6 miles. 6. Read The Myth of Multitasking, Loving the Way Jesus Loves, First: What It Takes to Win by Rich Froning, Leaving Yesterday, and Love Works. Homemaking Goals 7. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project. 8. Try two new recipes. Business Goals 9. Finish reading through and making typo edits to my book manuscript. 10. Start working on a new ebook. How did you do on last week's goals? What are your goals for this week? I'd love to have you share your progress on last week's goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you've blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let's cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
Guest post from Angi of SchneiderPeeps I remember the moment as if were yesterday, although it was 18 years ago. My husband came home early from work and when I asked if he was sick, he said, "No, I'm unemployed." We were devastated. We had just moved 8 hours away from our hometown with our one year old for my husband to go to Seminary. We had about $500 to our name and didn't know anyone in this new city. I'd love to say this was the first and last time we've dealt with unemployment, but it's wasn't. The silver lining is that we've learned a lot about what it takes to not only survive but thrive during unemployment. Here are some things you can do to help you make it through unemployment: 1. Stop spending money. In your spending plan, you need to assume you're going to be unemployed for years, not weeks. Every single dollar needs to have a predetermined name — and those names need to be mortgage, groceries, gas, etc. NOT soda, dollar store treat, gumball machine, etc. Drastic times call for drastic measures! 2. Start earning money. If you get a severance package, that's great. If not, that's okay, too. The first week of unemployment you should spend most of your time polishing up your resume and calling everyone you know in your field and let them know you're looking for work. If you don't find a job quickly, go ahead and do some work outside of your field. You never know where that will lead. 3. Stay busy. Don't buy into the trap that just because you're unemployed you don't have anything to do. If you have plenty of savings or severance package and money isn't an issue, do some projects around the house or volunteer at a non-profit organization. If money is an issue, start your own side business. Many businesses can be started for very little upfront money. But just sitting around the house waiting for a phone call will mess with your mind. 4. Keep a positive attitude. For your spending habits, you need to think that the unemployment will last a long time; but in your attitude you need to believe that it's going to end any minute. This is a tricky balance. Instead of filling your time with the xBox, fill it with inspiring books such as, Start by Jon Acuff, or 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. 5. Protect your children. If you have children, it's really important to help them feel secure. I don't mean you should lie to them… but they don't need to carry the weight of your burden. They need to know that your budget is going to be different and that you can't get or do everything you used to. But don't say things like, "If worse comes to worst, we can move in with Grandpa." That's not comforting. Save that information for if it actually gets to that point. Finally, know that unemployment is just a season and like all seasons it will eventually end. Make the most of the time and resources you've been given. Angi Schneider is a minister's wife and homeschooling Mom to 6 children. She's also the owner of the blog, SchneiderPeeps, where she journals their homesteading and homeschooling adventures. Her new series is about the lessons from their four year unemployment/underployment season.
photo credit Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
There’s a high-value $10 off $25 Kid’s Apparel Kohl’s coupon available. You can stack this with the 15% off printable coupon to get an additional 15% off your entire purchase. Both coupons are valid through August 18, 2013. Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
Target just released a new $1.50 off Up & Up School Supplies coupon. You can use this to get some great deals on school supplies — or even pick up some items for free! Here’s a list of the current prices on some school supplies at Target this week that you can get free with this coupon: - Up & Up Crayons – $0.25
- Up & Up Liquid Glue – $0.25
- Up & Up Glue Sticks (2-pack) – $0.25
- Up & Up Rulers – $0.25
- Up & Up Pencils (10 ct) – $0.57
- Up & Up Notecards (100 ct) – $0.49
- Up & Up Pointed-Tip Scissors (5 inch) – $0.69
- Up & Up Mechanical Pencils (8 ct) – $1.00
- Up & Up 2 Pocket Folder – $0.50
- Up & Up 24-ct. Wood Pencil s- $1.00
- Up & Up 6-ct. Erasers – $1.00
- Up & Up 1-inch 3-Ring Binder – $1.00
- Up & Up Clear-Cover Binder Pocket – $1.00
- Up & Up 5-ct. Tab Index – $1.00
- Up & Up 100-sheet College or Ride-Ruled Paper – $1.50
- Up & Up 40-sheet 9-inch x 12-inch Drawing Paper – $1.50
Thanks, Coupon Cravings! Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
Register or log into your Meijer mPerks account to add an e-coupon good for a FREE gallon of Meijer-brand milk. Use code FREEGALLON to get this deal. This coupon is valid until August 15, 2013. Thanks, Freebie Shark! Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
Here are some of the best educational deals and freebies available right now from Katie who writes at Cincinnati Cents: Primary Science Set for $17.49: Amazon has their Primary Science Set on sale for $17.49. This set typically retails for $29.99 and includes a beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, goggles, large 6" test tube and stand, 2 small test tubes and a stand. You'll also receive ten double-sided Activity Cards that cover science process skills, living and nonliving things, physical science, senses and more. Play-Doh Tonka Chuck & Friends Excavator Set for $10.98: Purchase the Play-Doh Tonka Chuck & Friends Chomper Excavator Set for just $10.98. This set enables children to create pretend bricks and comes with boom arm and claw, hand tool, book mold, and 2 cans of Play-Doh modeling compound. Free Blueberries for Sal Educational Pack: Royal Baloo has a free Blueberries for Sal Educational Pack available for download. This pack is geared towards children ages 5-8 and includes such skills as coloring, counting, sight words, and more. VTech Crazy Legs Learning Bugs for $13.83: Purchase the VTech Crazy Legs Learning Bug for just $13.83. This learning toy teaches shapes, counting, and nature objects, and features two different modes of play. LeapFrog Text & Learn for $14.99: Amazon has their LeapFrog Text & Learn on sale for $14.99. This interactive toy has three learning modes that give children practice with letter names and sounds, QWERTY keyboard navigation and more. Free Lalaloopsy Printables: Download a free set of Lalaloopsy printables from 1+1+1=1. This pack includes such skills as tracing, matching, letter recognition, graphing, counting, and more. Klutz Paper Fashions Set for $16.81: Purchase the Klutz Paper Fashions Set for just $16.81. This kit comes with wire hangers, double sided patterned paper, glue, plastic stencils, sequins, colored seed beads, crystal craft jewels, organza ribbons, and faux fur trim. Scotch Thermal Laminator System for $24.97: Amazon has their Scotch Thermal Laminator System on sale for $24.97. This system laminates up to 9″ wide, is suitable for use with photos, and includes a set of laminating pouches. This is an inexpensive way to make charts, graphs, and posters and is ideal for preserving your child’s artwork and papers throughout the school year. Free Well-Planned Homeschool e-book: For a limited time, you can download a free copy of the Well Planned Homeschool e-book from the Home Educating Family Association. This e-book shares the wisdom and real life experiences of popular authors, speakers, and homeschool pioneers on their day-to-day homeschooling journey. VTech MobiGo 2 Learning System for $29.99 Shipped: Amazon has their VTech MobiGo 2 Touch Learning System on sale for $29.99. This system includes four different modes of play and there is an extensive library of downloadable games and e-books available online for this system at the Learning Lodge. This item also ships for free. Play-Doh Breakfast Time Set for $16.79: Purchase the Play-Doh Breakfast Time Set for $16.79. This set typically retails for $22.99 and includes 5 cans of Play-Doh as well as waffle maker book mold, bacon & eggs book mold and many more. There are several other Play-Doh Sets on sale as well including the Metallic Neon Compound (11 ct.) for $12.99, the Play-Doh Toolin’ Around Playset for $14.96, and the Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set for $19.15. Free Fire Truck Educational Pack: Download a free Fire Truck Educational Pack from Royal Baloo. This pack includes such skills as a word search, writing practice, mazes, graphing, and more. Megabloks Large Classic Bag (80 ct.) for $17.24: Amazon has their Megabloks Large Classic Bag (80 ct.) on sale for $17.24. This 80-piece set is themed in primary colors and includes a bag for convenient storage. Klutz Book of Impossible Objects for $15.85: Purchase the Klutz Book of Impossible Objects for $15.85. This book comes with all the plastic pieces, paper parts, and special pages you need to experience 25 impossible things. The book includes a scientific backing for the objects including the mathematically amazing Möbius strip (a band of paper with only one side), cardstock acrobats with amazing balance, and a color changing spinning top. Darice 20-Piece Paintbrush Set for $4.66: Amazon has their Darice 20-Piece Kids Paintbrush Set on sale for $4.66. This set includes both fiber and foam application brushes that are ideal for craft or painting projects including stenciling, watercolor and more. Katie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four who writes at Cincinnati Cents about saving money and having fun as a family without breaking the bank. She enjoys sharing new recipes, ideas for frugal family fun, and tips for spending less at the grocery store.
Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories 
There’s a new catalina offer at Walgreens that begins today: Buy Cottonelle 12-Pack Toilet Paper 8/12/13 – 9/8/13
Buy 2, Get Back $2 Register Reward
Buy 3+, Get Back $3 Register Reward You can use this to get a good deal on toilet paper: Buy 2 Cottonelle Bath Tissue 12 Rolls at $5 each
Use $1/1 Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue (from the Walgreens August coupon booklet by the door as you walk in the store — will deduct $2)
Stack with 2 $0.50/1 Cottonelle Toilet Paper coupon from the 8/11 SmartSource insert
Spend $7 plus tax out of pocket, Get Back $2 Register Rewards
$2.50 each or $0.21 per roll of toilet paper after coupons and Register Rewards
See the full list of deals at Walgreens this week. Thanks, OC Deal Mama! Got student debt? Sign up for SmarterBucks (for free!) and earn rewards that help pay down your student loans. Click here to learn more.  Related Stories | | |
to download a free application that enables you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
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