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Dillons I didn’t have time to go to Aldi this week so I bought everything at Dillons. Note: The beef jerky in the picture above was NOT purchased at Dillons (it was purchased at a different store as a Christmas gift/stocking stuffer for my husband). I didn’t realize it was in the picture until several hours later…I’m guessing my toddler stuck it up on the table when I wasn’t looking.  1 Kroger Cocoa Puffs Cereal – $2.99 1 Dillons Eggs – $1.67 1 Romaine Lettuce – $1.49 1 gallon Dillons Milk – $2.98 1 Kroger Flour – $1.47 1.03 lbs Broccoli @ $1.49/lb – $1.53 1 Cucumber – $0.75 1 Carefree Liners – $1 1 Green Pepper – $0.75 0.46/lb Green Beans @ $1.69/lb – $0.78 1 Kroger Sliced Turkey Breast – $2.50 1 Dannon Vanilla Yogurt – $2.79 1 Kroger Mild Cheddar Cheese – $2.99 1 Kroger Mayo – $2.35 1 Comforts Baby Wash – $2.99 1 Organic Sugar – Marked down to $1.39 1 Kroger Sandwich Slim Buns – $1.99 2 Duracell Batteries (4 pk) – $1.99, used 2 $1/1 printable - $0.99 each after coupons 1 Tyson Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (48 oz) – $7.99 1 Clear Care – $10.99 1 Flour Tortillas – $2.49 (These were marked as $1.50 each and I realized when I got home that I was overcharged.)  1 SoftSoap Pump – $0.89 1 Garlic Salt – $1 2 Ramen Noodles – $0.20 each 1 Izze Sparkling Juice – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon Total with tax ($4.30): $62.45
Menu Plan this Week Breakfasts Cereal x 2, Eggs, Toast, Applesauce (I canned this several months ago) Lunches Leftovers, Cheese & Crackers, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit, Veggies & Crackers Dinners Turkey Sandwiches, Chips, Steamed Broccoli Chicken Tetrazzini, Peas Pancakes, Eggs Deer Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Biscuits Chicken & Rice Casserole, Steamed Broccoli, Banana Muffins Venison Stew, 30-Minute Rolls, Steamed Cauliflower The post Gretchen’s $62 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.    Related Stories 
In case you missed this post yesterday, be sure to read it and enter to win a $500 Target gift card! We’re officially kicking off the Say Goodbye to Survival Mode Book Launch Party today! Over the next six weeks, we’ll be giving away one BIG giveaway every single week. And trust me, you’ll want to enter to win each and every one of them! I’m so excited about releasing this book — writing it was hard but oh-so-good! And I believe the message of the book is going to change lives in powerful ways. The book shares my story of pulling out of the pit of survival mode and the practical steps I've taken to be living a life filled with meaning and purpose. It's raw, vulnerable, and authentic — and it delves much deeper into my story and personal journey than I've had the space to do here on the blog. I poured hours, days, weeks, and months into this project. And I'm truly thrilled with the final product — and I believe wholeheartedly that you will be blessed and encouraged by reading it. 
Here’s more on it from the book description: Calling the super busy, the stressed out, the overtired. You know you’re made for a more fulfilling life. With this book, you'll know where to start. You wake up tired. Your to-do list is too long. The commitments—and the laundry—are piling up, but your energy keeps dwindling. You feel like you’re simply making it through the days, not living or enjoying any part of them. In Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, you’ll find both practical ideas and big-picture perspective that will inspire you to live life on purpose. As a wife, mother of three, and founder of the wildly successful blog MoneySavingMom.com, Crystal Paine has walked the road from barely surviving to living with intention. With the warmth and candor of a dear friend, she shares what she’s learned along the way, helping you: - feel healthier and more energetic by setting priorities and boundaries
- eliminate stress with savvy management of your time, money, and home
- get more done by setting realistic goals and embracing discipline
- rediscover your passions—and the confidence to pursue them
Packed with straightforward solutions you’ll use today and inspirational stories you’ll remember for years, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode is a must for any woman who’s ever longed for the freedom to enjoy life, not just survive it.
We’re Celebrating You! You all have been my cheerleaders on this journey. Your comments and emails have been the catalyst for so much personal growth in my life. And you all have inspired me to become something I never believed I could be — a writer. You all show up here every day. You listen, you share, you comment, you inspire… and you keep showing up, even when I don’t always get posts up in a timely manner and even when it takes me longer than I hope to finish series. You keep showing up. And you tell your friends. And you leave beautiful comments. And you send me emails of encouragement. This book deal never would have happened without you. So months ago when we started dreaming up ideas about a book launch, my heart’s desire was to bless you all and knock your socks off with giveaways and other fun things — as a small way for me to express how grateful I am for each of you. 
Enter to Win a $500 Target Gift Card We’re kicking things off by giving away a $500 Target gift card. You don’t have to do anything to enter other than leave your name and email address — just like all our other giveaways. If you wanted to do something to help us launch this book, we’d love that. But know that it’s not required. Three Things We’d Love to Have You Do: 1. Pre-order a copy of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. If you pre-order, be sure to download your Freebies & Discounts Package worth $125! And if you want to order a copy of the book for a friend, you can gift them a Freebies & Discounts Package, too! 2. Sign up for the FREE 7-Day Say Goodbye to Survival Mode Course (see the orange banner at the top of the page here or click the check box in the giveaway form below). This course is packed with encouragement and practical tips to help you live with more purpose and joy. 3. Tell your friends about Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. We have buttons, tweets, banners, and more here to make it very easy to spread the word! Again, if you don’t have time to do any of these three things, just skip straight to signing up for the $500 Target gift card below. One winner will be chosen and posted next Wednesday. I hope you win! The post Book Launch Giveaway: $500 Target gift card (one winner) appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
The following is a guest post from a reader who asked to remain anonymous
Growing up, my family vacationed in 5-star hotels and spent more at a single meal in a gourmet restaurant than my husband and I currently spend on groceries for an entire month! Needless to say, the disparity between my financial situation and that of others in my family has led to some pretty awkward situations. While my own struggle with contentment is something I need to put in perspective, I'm pretty sure my family would do some things differently if they understood. If someone you love has far less income than you, or is simply in a financial slump, they'd probably like for you to understand these concepts, too. Remember that I Need To Plan Ahead What seems like no biggie to you may be huge to me. Let me give you an example: One year, my parents, siblings, and our families were together for a rare long weekend. Someone suggested that every family unit could pay for a couple meals throughout our visit. Sounds fair, right? The problem was that my family rarely eats out on our own, especially at sit-down restaurants. And even when we do, we plan ahead, have coupons in tow, and usually drink water. We simply could not afford to foot the bill for 8 adults, plus children. The situation was awkward, to say the least! Others footed the bills, and we felt like absolute heels. However, we simply couldn't justify dipping into our meager savings or going into debt over a family get-together. Let Me Serve You, My Way The next time a family gathering was planned, I suggested (plenty of time ahead) that each of our families take care of two meals, however we wanted to do it. For our part, my husband and I cooked up a pretty impressive breakfast — if I do say so myself! I was able to make room in our budget and pair coupons and store deals to purchase the needed groceries ahead of time. I also used some Crystal's freezer cooking strategies to reduce my time in the kitchen that week! Everyone was impressed, and I was glad to be able to do my part. Some of the others did take everyone out to a favorite restaurant, and that was okay, too. Realize What I Can (& Can't) Give Even if I realize that I make one tenth of what some others make, giving them a $10 gift when they give me a $100 one feels crummy. Seeing my kids receive more gifts from extended family than they do from me is difficult, too. My one sister was out-giving me with my kids at Christmas — in a big way. I told her how I felt, and that I wanted my kids to receive more from their parents than extended family. She completely understood but didn't want to spend less on my kids than she did her other nieces and nephews. She now gets my kids each a gift (usually after asking me for ideas, first), and then buys them savings bonds with the remainder of what she wants to spend. Know that Conversations Can Easily Exclude or Embarrass Me I'll try to be excited for you when you tell me about your home renovation or trip to Bermuda, but I just won't have much to contribute to the conversation. I don't want you to feel like you can't share your exciting news with me, but please realize that if everyone else is spending a lot of time talking about things I don't have or can't do, I'm going to feel left out. I'm not trying to be antisocial, but I'm pretty sure that saying "My husband glued down the part of the Formica countertop that keeps popping up," wouldn't quite fit in. And then there's Christmas. In our own home, we try not to make Christmas about the gifts or money, but when you tell me what you gave your kids and ask me what I got mine, it's hard for me not to feel like a bad mom. It's also a little embarrassing when people ask my kids what they "got for Christmas." I do try to make our celebrations enjoyable, though, so I'd much prefer that we be asked what our favorite part of Christmas was, or something like that. At the end of the day, I don't want to be seen as "the poor one" or pitied for my (current) lot in life. I just want to be loved and appreciated and included in the festivities. The author is a freezer-cooking , baby-wearing, stay-at-home mama who does some freelance writing while her 3 young kiddos nap. She's married to a wonderful man who's the pastor of a small country church and prefers to remain anonymous due to the content of this post.
photo source The post How to Bless the Less Fortunate Without Making Them Feel Like a Heel (Part 1) appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
Walgreens is having a Friends and Family 15% Off Sale both in-store and online on Friday, December 13, 2013 only. Go here to print off Walgreens coupons good for 15% off select product, or use the code FAMILY15 to take 15% off eligible orders online. As an added bonus, they will also be offering 20% off all Walgreens, W Brand, and Nice! products in-store, and free shipping for online orders of $25 or more. You can also text CHEER to 21525 to get the Walgreens Friends and Family coupons on your mobile device, as well as sign up to receive other exclusive offers. The post Walgreens: Friends and Family Sale – 15% Off In-store or Online appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
In celebration of their 21st birthday, Caribou Coffee is offering a coupon good for a Buy One Drink, Get a Second Drink for only $0.21 deal. This coupon is good today, December 12, 2013 only. To redeem, print this coupon or show it from your mobile device at your local Caribou Coffee. Go here to find the Caribou Coffee location nearest you. Coupon not valid on bottled beverages. One coupon per person. Thanks, Freebie Finding Mom! The post Caribou Coffee Coupon: Buy One Drink, Get a Second Drink for $0.21 (today only!) appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories- Printable coupons: Almay, Angel Soft, Barilla, Glade, Tide, Herbal Essence, plus more!
- Gluten-Free Coupons & Deals
- Printable coupons: Hershey’s, Gevalia, Colgate, Play-Doh, Easy Bake Oven, plus more!
If you still haven’t found the perfect holiday cards this season, Vistaprint is now offering holiday card deals in a variety of sizes and quantities! For a limited time, you can score 40 5×7 folded Holiday Cards for just $25! You’ll also find 50 5×7 flat cards for $25, 75 4×8 flat cards for $25, and more! Whether you took a lot of family photos this season or you're looking for holiday cards with simple messages and designs, Vistaprint has a variety of templates in order to make your cards stand out amongst the rest. Please do note that VistaPrint is notorious for sending you lots of email after you order from them so I'd recommend either unsubscribing from their emails as soon as you start getting them or giving them an email address that is not your primary address. This 40 Holiday Cards for $25 with Free Shipping offer expires on Friday, December 13th at 11:59 pm (EST)! (Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.) The post Vistaprint: Get 40 Holiday Cards for just $25 shipped (through tomorrow only) appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
CVS Shopping Trip 2 Hersheys Candy – $3 each (Buy 2, Get $3 ECBs)
Used $1.10/2 printable 2 Nabisco Oreo Snacks – $0.99 each
Used $1/2 printable 1 Beauty of Essence Body Mist – $2.99
Used Free printable 1 Tums – $1.19
Used $1/1 coupon from the in-store coupon machine 2 Schick Razors – $8.99 each
2 Skintimate Shaving Cream – $3.79 each
Buy $25 in Schick/Skintimate/Edge products, Get $10 ECBs
Used $1/2 coupon from the 12/8 SmartSource insert
And used Buy One Get One Free razors coupon from the 11/17 SmartSource insert
And used $3/1 Schick coupon from the 12/8 SmartSource insert Used $3/$15 CVS coupon (I received in my email) Used $15.46 ECBs from previous shopping trips Total before coupons, sales and ECBs: $44.73 Total with tax ($2.27): $2.45, Plus received $13 ECBs back
The post Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: Spent $2.45 out of pocket for $44 worth of products appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
Amazon is offering 50% off select Learning Resources Toys today only. Here’s the list of the items included in this sale: - Learning Resources Avalanche Fruit Stand Game – $9.99
- Learning Resources Pretend & Play Dish Set – $8.99
- Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register – $27.49
- Learning Resources Pretend & Play Doctor Set – $18.49
- Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register – $19.99
- Learning Resources Jumbo Jungle Animals – $14.99
- Learning Resources Jumbo Farm Animals – $14.99
- Learning Resources Jumbo Dinosaurs – $14.99
- Learning Resources Camp Set – $14.99
- Learning Resources One to Ten Counting Cans – $23.49
- Learning Resources Super Magnet Lab – $16.49
- Learning Resources Candy Construction – $17.49
- Learning Resources Snap 'N Learn Number Bugs – $9.99
- Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Wacky Wigglers – $15.99
- Learning Resources Magnetic Learning Calendar – $9.99
- Learning Resources New Sprouts Munch It Food Set – $12.49
- Learning Resources Smart Snacks Alpha Pops – $8.99
- Learning Resources Pretend & Play Cooking Set – $8.49
- Learning Resources New Sprouts Fresh Picked Fruit & Veggie Tote – $14.99
- Learning Resources Counting Cookies – $8.99
- Learning Resources Pretend & Play Kitchen Set – $22.49
Head on over to Cincinnati Cents for all the details. The post Amazon.com: 50% off Learning Resources Toys (today only) appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories  What a great gift idea! Order a 1 year subscription to Bon Appetit magazine for only $4.99 (up to 3 years) with code MONEYSAVING at checkout.
This offer expires tonight (December 12th, 2013) at midnight EST. About Bon Appetit Magazine: Bon Appetit is THE guide to fabulous food. This magazine subscription is America’s leading food, wine, and entertainment magazine. Each issue is filled with a range of recipes from easy to fine dining, elegant entertainment ideas, and wine reviews. Bon Appetit will teach you how to cook like pro simply. (Note: The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.) The post Bon Appetit magazine for $4.99 per year appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
Every week in 2013, I'll be sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you'll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you're already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.
Guest post by Shannon Birthday parties are great, but throwing one these days can almost break the bank. It is possible to throw a birthday party on a budget and make it a party that your child and their friends will long remember. Here are five tips to help: 1. Make your own cake. Buying a birthday cake from a bakery can be a costly proposition. Instead, get a couple boxes of cake mix and frosting to make your own. Cupcakes are even better! Get a fancy star tip and decorating bag to put a neat swirl on top. 2. Use solid color party-ware. Your child’s party can still be themed with their favorite character or activity, but instead of having all matching cups, plates, napkins, and more, pick up some solid color items to match. They are less expensive and are easy to match the themed items. You will save money by just getting the themed invitations, a centerpiece, and a mylar balloon. 3. Just serve cake and ice cream. Much of the cost for a birthday party is in the food. Invite your guests over in between lunch and dinner. That way the only items on your menu can be cake and ice cream. 4. Go back to the basics for party games. It is easy to host some party games with items found around your home — think three-legged races which only require something to tie ankles together, a spoon and egg race, musical chairs, and freeze tag. Serve cake and ice cream before the games so that the kids can burn off all the extra energy! 5. Cut back on party favors. It can be so tempting to go overboard on party favors to send home with your guests. Instead bake some cookies, place them in a cellophane or sandwich bag, tie with some ribbon to match your party theme, and place them in a basket by the door to hand out as people are leaving. This a great activity for your child to participate in if they love to bake. Your child can still have a great birthday party even without spending a bunch of money. Follow one or all of these tips to help celebrate their special day and stay on budget. Shannon Weidemann is best known as the Partyelf. Check out all the great party ideas on her website to help plan your next celebration
photo credit The post 52 Different Ways to Save $100 Per Year: Simplify Birthday Parties {Week 40} appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories
   
Cleaning Coupons Personal Care Coupons - $2.00 off ONE Venus Razor or Refill
- $2.00 off ONE Gillette Razor
- $0.75 off ONE Gillette Fusion Shave Prep
- $1.50 off ONE Gillette Sensor Disposable Razor
- $1.50 off 2 Herbal Essences Shampoo/Conditioner
- $0.75 off ONE Herbal Essences Shampoo/Conditioner
- $1.50 off ONE Degree Women’s Premium Deodorant
- $1.00 off ONE Dove Women go fresh Deodorant
- $2.00 off ONE 100% Pure Argan Oil
- $2.00 off Maybelline New York Foundation
- $2.00 off ONE Braun product
- $1.50 off ONE Always Pad AND Always Liner
- $5.00 off any TWO (2) Almay Cosmetic Products
- $0.75 off COVERGIRL Outlast Lipcolor or Lipshine
- $1.00 off any ProNamel Fluoride Rinse
- $0.50 off COVERGIRL Outlast Brilliant Nail Gloss
- $0.75 off Oral-B Pro-Health or Complete Toothbrush
- $2.00 off ONE box of Clairol Hair Color
- $0.75 off 1 Secret Outlast™ or Scent Expressions
- $1.50 off ONE Secret Clinical Deodorant
- $0.50 off ONE Oral-B Glide Floss or Floss Picks
- $0.75 off ONE Vidal Sassoon Shampoo/Conditioner
- $1.00 off ONE Head & Shoulders product
- $2.00 off ONE Vidal Sassoon Hair Color
- $2.00 off one BIC Hybrid Advance 4 Razors
- $1.50 off one ThermaCare Cold Wrap OR HeatWrap
- $0.50 off ONE Always Pad 12ct or higher
- $1.00 off Gillette Anti-Perspirant or Body Wash
- $1.50 off 2 Tampax Pearl, Active, Radiant Tampons
- $0.50 off Tampax Pearl, Active or Radiant™ Tampon
- $1.00 off ONE COVERGIRL Blast Mascara
- $2.00 off any 1 (one) Biore Product
- $5.00 off Remington R4, R5, F4, F5 electric razor
- $1.50 off any one got2b hair styling product
- $3.00 off any two got2b hair styling products
- $1.00 off REACH Total Care, Gentle Gum Care Floss
- $1.00 off any TWO (2) REACH Floss products
- BOGO Nivea for Men Facial Care
- $2.00 off Olay facial care item
- $0.75 off ANY ONE (1) REACH Toothbrush
- $2.00 off CLEAN & CLEAR ADVANTAGE Soothing Item
- $1.50 off REACH 2-pack or multi-pack toothbrushes
- $1.00 off ONE Old Spice Holiday Gift Pack
- $1.00 off ONE Olay Holiday Gift Pack
- $2.00 off Colgate Total or Optic White Mouthwash
- $3.00 off ONE AVEENO Clear Complexion BB Cream
- $2.00 off one AVEENO SKIN RELIEF Cream or Lotion
- $2.00 off any (1) LISTERINE WHITENING Rinse
- $1.00 off ONE Olay Facial Moisturizer
- $2.00 off Olay Total Effects, Pro-X, Regenerist
- $0.50 off ONE Old Spice Body Wash
- $1.00 off Crest Pro-Health or 3D Whitening Rinse
- $0.50 off ONE Always Pantiliner 30ct or larger
- $0.50 off ONE Old Spice Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant
- $0.50 off ONE Crest Pro-Health, Crest Plus Scope
- $2.00 off 2 J&J RED CROSS Brand First Aid products
- $1.00 off ONE Scope Outlast 750 mL or larger
- $1.00 off Scope Dual Blast Rinse 750mL or larger
- $1.00 off ONE Scope Classic Rinse 1L or larger
- $2.00 off any one (1) Revlon Lip Product
- $1.00 off (1) Dial Hello Kitty Gift Pack
- $3.00 off any two Degree Men Twin Packs
- Buy 2, get 1 free any Dial Bar Soaps
- $10.00 off Philips Norelco Click & Style Shaver
- $5.00 off Philips Norelco Razor, Replacement Head
- $30.00 off Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D or 2d
- $2.00 off ONE package of Depend Guards or Shields
- $1.00 off any two Dial or Dial For Men Body Wash
- $1.00 off Any OXY Maximum Action or Daily Defense
- $1.50 off (1) Degree Men Antiperspirant/Deodorant
- $1.00 off 1 Degree Men Antiperspirant or Deodorant
- $2.50 off (1) Degree Men Antiperspirant/Deodorant
- $1.00 off one VO5 Salon Series™ Hair Care Product
- $2.00 off ONE Pantene Expert Collection product
- $2.00 off TWO Pantene Repair & Protect Shampoos
- $0.75 off Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner product
- $2.00 off TWO Pantene Shampoos or Conditioners
- $1.00 off ONE Pantene Styler or Treatment product
- $2.00 off any Simple moisturizer or cleanser
- $1.00 off any Equate Pad or Pantiliner Product
- $1.00 off ONE Clearasil Daily Clear Cleanser
- $2.00 off LamisilAT or Lamisil Defense product
- $2.00 off Bausch & Lomb renu solution
- $2.00 off any Debrox Earwax Removal Product
- $3.00 off any AmLactin product
(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.) The post Printable coupons: Almay, Barilla, Glade, Tide, Herbal Essence, plus more! appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories 
Testimonial from Krissy: After purchasing a house in August of 2013, everything seemed to break! This included the garage door opener, the washing machine, the couch frame, and then the furnace — all within three months of moving into the house! We called a company that we had done business with in the past for a repair estimate/inspection. Since our furnace was 21 years old, we were told that “if” we found parts it would be very costly and there was no guarantee on how long this repair would hold out. We were charged a $135 service fee for this estimate and inspection. We discovered that we had a home warranty and tried to go through them for the repair. After two weeks, we still had a broken furnace and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere with our home warranty, so we called the company that did the initial inspection back. They told us it would cost us $3500, plus $300 for a humidifier (which we really wanted), and then the original service call fee of $135. That is $3800 — and we’d already spent $135 with them for the initial service call! Our options: - 12 months same as cash, no interest. (We had savings but were worried about an extra $330 payment each month, the savings would be gone before we paid it off. We did not have the cash in our normal budget.)
- Finance the project (interest, interest, interest… and again, no extra cash.)
- Pay in full.
We choose option 3! We used almost all of our savings, but because we paid-in-full, they waived the $135 service fee and gave us a cash discount. We paid $3650 — saving $420 — which made the humidifier FREE! We have to build our saving back up, but we have a brand new furnace/humidifier and NO PAYMENT and NO INTEREST from a charge! The post How We Got a Discount on Our Furnace by Paying Cash appeared first on Money Saving Mom®.  Related Stories | 
to download a free application that enables you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
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