Home of 5

$25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card for only $15!!

2011-12-02T09:23:00.001-05:00

Hurry to SaveMore for a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card and pay only $15!

This deal is WAY too good to pass up. Usually these are just printed vouchers that you take with you to the store or use online, but this one is an actual gift card mailed to you!

If you're looking for a all-purpose gift, this one is perfect and at a great bargain!

New FREE Printable Coupons!

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!

It's super easy, too. You can click here or click on the picture above to get started.

I noticed cereal, cold remedy and lots of DVD and Blu-ray coupons!! Be sure to print what you need quickly because they can run out.

And remember, you don't have to wait until the beginning of the month if you need coupons. Just click on the Coupons.com square to the right just under the Home of 5 banner and print away.

New FREE Printable Coupons!

2011-11-01T07:33:00.000-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!

It's super easy, too. You can click here or click on the picture above to get started.

I noticed ZipLoc, cold remedy, vitamin and my favorite this month, Larabar coupons!! Be sure to print what you need quickly because they sometimes run out.

And remember, you don't have to wait until the beginning of each month if you need coupons. Just click on the Coupons.com square to the right just under the Home of 5 banner and print away.

Great CVS deal - $10 giftcard for just $5! Today only!!

2011-10-26T09:31:00.001-04:00

I did a triple take at this one because I couldn't believe it! Today on SaveMore, you can purchase a $10 CVS giftcard for $5.

It says the deal is for first-time buyers only, but I was able to purchase one just a few minutes ago.

This deal is for TODAY ONLY and they will probably sell out quickly, so hurry and claim yours now!!

Subscription to Family Fun Magazine $3.50!

2011-09-29T11:40:00.001-04:00

Head over to Tanga today and get a subscription to Family Fun Magazine for only $3.50 for a year (10 issues). Use code DISNEY when checking out.

Make it snappy before it's sold out!

PS - This makes a GREAT Christmas gift!

2 Duracell AA or AAA 4-packs $1.50 with free shipping!

2011-09-12T09:03:00.001-04:00

I literally stumbled upon this deal and for our household, it's perfect. We are in constant need of batteries around here!

Here's what you do:

Go to Musicarts.com and add 2 to Cart, then add code coupon code ENCW2H5.

Subscription to Family Fun Magazine $5

2011-09-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

Head over to Eversave today and get a subscription to Family Fun Magazine for only $5 for a year (10 issues) or $10 for 2 years (20 issues). Make it snappy before it's sold out!

1 Year of Natural Health Magazine for $3.50!

2011-09-07T22:01:00.000-04:00

If you visit Tanga right now, you can get one year of Natural Health Magazine for $3.50!

Use code HEALTH at checkout.

Enjoy!

Free Sample of Shout Color Catcher

2011-09-06T12:05:00.002-04:00

If you hurry and "like" Shout on Facebook, you can get a free sample of Shout Color Catcher today!

New Printable Coupons!

2011-09-06T09:22:00.000-04:00

I found a few new coupons while searching this morning.

And head over to print these great board game coupons! These will make for some awesome deals with sales coming up soon for the holiday season.

I found all of these under zip code 36870, so try it if they don't come up for you!

Coupon Binder Tutorial Anniversary!!

2011-09-05T10:04:00.000-04:00

I just noticed this morning that it's been exactly 3 years since I posted my Coupon Binder Tutorial!

If you're new to couponing, or just need a new method to organize your habit, please consider this one. I've been using it for over 5 years now and can't imagine doing it any other way. It's so easy to keep myself organized and when people stop me in the stores, I tell them that I wouldn't coupon if I didn't do it this way.

Happy organizing!

Two Years of Parents Magazine for $2!

2011-09-03T18:41:00.001-04:00

Eversave has an excellent deal today on Parents Magazine. Two years for $5. And if you're new to Eversave, you get a $3 credit just for signing up.

That makes your subscription to Parents Magazine only $2 for 24 issues!

Sign up now to get this deal before it's sold out!

Free Nail Polish or Reusable Eco-Friendly Bags!!

2011-09-03T10:51:00.005-04:00

This deal is too good to pass up! If you sign up for SaveMore, a daily deals site, your account will automatically be credited with a $10 voucher to use on any deal on their site. I found two great deals:

Free nail polish! Use your $10 voucher to purchase nail polish for $7.50 with free shipping! And you still have $2.50 left to use on a future deal!

Free eco-friendly reusable bags! Use your $10 voucher to purchase $18 of eco-friendly reusable bags for only $9. You only have to pay for shipping. Then you will still have $1 left to use on a future deal!

Click here and sign up today to snag these deals because they will be gone tomorrow!

Freebie Friday!

2011-09-02T12:41:00.001-04:00

It's time for another great list of freebies! Just click on the pictures or links to get your free samples.

For AT&T subscribers, text YES to 11113020 to receive 1,000 free bonus rollover minutes.

For a free customized T-Shirt from Vistaprint (just pay shipping), click here.

To print a coupon for free chips and queso at Chili's, click here.

Get 10 free notecards from Vistaprint (just pay shipping) here.

For a free sample of Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food, click here.

Reserve your spot for a free breakfast entree at Chick-fil-A September 6-10 by signing up here.

Enjoy your samples and have a great weekend!!

New FREE Printable Coupons!

2011-09-01T08:17:00.001-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!

It's super easy, too. You can click here or click on the picture above to get started.

Don't miss the $4 and $5 board game coupons. It's never too early to start Christmas shopping and these coupons can make some really great deals.

And remember, you don't have to wait until the beginning of each month if you need coupons. Just click on the Coupons.com square to the right just under the Home of 5 banner and print away.

A Long Hiatus and a Call for Help

2011-08-31T08:36:00.000-04:00

I've been blog-lazy and uncreative for too long (8 months, to be exact) and now that school has started again, I'm ready to get back on the bandwagon. My current passion is organizing a few areas of my home, starting with our hall closet.

I apologize for the photo quality, but the lighting isn't great and I took it with my phone (hey, easy upload). I also apologize for the state of the mess inside, and I thought about straightening it first, but decided to just go with it because I wanted to be real in my plead for help.

This closet has a strange shape - sort of square on one side and octagon on the other (past the ironing board). It does have some lovely wire shelves though, and that makes my job a little easier.

As you can see, it currently houses board games, bed linens and my ironing board. I plan to relocate the bed linens to the rooms they belong to. It only makes sense to have our sheets with the beds they go on.

Then I plan to purchase a tabletop ironing board. I lug out this huge ironing board about 4 times a year for various small projects, so a tabletop model half the size of this one would work for what I need.

But where I need help is with board game organization. We play all of them quite a bit and the boxes are falling apart, pieces sometimes get misplaced, and the games are falling off the shelves. Some games don't have boxes (Uno Attack, Hungry Hungry Hippos) and some have small pieces that just get thrown into the box (although I have used sandwich bags to contain some of them).

So what have you done to organize your board games? Have you seen or heard of any great ideas that other have done? I need all the ideas I can get!

I hope your school year is going great so far and if your kids haven't started yet, enjoy those last few days of no routines, no homework and no demanding mornings!

Any Domino's Pizza - 50% Off!!

2010-12-17T21:03:00.000-05:00

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Domino's Pizza is offering 50% off any online carryout pizza at menu price. Just order at Dominos, enter code 50offpizza and pick it up!

I'll admit I'm not the biggest Domino's fan, but after a hectic weekend of basketball games, last minute gift wrapping and various other errands, 50% off ANY pizza sounds like a great idea for dinner!

Enjoy!

Two Great Magazine Subscription Deals! Family Fun and Taste of Home

2010-10-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

Best Deal Magazines is having their Autumn Savings week and two great magazines are on sale.

You can get a one-year subscription to Family Fun Magazine for only $3.75. Use code WKLYSPEC when you check out.

You can also get one year of Taste of Home Magazine for only $5.40 by using code SPECDEAL at checkout.

Remember, these make great Christmas gifts!

3 Years of Parents Magazine for $6.99!!

2010-10-13T13:34:00.002-04:00

Sorry, this deal has sold out!

Today only, Tanga is offering 3 Years (36 issues) of Parents Magazine for only $6.99! Use discount code PARENTS at checkout to reduce the price.

Tanga deals sell out quickly and when they're gone, they're gone! So act fast on this one!!

There are lots of great deals out there now and throughout the holiday season, so either subscribe to my free RSS feed on the left or subscribe to free email updates on the right. Then you won't miss out on a great deal!

New FREE Printable Coupons!!

2010-10-04T10:44:00.000-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!

It's super easy, too. You can click here or click on the picture above to get started.

There are some great cereal, yogurt, frozen food and beauty product coupons, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!

And remember, you don't have to wait until the beginning of each month if you need coupons. Just click on the Coupons.com square to the right just under the Home of 5 banner and print away.

Have a great October watching the leaves change! I know I will.

Restaurant.com 90% off sale - Eat Out for $1.00!!

2010-09-30T10:10:00.001-04:00

~~TODAY ONLY~~ THIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH TODAY, 10/1, Restaurant.com is offering all restaurant specific gift certificates, Restaurant.com store credit gift certificates (customer print) and Dinner of the Month purchases at 90%!

That makes your $25 dining out experience only $1.00 (plus tip, of course).

Remember that you don't have to use the certificate today, you only have to purchase it. Just make sure you read the certificate before purchasing so you know the requirements needed.

If you haven't used Restaurant.com yet, give it a try! Even if you hate it, you're only out $1.00. :-)

Frugal Friday: A New Vacuum Cleaner without Spending a Dime

2010-09-24T18:48:00.000-04:00

I have a love/hate relationship with my vacuum cleaner. I hate to lug it out, plug it in and push and pull it across my floors. But I love to see the dirt container fill up because then I know it's working well.

I've had my current vacuum cleaner for about 5 years and for the first 4, it was working great. But during the last year or so, I've had to vacuum my floors a few times to get them clean.

So before my last cleaning marathon, I decided to investigate the inner workings of my vacuum cleaner. I found out that my particular model has WASHABLE FILTERS!! I knew this was the problem, so I proceeded to dissect my vacuum cleaner and pull out all FOUR of the filters.

I hit them against my driveway several times, removing all the dust trapped inside.

Then I rinsed them in my kitchen sink, removing even more dirt, and put them on a towel to dry overnight. The next day I put them all back in place in my vacuum cleaner.

Then the magic happened. I turned on my vacuum cleaner and it worked just like it was brand new! The suction power was amazing and the dirt container filled up very quickly, leaving me to wonder what I had been missing in my carpet before I cleaned the filters!

If you've owned your vacuum cleaner for over a year, be sure and clean or replace your filters and you'll see a vast improvement!

It's like having a new vacuum cleaner for free (or relatively cheap if you have to replace your filters).

Hope everyone has a great Friday night!

Plum District Daily Deal - 50% off DIAPERS!!!

2010-09-23T11:07:00.002-04:00

SORRY, THIS DEAL IS NOW SOLD OUT.

If you haven't heard about Plum District and have small children that are still wearing diapers, NOW is the time to get familiar with it!

Here's how it works:

1. Go to Plum District and find your city. If your city is not listed (mine isn't), then remember that online deals are not location-specific. You can buy them wherever you are!

2. At the top right corner of the Plum District page, click on "Create an Account" to register. It's a quick registration - name, email and password only.

3. Click on the "BUY" button next to the Plum Daily Deal.

4. When you receive your email confirmation, just print out your Plum Certificate, bring it with you (or use it online) and enjoy your purchase!

Make sure you read the fine print on these special deals (called Plum Steals) because the voucher you purchase today is not redeemable until after September 24th. It's only 2 days away though, so you don't have to wait too long!

FREE Printer at Office Max!!

2010-09-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this deal!

Office Max is offering a Kodak ESP 5250 All-In-One Printer FREE after MaxPerks Bonus Rewards!

A few features of the Kodak ESP 5250 All-In-One Printer are:

Wirelessly print, scan and copy
Provides the industry's lowest ink load cost at $9.99 for black ink and $17.99 for color ink
2.4" LCD & memory card compatibility makes it easy to print without a PC.
Free iPhone/iTouch photo print app available

The printer will cost you $129.99 plus tax out-of-pocket, but you will get $129.99 back in MaxPerks Bonus Rewards. And the best part is....you can do this deal twice! One for you and one for a friend.

If you're not a MaxPerks member, it's free to sign up. Click here to get started.

This would make a great gift for a student, teacher or just yourself! Act fast because these printers won't last long!

Best Deal Magazines' Weekly Specials - $3.75 Subscriptions!!

2010-09-20T11:24:00.000-04:00

This week, Best Deal Magazines has 2 great subscriptions for only $3.75 each - Motor Trend and Scholastic's Parent and Child.

Just click on any of the links on this page, search for one of those magazines, use code WKLYSPEC for an additional 20% off, and spend only $3.75 for an entire year of Motor Trend or Parent and Child!

And remember, magazine subscriptions make great Christmas presents. No one has to know you spent less than $4 on their gift. :-)

I hope you have a great week.

Publix: ALL Kellogg's Cereal 50% off - Two Days ONLY!

2010-09-17T09:13:00.004-04:00

Get your coupons ready! This Saturday and Sunday, September 18 & 19 only, ALL Kellogg's ready-to-eat cereal will be 50% at Publix!

Now that the school year is in full swing, we are eating LOTS of cereal around here!

Here are some coupons you can bring along with you:

-$1/2 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats Cereal 8/29/2010 SS Insert (exp 10/10/2010)
-$0.60/1 Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Cereal 8/29/2010 Parade Magazine (exp 10/17/2010)
-$0.75/1 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Simply Cinnamon Cereal 8/8/2010 RP Insert (exp 9/19/2010)
-$0.75/1 Kellogg’s Cinnabon Cereal 8/8/2010 RP Insert (exp 9/19/2010)

If you picked up a copy of the Kellogg’s Fuel for School Booklet at Publix, you can take advantage of these deals also:

-$2 off Ocean Spray (64oz Ocean Spray Fruit & Veggie Juice or Ocean Spray Craisins 100 Calorie Pack), and (2) packages of Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats Cereals (14.5 or larger, any flavor, mix or match)
-$2 off Bottled Water, any (1) 12-24 pack of store brand, AND (1) package of Kellogg’s Special K cereal (11.4 oz +, any flavor), AND (1) package of any Kellogg’s Special K Protein Product (Meal Bars, Snack Bars and Shakes, 4 ct +, any flavor)
-$2 off Baggies, any store brand, and (2) packages of Kellogg’s Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, AND/OR Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereals (10 oz or larger, any flavor, mix or match)
-Free Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Shop (8 ct any flavor) wyb any (2) Kellogg’s Cereals (12 0z +, any flavor, mix or match). All purchases must be made in same transaction) – valid up to $2.50

The following coupons are free printables:

-Kellogg's Website (Sign in or register to print coupons)
-0.50/1 Kellogg's FiberPlus Cereal, 11.5oz+
-$1/1 Special K Low-Fat Granola Cereal

Get out there and stock up on cereal before this sale is over!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Best Deal Magazines' Weekly Specials - $3.75 Subscriptions!!

2010-09-13T00:03:00.002-04:00

I'll admit...I'm a magazine junkie. I love them. I keep a few in the minivan for school pickup lines, which can be up to 30 minutes of waiting. I love that I can just read a few pages if I want or I can read the entire thing.

Oh, and most of them have at least a coupon or two that I can use.

I never, EVER pay full price for my magazine subscriptions and Best Deal Magazines is the only place I shop for them (unless I'm supporting a school fundraiser). I rarely pay more than $4.00 a year for every magazine we receive.

This week, Best Deal Magazines has 3 great subscriptions for only $3.75 each. Parents Magazine, Automobile Magazine and Family Fun Magazine (my personal favorite).

Just click on any of the links on this page, search for one of those magazines, use code WKLYSPEC for an additional 20% off, and spend only $3.75 for an entire year of Parents, Automobile, or Family Fun!

And remember, magazine subscriptions make great Christmas presents. No one has to know you spent less than $4 on their gift. :-)

I hope you have a great week. Get ready for fall - it's on the way!

Free Chips & Queso and Free Brownie Sundae at Chili's!!

2010-09-10T16:25:00.004-04:00

Chili's is my son Jake's favorite restaurant, so I'm happy to report that they have a great printable coupon offer right now!

If you join Chili's Email Club today, you can have access to the latest news, specials and offers. That means future coupons in addition to TWO printable coupons immediately after you sign up. After you print the Free Chips and Queso coupon, you are offered another printable coupon for a Free Brownie Sundae.

And now I'm hungry!

Enjoy your weekend!

New FREE Printable Coupons!!

2010-09-01T09:09:00.003-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!

It's super easy, too. You can click here or click on the picture above to get started.

There are some great cereal, yogurt, frozen food and beauty product coupons, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!

And remember, you don't have to wait until the beginning of each month if you need coupons. Just click on the Coupons.com square to the right just under the Home of 5 banner and print away.

Hope your school year has started out great and continues into a wonderful fall in your neck of the woods!

Eat out for $2 from Restaurant.com!!

2010-08-10T10:48:00.000-04:00

I love using these certificates to eat out cheap or try new restaurants. Now you can get 80% off!!

Don't forget to use the code BIG when you checkout!!

Have a great week!

TODAY ONLY!! Woman's Day for One Year - $3.73!!

2010-08-02T11:57:00.003-04:00

I love a good magazine subscription deal and this is a great one. Today only (August 2nd), go to Best Deal Magazines for their Deal of the Day.

A one-year subscription (15 issues) is just $4.39, but if you use code PXCJ88 at checkout, you can get it for only $3.73!!

Hurry and get this fast because it's over at midnight EST.

Old Navy $2 Cami Sale!

2010-07-29T19:40:00.004-04:00

Old Navy is having a $2 secret cami sale starting today. But you need to hurry! These go fast and the offer is only valid through Saturday.

When you checkout, just say "Cami 4 me" or bring this coupon.

There is a limit of 5 per customer, so if you want more, bring a friend or do what I do - use a kid! :-)

I plan on stopping by tomorrow to grab a few to layer under fall and winter shirts.

Enjoy!

Back to School, Back to Blogging

2010-07-22T17:06:00.001-04:00

Well, helloooooo there!

Let me first apologize for leaving you hanging. It's been a VERY hectic summer and school starts here in about two weeks, so now I'm trying to get everything ready for Jake and Troy both. I can't believe I'll have a fourth grader going to intermediate school and another kindergartener on my hands! Time truly does fly, especially in the summer!

I did find a great deal for those of you who are early risers. Starting at 5am EST, Friday, July 23rd ONLY, and ONLINE ONLY....

Target is having a "Back in Black Friday Sale!" You can see a preview of items here, but you can't see everything until the sale actually starts.

I did hear a little rumor that most items are at least 40% off!

Just another great reason to adore Target!

I'll post back this weekend with some awesome back to school freebies and deals! Happy back to school shopping.

Frugal Family Fun: Free Movie Tickets from General Mills and Publix!!

2010-04-20T13:53:00.004-04:00

We love going to the movies as a family, but it's outrageously expensive! Let's see:

2 adult movie tickets - $18
3 child movie tickets - $18
1 large popcorn - $6.50
Various candy - $5 (only because we stop at the store and get it)
Drinks - $10

Total for a night at the movies for our family: $57.50

That's quite a bit for a one-income family. And if we go out to eat before the movie, it's about $100 total spent on one night. Needless to say, we don't go to the movies very much.

Thankfully I found this new promotion from General Mills and Publix! If you purchase 6 participating General Mills products at Publix they will send you a $10 movie voucher. All you have to do is look for the General Mills products with Family Movie Night printed on the front or an attached peelie. Then go here to enter your receipts and they will send your $10 movie voucher! The best part.....YOU CAN DO THIS 5 TIMES!!

This offer runs 4/1 - 10/31 with movie vouchers good until 11/30, so you have lots of time to get all 5 vouchers!

We're really looking forward to Toy Story 3 in June and we eat LOTS of cereal, so we should be able to see it for free!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

New FREE Printable Coupons!!

2010-04-01T13:32:00.003-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier to print all your coupons from one place than it is RIGHT HERE at Home of 5!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are some great cereal, pet and personal care coupons, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!!

Hope April is a great start to a wonderful spring in your neck of the woods!

New FREE Printable Coupons!!

2010-03-01T10:06:00.002-05:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier to print all your coupons from one place than it is RIGHT HERE at Home of 5!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are some great cereal, pet and personal care coupons, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!!

Hope you have a great March that includes lots of savings for spring!

McDonalds 2 for 1 Drinks!

2010-02-18T11:35:00.004-05:00

McDonalds is running a promotion for limited time called "Refreshment Recess." From 2 to 5 every Monday through Friday, buy any one of select beverages (Cokes and Coffees) and get one of equal or lesser value for free!

I'm not sure how long this promotion will last, so make sure your local store is participating and hurry!

(Thanks, Jenny at Southern Savers!)

Walgreens to start testing loyalty cards

2010-02-17T11:01:00.003-05:00

It looks like Walgreens may have taken a que from their more successful competitor down the street. I recently came across an article here and this sentence caught my attention.

Walgreen plans to test different loyalty strategies, all including cards at first, in three to four unnamed markets this spring...

It doesn't mention where the test markets will be, but I'm hoping it's in my neck of the woods (although I don't think it's likely because I'm in the sticks).

Let me know if you hear any news of these programs being tested where you are!

Walgreens $5 Challenge

2010-02-15T17:04:00.003-05:00

Hey all! This is my first time posting a Walgreens $5 Challenge, but I'm a seasoned veteran of the CVS $5 Challenge, so this won't be too hard. :-)

I started with $5 in Register Rewards from last week. I also found out the hard way that at my particular Walgreens store, I can only use one RR at a time. So I have to be clever and make sure that each transaction brings me the best scenario.

Here is what I bought yesterday:

1st Transaction:

Buy 1 Gillette Fusion Razor - $8.99
$4.00/1 Gillette Fusion Razor coupon

Total after coupons = $4.99

Use $5 RR from last week

Total OOP = $0

RRs earned = $4.00

2nd Transaction:

Buy 3 Hershey's brand candy (bags) - $3.49 each
$2.00/2 Hershey's bags coupon

Total after coupons = $8.47

Use $4 RR from 1st transaction

Total OOP = $4.47

RRs earned = $5.00

Grand total OOP = $4.47

Total value = $19.46 with $5.00 in Register Rewards remaining!

Check out Kingdom First Mom's weekly Walgreens $5 Challenge for other great money-stretching scenarios!

My new found love: Publix (and a SWEET money-maker)

2010-02-14T12:37:00.006-05:00

Before moving to Alabama, I had heard of Publix and their great Buy One Get One Free sales. I had heard about their lovely policy of charging 1/2 price for each item instead of full price for one and nothing for the free item. I had heard about their cooking demonstrations and Kids' Cookie Club.

But oh my!!! I never expected to love this store so much! I have saved more money at this store than any other store I've shopped at in the past. I plan most of my menu around what is on sale at Publix and really don't have a need to stop at the larger discount store (ahem, Walmart) for groceries.

I found a great money-maker in this week's Publix ad and you have until the store closes on Tuesday to grab this one:Get a FREE $10 Publix Gift Card with the purchase of a $50 American Express Gift Card. The "activation fee" for the American Express Gift Card is $3.95, but that still leaves $46.95 to spend on the AmEx card PLUS the $10 Publix Gift Card. This means you actually MAKE $6.05 with this deal!

You have to use the coupon on the front of the in-store Publix ad, but they are readily available and easy to find.

I'll be back tonight to post my CVS $5 Challenge scenario!

Hope everyone is having a Happy Valentine's Day!

Old Navy Super Sale this Friday and Saturday!!

2010-01-28T22:01:00.003-05:00

I love shopping at Old Navy because I can get "cool" clothes for the entire family, including the adults, for very low prices. Just last weekend I used their 50% off all clearance items sale to stock up on next season's essentials.

Before I head to Old Navy, I always check out Old Navy Weekly, ON's very own exclusive savings website where you "hunt" for hidden coupons to print and use in their stores. In the past, there have been $75 off $100 coupons, but you had to really search and those always go fast.

Because Old Navy Weekly won't be back live until Sunday, Old Navy has surprised us with an awesome NO COUPON REQUIRED sale this Friday and Saturday only. Everything (including clearance items) will be 30% off Friday, 1/29 and Saturday, 1/30.

EVERYTHING.

Except gift cards.

But EVERYTHING ELSE! 30% off!!!

Go now!!! :-)

Yankee Candle: $10 off $25 Coupon

2010-01-20T17:56:00.002-05:00

As much as I love my cousin Helen's Gold Canyon Candles, I just couldn't pass this deal up. This coupon is good through February 13, 2010!

Click here to get it!

Print two - one for you and one for a friend!

Coupon not valid at Target, Pier 1 Imports, outlet stores, military exchange and Yankee Fund Raising.

Enjoy your savings!

Kmart + Sears = A Match Made in Frugal Heaven

2010-01-15T10:02:00.005-05:00

Since moving to the Columbus, Georgia area, I've officially been seduced by Kmart. We used to have them in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but they all closed about 7 years ago. I didn't realize how much I missed Kmart!

I had heard past rumors of Kmart having these awesome "Super Doubles" coupon events and started researching when the next one would be. What I found out is that they are "canceled indefinitely." Sad news for me, but Kmart did start a new rewards program that I joined a few weeks ago, so that will help ease my pain a little.

Also something of great importance to me is Kmart's awesome layaway program. Walmart did away with theirs a few years ago and I hated not having a layaway option for Christmas or larger purchases.

At Kmart, you can layaway items in-store or online with only 10% down! And because Kmart and Sears have the same parent company, you can do the same with Sears as well. I can't wait to use this program for school clothes!

Both stores also accept Paypal online now. What a great idea!

As you can tell, I can't say enough great things about Kmart. I hope they can stick this recession out because they have some great programs and offers for consumers like me.

If you have a Kmart in your area, sign up for Kmart's Shop Your Way Rewards now! You will get coupons in the mail along with special savings events for card members only.

And remember, your Shop Your Way Rewards card is also good at Sears, so sign up if you're a Sears shopper as well!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

FREE Arby's Mint Chocolate Swirl Shake!!

2009-12-16T20:53:00.003-05:00

I can't think of two flavors that I love more than mint and chocolate together. So I thought this was a no-brainer.

If you register now at Arby's Extras, they'll email you a coupon for a FREE Mint Chocolate Swirl Shake. You'll also get exclusive access to upcoming promotions, new product info and special members-only coupons.

This offer is for new members only and expires 12/31/09, so hurry hurry!!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-12-14T21:39:00.002-05:00

Hey all! Thought I would finally getting around to posting a menu plan since Monday is almost over. :-)

Monday - Turkey Chili Dogs

Tuesday - Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad

Wednesday - Breakfast for dinner

Thursday - Pat Neely's Sausage & Peppers Sandwiches

Friday - Holiday Tortellini Soup

Saturday - Oven-glazed Chicken, Rice, Cabbage

Sunday - Leftovers

Hope everyone has a great week!!

Awesome Neutrogena Deal!!

2009-12-02T10:57:00.003-05:00

If you use Neutrogena products like I do, you probably wait until they are on sale and stock up. Well, now is that time!

Just click on the picture below and you can receive:

Bonus samples with EVERY purchase.

FREE shipping on orders over $25.

25% off when you buy three products.

If this is the product line you use, you can't beat this amazing deal! If you can't order $25 or 3 items, you could go in together with your friends or family to get the best deal possible.

I personally love their Oil-Free Acne Wash, Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, and their Shine Control Blotting Sheets. And the Neutrogena Classic Hand Cream is a MUST for dry winter skin!

Enjoy your savings!!

New Free Printable Coupons!

2009-12-01T02:18:00.000-05:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier to print all your coupons from one place than it is RIGHT HERE at Home of 5!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are some awesome TOY coupons this month, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!!

Hope you have a great December that includes lots of savings!

Frugal Friday: Restaurant.com Code! $2 for a $25 certificate!!

2009-11-27T12:55:00.005-05:00

If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know I LOVE my Restaurant.com certificates. Right now you can get 80% off a $25 certificate. That means you only pay $2 for a $25 bill! Just click on the picture below and find a restaurant you want to try or already love and use code SAVE.

80% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Cert. orders. Use code SAVE and Pay $2 thru 11/30/09.

This offer is only good through Monday, November 30th, so make sure you act fast on this one!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Online Shopping Deals

2009-11-17T13:57:00.006-05:00

Has everyone started shopping yet? I try to shop throughout year, but of course the Christmas rush still gets me every time. I thought I would post a few codes to make shopping easier on your budget this year. These caught my eye because of great customer service I have had in the past from these online retailers.

Overstock.com
Use code 145956 for $5 off your purchase of $45 or more. As always, shipping is only $2.95 for your entire order!

The Children's Place
Use code DHUNTINGB9 for 15% off your order. The Children's Place also offers $5 flat rate shipping on every order!

Kmart
Use code KMART5OFF50 for $5 off your purchase of $50 or more. Remember, Kmart has online layaway!

Leap Frog
Use code LEAP20 for 20% off all games and books.

Sears
Use code SEARS5OFF50 for $5 your purchase of $50. Sears also has online layaway!

And my favorite store for personalized gifts is Lillian Vernon. Use code 519860100 for 10% off $49, 15% off $69 or 20% off $89 or more. You can also try code 429860100 for free shipping, but I'm not sure if these will work together.

Let me know if you also find some great online codes to use for great deals!

My All-Time Favorite Free Sample Network!!

2009-11-14T10:50:00.005-05:00

I love going to my mailbox daily. Not because I'm anxiously waiting for my electric bill, but because almost every day there is a new sample or coupon waiting for me inside. I register for free samples all the time, and I'm always surprised when I get something because the waiting period is usually 6-8 weeks and I've forgotten since I signed up for it.

My favorite place that I have registered is Vocal Point, Proctor & Gamble's exclusive site for free samples, coupons, newsletters and discounts. I have received cereal bars, soap, cleaning products, cereal, cookies, shampoo, conditioner and lotion in the mail. And along with these samples I get free coupons and money-off coupons - lots of them!

P&G will also send a weekly email newsletter with tips and money-saving ideas that I always use.

Along with free samples, coupons and the newsletter, you can also take surveys to help Proctor & Gamble with upcoming products and promotions.

If you want to sign up for a legitimate free sample and coupon site, Proctor & Gamble's Vocal Point is the best one! Just click on the links in my post above or on the picture below!

Hope everyone makes the most of this beautiful Saturday!!

Kami

Hello from Alabama!!

2009-11-11T11:15:00.002-05:00

Well, we made it here and safe and sound! We are in our new (temporary) home and almost everything is unpacked. The kids love their new backyard and I'm getting used to the country life. Everything is a little farther away, but I love driving the "backroads" to get everywhere.

Since I've been away from this blog, I haven't been couponing or even very frugal because I opted for the convenience route instead. That was a huge budget-buster, so I'm back in the game now to try and make up for all that lost time and money.

I have lots of pictures I need to develop and I found a great new offer from CVS. If you sign up for CVS Photo Center, you can get up to 50 free prints when you join! It's free to join and includes free photo storage and sharing. Just click on the link below to get started! It's a great way to get some photos developed in time for holiday card mailing!!

CVS Photo Center

Hope your November is great so far! Be ready for daily blog posts from me now!! :-)

Kami

Great Children's Place Coupon!!

2009-10-22T16:52:00.003-04:00

The Children's Place is my all-time favorite place to buy clothes for my kids. It's not only reasonably priced, but it's also very high quality. Most of their clothes last through both of my boys and then still look good enough to sell to the consignment shop. And that is truly amazing in this house!

One great thing I love about The Children's Place is that their shipping is ALWAYS $5 for every order, big or small. $5 all day, every day!

And if that's not reason enough to start shopping now, here is another great one! Now you can get 15% off their already great prices! Just click on the picture below to either print the coupon or use it to shop online!

Hope you find some great deals!

Meal Planning on a Time Budget

2009-10-15T11:18:00.005-04:00

Alright, time to get back to business on this blog. Yes, we're moving 800 miles away in 2 weeks, but what better timing for this post than right now?!

I am a meal planner. I plan my meals every week and stick to my plan. I usually do 5-6 days of planned lunches and dinners, then serve leftovers or eat out the other 1-2 days. This keeps my grocery budget much lower than if I just head to the store and start piling things in my cart.

I start my meal plan around the coupons I have and and then combine them with store sales for maximum dollar stretching.

But I really think the biggest advantage to meal planning is that I always have the answer to the "What's for dinner?" question. I can't tell you how many times I get this question daily from my husband and 3 kids. Even the youngest asks me and she's only 3! It's the most important question of the day here.

For those of you who already plan your meals weekly, monthly, however - kudos! It's a huge time and money saver! But for those of you who either hate meal planning or just don't know where to start, I have found a great resource! It's Relish! And it's wonderful!!

Here is what Relish! offers for as little as $4.90 a month:

Each week you choose five entrees to make for the week.

All dinners are kitchen-tested (no more disasters) and take 30 minutes or less prep.

The comprehensive grocery list makes grocery shopping a snap. Yes, it comes with a grocery list!

5 dinners and sides cost less than $85 per week at the grocery store. You will notice substantial savings by sticking to a list!

Monthly freezer menus are included in the subscription, plus much more.

If you want to try Relish! for 3 months, you can do so for only $7 a month. Then if you like it and want to continue, a 12-month subscription is only $4.90 a month! I guarantee you will notice a much bigger savings on your monthly grocery bill, so it's completely worth it. You will save time in the kitchen and always have the answer to "What's for dinner?"

Give it a try and let me know what you think! Just click on the picture below or any of the links in my post!!

Enjoy and happy meal planning!!

Redbox Free Movie Monday

2009-10-05T12:15:00.002-04:00

Oh how I love Redbox! They release a code every first Monday of each month for a free rental. Unfortunately, this is the last weekly code they will be releasing. What's great about Redbox is that it's only a dollar to rent a movie (new releases and favorites) and you can return the movie to ANY Redbox! You can rent your movie in Arkansas and return it to Illinois. As long as you can get it back by 9pm. But if not, it's just another dollar!

If you haven't used Redbox, you can try it today for free today. Just find any Redbox here and use this code to get your rental for free:

QNGJ7KD

Enjoy your movie!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-09-21T01:35:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I hope your week is fantastic. We are having some crazy weather here in Texas this week - 90 today, 72 tomorrow! Looks like jean shopping for my boys needs to happen um, well, today!

Since Scott is gone, I asked the kids to come up with meals they all like and know they will eat. You should see this list - pancakes, hot dogs and pizza for starters and then chicken and rice were added for Mommy's sake! So my menus will be a little "kid-friendly" until the move to Alabama. Please bear with me!!

Hey everyone! Here is my menu plan for this week. Be sure to check out Org Junkie for other ideas.

Monday - Turkey Chili Dogs

Tuesday - Pancakes, Sausage (I know, I know)

Wednesday - Breakfast for dinner

Thursday - Italian Sausage, Rice, Corn on the Cob

Friday - Eat out (hopefully something health)!

Have a great week, everyone and thanks for sticking with me during all this chaos!!

Alabama, here we come!!

2009-08-20T14:42:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone. I'm SO incredibly sorry I haven't been posting regularly. But we are in the midst of something I've never done before - a cross-country move! Scott got a job in Alabama and we have decided to move to the Auburn area. It's a beautiful city with tons of history, culture, arts and the best educational system in the state. And it's known as the "Friendliest Village on the Planet."

Scott has to be there September 1st and the kids and I will stay back until our house sells. Then we will join him in the "dirty south."

So I'll continue to post great deals and bargains, but I might have a home selling post in there also! Hopefully it won't take too long so I can have my family together again. I hate being separated!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy school starting!! :-)

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-13T11:18:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! Here is my menu plan for this week. Be sure to check out Org Junkie for other ideas.

Monday - Pot Roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, dinner rolls

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken, corn on the cob, strawberry shortcakes

Wednesday - Shredded Beef Tacos, cilantro lime rice

Thursday - Sopa Seca, corn tortillas & salsa

Friday - Leftovers

Have a great week!!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-06T11:30:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I got away from menu planning for a while, but after reviewing how much more I was spending on groceries, I had to start back up again! Make sure you check out other menu plans for the week at Org Junkie.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Here is my planned menu for this week (dinner only, no weekend because hubby is working nonstop this weekend).

Monday - Crockpot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob

Tuesday - Thai Chicken Salad Wraps, Asian Cole Slaw

Wednesday - BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado) Sandwiches, fruit salad

Thursday - Breakfast for dinner

Friday - Kids' choice - Daddy's working late!

Have a great week!!

New Free Printable Coupons!!

2009-07-01T03:20:00.000-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier to print all your coupons from one place than it is RIGHT HERE at Home of 5!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are some awesome coupons this month, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!!

Hope you have a great July that includes lots of savings!

Grandy's Tuesday Special - LOTS of food for $2.99!!

2009-06-23T11:19:00.003-04:00

I'm not really into name dropping, but my friend Troy (no relation to my 4 year old wonder) mentioned this great deal that I couldn't pass up. Every Tuesday, Grandy's offers their single steak meal with 2 sides and a roll for only $2.99!

I honestly thought Grandy's was a thing of the past until Troy mentioned this deal. Check out the locations page to find a Grandy's near you!

Thanks, Troy!!

Eat out for $2 from Restaurant.com!

2009-06-22T20:25:00.002-04:00

I love using these certificates to eat out cheap or try new restaurants. Now you can get 80% off!!

Don't forget to use the code DISH when you checkout!!

Have a great week!

New Free Printable Coupons!!

2009-06-01T09:09:00.001-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier than it is this month!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are some awesome coupons this month, so check them out and print plenty of the ones you need!!

Have a great Monday!

Frugal Decorating - My $2 Lamp!!

2009-05-28T09:36:00.006-04:00

Today I'm joining one of my all-time favorite home decorating bloggers for her Lampapalooza party. Check out the other lamps at The Nester's Party today!!

I like to peruse Goodwill about once a month for home decorating items on the cheap. I'm always looking out for something I can repurpose or spruce up and had been looking for a pretty lamp for my dining room/entry way for some time.

Then I saw it! A beautiful white hobnail glass lamp that screamed "BUY ME!" And it was marked $4.00. But I didn't pay $4.00 - I paid half that! $2.00 for this lovely old lamp.

See its pretty little bottom?

I added this shade I got for $8 on clearance at Garden Ridge and it's now a $10 lamp. Not bad for an antique!

My kitchen makeover is almost complete!

2009-05-24T22:26:00.024-04:00

Last summer we decided to make a few minor changes to our kitchen. It was "builder's beige" and boring! And I have such a love of cooking and baking that I just didn't want to settle any longer. We have a very open floor plan and our kitchen is definitely the heart of our home. So we wanted it to be a place that we actually WANTED to spend a lot of time in.

So I started watching a lot of kitchen design shows on HGTV and DIY Network, looking through magazines and decorating blogs for ideas, asking lots of questions and planning, planning, planning.

The big problem was budget. Most of the custom kitchens I saw were $30,000 - $70,000! I just KNEW I could copy those ideas for much, much less. So Scott and I decided on a much smaller budget of around $2,000.

We didn't need new appliances or cabinets, which is a big chunk of remodeling a kitchen. We just wanted to make small changes that would add up to big impact.

So here is the before - boring builder's beige kitchen with cream counters, red stained cabinets and drawers without knobs or pulls, and lovely 4" deep sink. We had already installed the tile when this pic was taken, but it used to be a beige vinyl floor that I couldn't seem to get clean enough!

Then last June we got new counters in a neutral tone (just laminate since we won't be in this house forever), added a peninsula bar and new sink (WAY deeper!) and faucet. Here is that "after."

Then I knew I had to decide on a backsplash (as you can see, there was none and a big 4" wide piece of blank wall is showing). I didn't want tile - overdone. I didn't want to do any type of metal or anything "faux." So after stalking blogs and Google images, I decided on beadboard with a small piece of molding where it meets the counter. And I couldn't do that without finally framing in the window and adding a window sill (there was none before). So one weekend in October, Scott took the boys camping, Eva spent the night with Aunt Jacquie and I started cutting, painting and installing! I also added cabinet knobs and drawer pulls at this stage. Here is that "after."

Then I painted it a blue/aqua color that I happened to see at Walmart, then had it matched at Home Depot. I love the color! It reminds me of the beach. The two walls look like they are different colors, but they aren't. It's just the lighting with the camera. The wall on the left with the fridge is the true color.

I still thought something was missing though. The cabinets were still that weird stained red color and the room still had a little too much 'earth tones' going on for me. And it was dark. The cabinets were bringing the room down.

So, Wednesday I started on the big cabinet painting project I had been scared to death of doing. I knew I wanted cream cabinets, knew exactly what paint color I wanted (same as the backsplash), knew exactly how to do it and all the work involved. But I was petrified! Then Scott went out of town and I thought this was THE perfect time to tackle it.

I still need to add molding around the tops of the cabinets to give it a more custom look and quarter-round where the cabinets meet the floor, but I can finally see what I've been picturing in my mind!

So here it is - finally a kitchen that I just adore being in for LESS THAN $2,000!

I still have three major things to do - add molding on top of the cabinets to give them a more custom, finished look, add beadboard to the peninsula so it matches the backsplash and change the lighting fixture. I love the amount of light the current fixture gives out, but I hate the look of it. So I'm on the hunt for something new! I'll post more pics when it's completely finished!

And just because I like it when other bloggers do this, here is a before and after picture next to each other.

Thanks for looking!!

One Year Subscription to Family Fun Magazine for only $3.65

2009-05-23T12:28:00.004-04:00

This is my all-time favorite magazine! Well, 20 years ago it was Seventeen because I could take the quizzes and find out how cool I was. But now it's all about Family Fun!

Family Fun always has great ideas for family activities, crafts, games and kid-friendly recipes.

And you can get an entire year of Family Fun for only $3.65 by following these steps:

Go to Best Deal Magazines and add the "Deal of the Day" magazine (Family Fun) to your cart.

Use code PXSS524 when you check out.

Remember, this deal is only good today!!

Enjoy your magazine!

Frugal Friday

2009-05-22T09:14:00.004-04:00

There are some great deals to be had right now. Some are free, some are not, but ALL are deals you won't see for a while after this holiday weekend. So sign up for them now before they are gone for good!

I love coffee and this Gevalia deal is too good to pass up. This makes a great gift for the coffee lovers in your life!

Free samples, coupons, and new recipes from Kraft for signing up for their recipes by email program.

Kraft Foods

Join the Quiznos Q Club and get Quiznos updated and access to coupons.

Share products, tips and ideas with fellow parents at Parentricity.

Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Do you love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks? Get them for under $5 each!

2009-05-21T13:44:00.003-04:00

I love love LOVE Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. They have recipes for just about anything you could ever imagine and they just look adorable on a shelf in the kitchen.

Their recipes are submitted by readers and range from snacks all the way to easy desserts. They also have theme cookbooks like RV Cooking, pumpkin recipes and slow cooker recipes. And every recipe I have tried from a Gooseberry Patch cookbook has been wonderful!

Right now, Gooseberry Patch is offering 65 of their mini cookbooks for under $5 each! These are wonderful gifts for friends or family and also a great way to discover new recipes for yourself!

Take a look and try one (or five) out. You won't be sorry!

65 Mini Cookbooks Under $5

Enjoy!

Will Target Price Match?

2009-05-20T00:41:00.006-04:00

It sounds like they might start if their test markets are successful! This would be a direct hit on competitors and a step in the right direction for Target.

According to The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, Target Corporation began testing the program — called “Unbeatable Prices. Guaranteed.” — in the Denver and Orlando, Fla., markets March 15, and expanded the program to the downtown Minneapolis and Medina stores May 1. During the test, Target stores will match prices in competitors' ads for identical items during the dates that the ad is in effect.

After their testing period is over, they will analyze the results and make a decision on possibly rolling out this new price-matching program nationwide.

What do you think? Would you use a price matching program at Target? Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Freebie Friday!

2009-05-15T10:25:00.006-04:00

There are SO many freebies out there right now that I can't possibly list them all, so here are my current favorites!

Sign up for coupons and a free e-newsletter here.

Get free coupons, tips and recipes here.

Get a free sample pack of Kotex pads here.

Get a free sample of Cottonelle Ultra Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Moist Wipes here.

Click here to get a free sample of Aveeno Nourish Hair Care Collection.

Get a sample of Huggies Pull-ups here.

Get a free sample of Bodycology hand soap, lotion and mist here.

Get a coupon for $1.35 off a box of Mocha Chocoate Fiber One Bars here.

Enjoy!

Introducing the Target Check Card!

2009-05-12T01:05:00.003-04:00

I have to be honest with you. I used to avoid Target. It was just too easy for me to enter the store and leave $100 poorer. Then a few months ago I came across a little known fact. You can combine Printable Target Coupons with manufacturers' coupons!! That means that you can double your savings on lots of items. Now I can leave Target with 4-5 bags full and spend less than $10.

And I just stumbled upon an amazing little secret! Target has introduced a new check card that is exclusive to their stores. No, it's NOT a credit card! It's a debit card that you can use, just like writing a check, at Target stores. It is linked to your existing checking account and is PIN secure. And the best part is - you get rewards!!

Here are the benefits you get with Target's new REDcard Check Card:

Links to your existing checking account. Get up to $40 cash back with each purchase.

Target Rewards - Shop RED. Get points. Reach 1,000. Get 10% off. Repeat.

Target Pharmacy Rewards - Put your Rx on RED at Target and get a Target 10% off day.

Take charge of education - Shop RED and Target will donate up to 1% of your purchases to the eligible K-12 school of your choice.

Manage your REDcard online.

Target will mail special offers and coupons directly to you.

It's absolutely FREE!!

The application process is also pretty easy. Just print the application, fill it out and attach a voided check, then mail it and wait for approval!

Go ahead and apply so you can hurry up and save more!

Redbox Free Movie Monday

2009-05-11T00:50:00.007-04:00

I'm sure by now you've heard that Redbox releases a code every Monday for a free rental. Unfortunately, this is the last weekly code they will be releasing. But what's great is that their promotion worked and tons of people can now save on movie rentals by renting from Redbox for only a dollar!

If you haven't used Redbox, you can try it today for free one last time before their weekly free rental promotion ends. Just find any Redbox here and use this code to get your rental for free:

6A43JK

And just to keep us Frugalistas happy, Redbox is still going to release a free rental code on the first Monday of every month starting this June. So stay tuned for those codes!

Enjoy your movie!

Dinner Ideas, Recipes and Food Tips - FREE!!

2009-05-07T14:45:00.005-04:00

I love going to Kraft Foods to get recipes and ideas for dinner or simple desserts. And now you can sign up for free and get even more ideas!

Check out their newly revised website and make sure you sign up for free dinner ideas, recipes and other kitchen tips!!

Enjoy!

FREE Kentucky Grilled Chicken!!

2009-05-05T13:01:00.004-04:00

On today's Oprah, Kentucky Fried Chicken is hooking America up! Get two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit just by printing KFC's coupon from the Oprah website.

Free KFC Coupon

Hurry! The coupon download is available from 9 a.m. CDT on May 5, 2009, to 9:59 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2009. The coupon is redeemable at participating KFC locations in the United States from May 5, 2009 to May 19, 2009—excluding Mother's Day, May 10, 2009.

Enjoy!!

New Free Printable Coupons!!

2009-05-01T01:01:00.000-04:00

Some New Freebies!!

2009-04-30T17:05:00.002-04:00

There are some great new freebies out there! Here are some of them for you to try.

Sign up for this free Home Depot Do-It-Herself Workshop and receive in-store savings!

Freefly's is a great program! I signed up and within 2 weeks I was receiving free samples and coupons in the mail!

Sign up for Bisquick's free newsletter and receive recipes and coupons!

Sign up for Pillsbury's Cooking For 2 and receive recipes and savings!

Hope everyone stays healthy and has a great Friday!

Free NRA Membership

2009-04-15T18:46:00.003-04:00

This may be the most "controversial" post I've done so far, but hey, it's a great deal! :)

The National Rifle Association is giving FREE 1-yr memberships to everyone that wants to join in an effort to build up their membership to fight pending legislation that impacts our right to bear arms.

Free NRA Membership

Cool ME News! I'm a Nielsen Consumer Panelist!

2009-04-15T15:48:00.002-04:00

You know when you read about "consumer spending habits" or consumer research, well my household will be one of the households they use for those studies!!

I got my equipment yesterday and can't wait to get started. :)

Just wanted to share my cool news.

Tax Day Deals!!

2009-04-14T20:09:00.003-04:00

These are great deals you can take advantage of after you realize how much the IRS has taken advantage of you!

Chick-fil-A
Visit a participating restaurant April 15 and hang onto your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30 to receive the same order for free.

Cinnabon
Stop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 for free cinnamon-roll bites (regularly $2.49 for four).

Kimpton Hotels
Through April 30, ask for the Sweet Tax Relief Package and the hotel will pay the tax on your room. (At the Sky Hotel is Aspen that saves you the 10% that would have been tacked onto the $187-per-night deluxe room.) Dine at a property's restaurant, and they’ll pay the sales tax there, too.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery
On April 15, get one free scoop of ice cream.

McCormick & Schmick’s
On April 15, the chain offers a $10.40 menu of entrees. (Entrees regularly range from $16 to $33.) Each diner also receives a $10.40 “tax relief” gift certificate for a future meal.

PF Chang ’s China Bistro
Dine at one of P.F. Chang's 130-plus restaurant locations across the country on April 15, and save 15% on the total bill.

Taco Del Mar
Sign up online to receive a coupon for a free taco (regularly $1.89) during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion April 15.

T.G.I. Friday’s
On April 15, diners receive a $5 gift card when they spend $15 to $25. They earn a $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

Zazzle.com
Save 10.4% (it's advertised as 10.40%) on all orders at this T-shirt and apparel web site using code TAXDAYZAZZLE at checkout. Offer only good on April 15.

Have fun with these great savings opportunities!

Free Dunkin Donuts Coffee!!

2009-04-14T19:56:00.002-04:00

If you haven't tried the coffee from Dunkin Donuts, you're really missing out. It is fantastic! And now you can try it for free, but you have to hurry because supplies are limited!!

Enjoy!

Free Reynolds Wrap Foil!!

2009-04-13T13:09:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. It's been a busy spring for me so far, but I found a great offer today to tell you about!

If you sign up now, you can receive a rebate on Earth Day to get Reynolds Wrap Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum free!!

Click here for details. Hurry - quantities are limited!!!

Family Fun Friday!!

2009-04-03T10:43:00.003-04:00

This is my first Moms By Heart Family Fun Friday post. Be sure to head over to Moms by Heart to see other ideas for a night of fun for less than $10.

We LOVE board games in my family. Sorry, Life, Monopoly, you name it! Jake has really been a great little game player since he was about 3 and Troy is just now getting into board games. So we can play a few "grown up" games now, like Sorry and Sorry Sliders, Uno Attack and Yahtzee.

And right now, you can get most of these games for $10 or less if you use the coupons on my coupons.com link in the upper right corner of this page. Just click on "see all coupons" and check off the Hasbro games you want, click on "Print now" and save $5 on any of the several games you can choose from!

Make your own pizzas for an evening of fun your kids won't forget - all for under $10!

Have a great night!!

Entertainment Passbook ONLY $15 with FREE Shipping!!

2009-04-02T13:07:00.002-04:00

You still have 8 full months to use the coupons in this wonderful book! We buy one every year (at full price in December) and make the money back that we spent on it after about 3 uses.

You will not be sorry if you get this now, especially at this price. I've never seen it so low.

There are restaurant coupons, travel deals, movie passes, entertainment coupons, retail and grocery savings and even Walgreens coupons in the Fort Worth edition.

Just click on the picture below to order one today. Hurry though, this is a closeout deal and won't be around for much longer!!

Enjoy your savings!!

New Free Printable Coupons!!

2009-04-01T18:57:00.003-04:00

The beginning of each month means new FREE printable coupons!! And it's never been easier than it is this month!!

On the right side of this page just below my title banner, there is a coupons.com ad. Just click on "see all coupons" on the ad, select the ones you want to print and send them to your printer!

There are lots of coupons this month for board games, so be sure to stock up on gifts!!

Don't be Afraid of Color

2009-03-28T12:46:00.006-04:00

Let me start by saying I am NOT a decorator. I pretended to be for years. Then I stopped. It was silly to think I actually had the talent to match colors, pick patterns and design a room by myself. HA! And I'm okay with that.

Then about a year ago, I began finding design blogs I really enjoyed perusing and started adding them one by one to my reader. I love them all. They give me ideas, inspiration and the confidence to bring decorating ideas into my home.

I had always used neutral colors only in my home. These blogs gave me the confidence to pick colors that I LIKE instead of just picking colors that are safe. One example is my kitchen. It was tan. Summer Pecan to be exact. This color, reminiscent of peanut butter, was also in my living room, which shares a large wall and opens up to the kitchen. My "splash of color" in these rooms was red - red curtains in the living room and red and white curtains in the kitchen. It was blah - tan and boring!

About a month ago, I found a beautiful shade of blue/green and applied it to my kitchen walls. It compliments my cream beadboard backsplash that I added in October SO well. I just adore the color.

Here is the kitchen color before, just after I added the backslash:

And here is the kitchen color now, on the same wall as the before picture, just angled a little to the left:

I am in the process of making curtains with this fabric (that I found on clearance!):

I have painted over the boring tan in my living room with a nice cream color, added green panels (the green in the above fabric) and will make valances with the above fabric to tie both rooms together.

I'll post pictures of my kitchen as I finish. I have an odd backdoor window that I need to make a curtain for today and some odds and ends to finish. I'm really enjoying myself during this process for the first time since I've been a homeowner!

Later this weekend I'll post some awesome frugal decorating finds that match my new blue/green/cream color scheme I have going on.

Frugal Fun! Make Your Own Play Dough

2009-03-24T16:49:00.004-04:00

Jake's teacher called me yesterday to ask if I could make two batches of play dough. And I said, "Um, sure!" Never making this before, I asked her if there was a recipe. She said she would send it home with Jake and she did - on a teeny tiny Post-It Note.

That's all the room she needed to write the THREE ingredients it takes to make your own play dough at a fraction of the cost of the real deal.

Here's the recipe:

2 cups salt
1 cup flour
water to make moist

This makes quite a bit - 3 cups. It's a creamy color, but you can use food coloring to make it any shade you like! Just add it when you add the water so it's easy to mix in.

I calculated how much it cost me to make this last night and the total is $.33. Thirty-three cents!

I think my kids loved watching me make it as much as they loved playing with it. And it truly is "non-toxic."

I'm not sure how long it keeps, but I sealed it tightly in a zippered freezer bag and it's holding up so far!

Have fun with this!

A new stove for $4.76

2009-03-16T12:56:00.007-04:00

When we moved into this house over 6 years ago, we "upgraded" the kitchen appliances. This is the stove we ended up with:

Notice the black/white/black/white color scheme. Why? Why would someone do that? We had cream countertops then, too, so it really just didn't match at all.

So I got some of this handy dandy high heat paint:

I had originally decided to only paint the drawer at the bottom of the stove. This is the "after" from that project.

Then after a week or two, I thought, "Why not paint the top, too!" So here is the new stove in its entirety.

I can't vouch for the longevity of this paint job, but so far so good! It will last me until I want to search Craigslist for a new stove.

Hope you have a great Friday!

Freebie Friday!

2009-03-06T10:29:00.003-05:00

It's time for another great list of freebies this week! Just click on the pictures or links to get your free samples.

Get a free box of Touch of Gray

Join Freeflys and start getting samples in two weeks!

Save on Pampers

Get a free sample of Betty Crocker's Warm Delights here.

Get a free sample of Metamucil here.

Get a free sample of Kotex here. And Always Infinity here.

Click here for a free sample of Parent's Choice Infant Formula.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

New FREE Coupons to Print

2009-03-03T19:14:00.005-05:00

The beginning of the month always means new coupons from coupons.com. I love this site because I use much less paper than the other coupon generating sites. It's because you "clip" each coupon (check the box) and then print them all at once. You don't have to wait on each one to print before moving on to the next one.

This month you can save $8 on Huggies!!

Remember to enter your zip code right above the "next page" link for more local coupons.

Just click on the picture to get started! Happy "clipping!"

Free Shower Gel from Bath & Body Works

2009-03-02T10:09:00.004-05:00

Happy Monday! I hope everyone made it through my No Eating Out Challenge unscathed. We did great and saved quite a bit of money and spent even more time together as a family around the dinner table. That was my favorite part!

I found a great coupon for a free shower gel from Bath & Body Works. All you have to do is spend $10 at any store or online and use this free printable coupon. The coupon is good for any shower gel up to $10.50 in value.

The coupon expires on March 15th, so hurry!

Sick Kids = Whiny Mommy

2009-02-24T23:31:00.008-05:00

Last week, my middle child, Troy, got sick. Fever, chills, coughing, congestion. You know, the whole nine yards.

Then my youngest child, Eva, got sick. Fever, chills, coughing, congestion. She likes to copy her older brother's every move, so I wasn't surprised.

Then today, my oldest child, Jake, was in his school nurse's office when she called me to come and get him. And guess where I was? At the doctor's office with Eva!

Troy is much better and just has a little lingering cough. Eva has bronchitis and started on antibiotics today and Jake will be going to the doctor tomorrow.

And this is what an 8-year old boy who hardly ever gets sick looks like when he's sick:

Poor little guy just doesn't know what to do with himself. He's usually very lively, always talking and laughing, making others laugh and just a jolly little guy. But he is NOT right now. He's not sure how to handle being sick because he's just not a kid that gets sick.

So 3 out of 3 kids sick means Mommy is a very whiny girl. And I'm praying I don't get it!

Oh, PS - Go wash your hands right now!

No Eating Out Challenge - Week Four Menu Plan

2009-02-23T09:57:00.003-05:00

Only SIX days to go in the No Eating Out Challenge! How is everyone doing? Did anyone have any mishaps? We haven't and I don't plan to now! I've made it this far already and don't plan to mess it up.

I do want to apologize for my tardiness in this post. I had 2/3 of my kids home sick with the flu and one husband that worked 28 hours this weekend, so I'm just now getting time to sit down at the computer.

So here goes - my very last menu plan for my No Eating Out Challenge!

Monday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Pasta for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Crockpot Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, French Bread

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob

Wednesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Spaghetti Carbonara, Garlic Bread

Thursday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Pancakes, Sausage (Jake's choice)

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Chili and fixins

Saturday

Breakfast: Homemade Sausage Biscuits

Lunch: Paninis

Dinner: BBQ at the Blue & Gold Banquet

Leave a comment to let me know how you're holding up. Have a great week!!

Recession Survival Kit and Freebie Friday!

2009-02-20T12:03:00.008-05:00

There are lots of ways to save money right now and even quite a few samples and freebies out there this week!

Save 92% on your next meal out!! Purchase $25 restaurant certificates for only $2! Use code DINE and pay $2 thru 2/28/09.

The Entertainment Passbook is something we purchase yearly. We always buy it as soon as it comes out either from a local student fundraiser or online. I know that as soon as I start using it, it will pay for itself in a short amount of time. But now you can buy the Entertainment Passbook for 35% off AND get it shipped to you for FREE! If you don't have one of these, you are really missing out on great coupons for places you eat at and shop at anyway - restaurants, clothing stores, grocery stores, dry cleaners, local family fun places and many more! The coupons expire at the end of November, so you still have 9 months to save, but this offer expires in one week, so buy one today!

Amazon is having a 40% off grocery sale right now. Go here and use code FBCLEVNT at checkout.

And here are lots of freebies for you!

Get a free Pampers coupon for $1.50 off your next pack of diapers.

Get a free sample of Pantene Pro-V.

Get a $10 coupon booklet from General Mills' Eat Better America here.

Get free samples of Metamucil, Huggies Wipes and Gain Detergent from Walmart here.

If you don't want to miss out on future posts like these, be sure to subscribe to this blog. It's free and easy! Just click here if you want to use a reader or here for email updates.

Enjoy!

FREE Pancakes!!

2009-02-19T15:49:00.004-05:00

IHOP's annual National Pancake Day Celebration is coming on Tuesday, February 24th. Grab the kids and get a FREE short stack of pancakes from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. All they ask is that you make a donation to Children's Miracle Network in exchange.

Last year IHOP raised $875,000 for Children's Miracle Network and this year they hope to top $1,000,000! Let's help them out! You can go here for more details.

And yes, I think this is a fine reason to venture from my No Eating Out Challenge. It's free AND you can donate to a very worthy cause! Saving money and giving more is what it's all about.

Leave a comment letting me know if you plan to go!

No Eating Out Challenge - Save by Making Cappuccinos at Home!

2009-02-17T20:50:00.004-05:00

How is everyone doing? Any slip-ups? Come on, you can tell me!! We've made it 17 days without eating out and it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would. Only 11 days to go though and I'll admit - I can't wait to eat at my favorite new local deli.

I wanted to share a money-saving tip with you today.

If you've missed stopping at the coffee shop to get your cappuccino or latte fix, help is on the way! You can make them at home without buying an expensive espresso machine AND without paying over $3 at your local coffee shop.

Just follow these three easy steps to make cappuccinos at home.

1. Fill a mug halfway with skim milk and heat on high in the microwave until hot, about 60 seconds.

2. Place a whisk inside the mug and, with the handle between your palms, spin the whisk back and forth to froth the milk.

3. Add home-brewed strong coffee to the frothed milk.

To make it a latte, fill the mug 3/4 of the way with milk and only froth it a little. Then proceed with step 3 above.

Enjoy!!

Eat Out for 70% Off!!

2009-02-15T20:38:00.005-05:00

I know this is hypocritical to post during my No Eating Out Challenge, but you can buy these restaurant certificates now and use them after the challenge is over!!

Is there a restaurant you've been wanting to try but are afraid of spending money for something you may not even like? Well now you can try it for 88% off - no kidding! Then if you don't like it, it goes down much better because you're not spending much money.

I've had quite a few people ask me if these are legit and I always tell them that I've used them before and have never had a problem. It almost sounds too good to be true, but you can buy a certificate good for $25 at a local restaurant for only $3!

This offer is good through Thursday, February 19th, so get your certificate soon!! Don't forget when you checkout to use the code PREZ.

Take 70% Off with every order of $25 Gift Certificates. Use code PREZ and pay $3 thru 2/19/09.

Enjoy!

No Eating Out Challenge - Week Three Menu Plan

2009-02-15T01:24:00.003-05:00

We made it half way through! How is everyone doing? Any mishaps this week? I think this coming week might be the hardest because we've gone a pretty long time without eating out. But stick with me - no caving!!

Here is my Week Three menu plan in case you want to follow it. I am keeping breakfast and lunch the same as last week, but dinner has changed. I have a few new dinner courses I want to try that I read over the weekend in my stack-o-magazines-to-read.

Sunday

Breakfast: Pancakes, Sausage

Lunch: Sandwiches, Salad

Dinner: Sopa Seca, Tortilla Soup

Monday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: Pasta for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff, Egg Noodles

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Ricotta & Ham Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Jasmine Rice, Grilled Pineapple

Wednesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Stuffed Bell Peppers, Mashed Potatoes

Thursday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Maple-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Make your own pizza!

Saturday

Breakfast: Homemade Sausage Biscuits

Lunch: Quesadillas, Guacamole, Chips & Salsa

Dinner: Tacos, Mexican Salad

I'll be posting the linked recipes on Big Bite Appetite this week, so click over there to see how they turned out and pictures of each dish!

Leave a comment to let me know how you're holding up and have a great week!!

Freebie (and Frugal) Friday!!

2009-02-13T10:13:00.003-05:00

I haven't had a Freebie Friday in a long time, so I thought I would bring a few new offers to your attention.

This one isn't free, but it's such a great deal that I had to pass it along. Gevalia Coffee is the best coffee I've ever tasted and you can try it for next to nothing! And for non-coffee drinkers, they also have great tasting teas.

There are a couple of coupon sites that I frequent where you can print free coupons and learn from your fellow couponers in their online communities.

Get health info and free samples!

MyHealthyInfo.com - Health Information, Huge Discounts and Free Samples! Click Here

I'll post my No Eating Out Challenge Week Three menu this evening!

Enjoy!

Save Big Money on Magazine Subscriptions

2009-02-09T18:42:00.003-05:00

If you're a magazine junkie like me, you'll love this sale! The following Hearst Magazines are all on sale this week for only $5 for a full year's subscription:

Cosmopolitan
Country Living
Esquire
Good Housekeeping
Harper's Bazaar
House Beautiful
Marie Claire
O, The Oprah Magazine
Popular Mechanics
Redbook
Seventeen
Smartmoney
Town & Country
Veranda

With the exception of Veranda, this special price is for 12 issues! Magazines also make great gifts that give for a full year and where can you get a great gift for only $5?

Click here to order as many as you want!

No Eating Out Challenge - Week Two Menu Plan

2009-02-06T22:52:00.006-05:00

How did everyone do their first week without restaurants? We did great and tonight when Scott wanted to take the boys to get ice cream, he took them to the grocery store instead of the ice cream shop. I was SO proud of him!

Here is my Week Two menu plan in case you want to follow it. I am keeping breakfast and lunch the same as last week, but dinner has changed. This week has a Scott's favorite Valentine's Day dinner and a restaurant copycat recipe!

Sunday

Breakfast: Pancakes, Sausage

Lunch: Sandwiches, Salad

Dinner: Outback Steakhouse copycat recipe - Steakhouse Salad (recipe below), Flat Bread (Make additional steak for Tuesday.)

Monday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: Pasta for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Cowboy Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Fajitas made with extra steak from Sunday, Chips & Salsa, Guacamole

Wednesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Orange-Glazed Chicken, Asian Cole Slaw, Chow Mein

Thursday

Breakfast: Cereal, Toast

Lunch: Packed lunch for all kids, Leftovers for adults

Dinner: Cuban Sandwiches, Roast Potatoes

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Lunch: Homemade "Lunchable" for Troy & Eva, Packed lunch for Jake, Frozen meal for adults

Dinner: Backyard Burgers, French Fries, Fruit Salad

Saturday

Breakfast: Homemade Sausage Biscuits

Lunch: Quesadillas, Guacamole, Chips & Salsa

Kids' Dinner: Taco Ring, Corn on the Cob

Our Valentine's Day Dinner: Chicken Piccata, Salad, Garlic Breadsticks, Mixed Berry Dumplings

Outback Steakhouse "Steakhouse Salad" Copycat Recipe:

5 TBS sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg white
1 1/2 cups pecan halves or pieces
2 TBS blue cheese
1/4 mayonnaise
1 TBS red wine vinegar
salt
pepper
1 TBS vegetable oil
1 8oz. flank steak or skirt steak (Make triple for Tuesday - 24oz total.)
1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1 red onion, sliced
1 plum or Roma tomato, sliced

Preheat oven to 325F. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk egg white until foamy. Add pecans, toss. Add pecans to sugar mixture, toss. Spread on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes, turning once. YOU CAN SKIP THIS ENTIRE STEP BY PURCHASING PREMADE CINNAMON PECANS.

In a bowl, mix blue cheese, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and papper. Set aside.

Warm oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season steak with salt & pepper. Cook, turning once, 5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to cutting board and allow to rest. AS MUCH AS I LOVE TO MARINATE STEAK, IT DOES NOT NEED IT WITH THIS SALAD.

Place lettuce in a large bowl. Toss with nuts and just enough dressing to moisten. Top with onion and tomato. Cut steak into thin slices on an angle against the grain. Arrange on salad and serve with additional dressing.

In case you missed the details of my No Eating Out Challenge and still want to join, click here.

You can also find tips on menu planning and stretching your grocery dollars!

Have a great weekend!

No Eating Out Challenge Giveaway Winner!!

2009-02-06T17:21:00.005-05:00

Hey subscribers! Sorry I'm late. I had two 4-year old fingers to bandage. Here is what random.org generated when I put the numbers in:

Congrats to Rachel!! Email your address to me at kami@homeof5.com and I'll have your Knock Knock What to Eat pad shipped directly to you.

Stay tuned for tonight's menu plan!!