My KMART SUPER Double Trip - $24.79!!!

Hi Readers and Friends! Remember my goal of $40 at KMart? Well, I came in at $24.79 for ALL of the stuff in the following 2 pictures. I'll detail the FREE items below.

Here are my grocery items. Nothing was absolutely free here; however I paid .49 for the A-1. I paid .25 each for the rice packets.

Now here are my toiletry, personal, and laundry/cleaning items. The 4 Nature's Source cleaners were FREE. The Dry Idea deodorant was FREE. The 2 First Aid kits were FREE. The rubber gloves were FREE. The Kotex was FREE. The mailing envelope was FREE. The votive candle was FREE (and is burning upstairs now, by the way.) I paid .39 for each of the Pert Plus shampoos for men (I bought 4). The Lady Mitchum deodorant was 2/.29 (they were BOGO and I had 2 .75 MQ's.) The men's Mitchum was also BOGO and I got both for .99! The Dr Shol's inserts was .29 and came with a FREE pedicure kit. (I have these killer wedge sandals that I thought these would help with...) The Charmin wipes were .55.

After all of my super double coupons and a $10/$100 purchase (that I used BEFORE I gave them my coupons) my total was $24.79! $24.79 for 40 items!!! Mark's jaw hit the floor and then he started shaking his head...he couldn't believe it! Before they started taking off my coupons, I glanced at the total of $118... (I just realized that if I hadn't bought the Pull-Ups, my total would have been UNDER $20!)

According to my receipt, I purchased $123.26 worth of items for $24.79. That, my friends, is a savings of approximately 80%!!!

How did you do at KMart this week? Did you hit your goal? I hope you at least had fun trying! :)

September's Stockpile Challenge

Well, here we are, September. You are staring me in the face. And, with you comes (1) preschool tuition payments (2) YMCA class payments (3) and our 10th wedding anniversary. Oh, and did I mention 3 glorious weeks of my DH not teaching? (This is great for family time, by the way, but a little tight on the purse strings...)

SO, I am issuing myself a challenge. You have all seen the enormousity (not a word, I know) of my stockpile, right? (If not, check back a few posts.) I will live off of this stockpile for the entire month of September while following our monthly meal plan. I will cut my weekly grocery budget from $55 to $25. (Yes, folks that is $100 for the month.) I will allow myself perimeter purchases such as dairy, lunchmeat and produce and a few neccessities as needed (pull-ups, bleach powder, etc.)

Now we all know that there is a SUPER double coming up this week at KMart. I'll be honest with you all, this is about killing me right now! Mark and I discussed and I am still going to participate but I will be VERY SELECTIVE in my shopping and will aim to spend no more than $40 OOP. (I am going to need to carry a calculator with me in the store, people!)

So, my totals for September should be $100 for grocery items and no more than $40 for the stockpiling that I will do at KMart. OK, there it is in black and white. Now, who is going to keep me accountable? Please help me, friends!!! I can't do this alone. (Lord, I can do all things through YOU...help me this month, please.)

Hopefully this will get us on a good start toward saving for Christmas and help us have a nice anniversary. Happy anniversary, dear, these 10 years have been good and we've certainly learned a lot - hoping the next 50 will be even better as we strive to "live like no one else!" Love you!

September's Meal Plan

A new month is here and that prompts a new meal plan for the Labutis Family. Here is what we will be feasting on this month!

1. Tator Tot Casserole and Applesauce
2. Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
3. Frozen Pizza
4. Burgers on Grill, Baked Beans, Chips
5. Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans
6. Baked Ziti, Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad
7. Yingling Pork Chops in Crockpot, Cheddar/Broc Rice, Applesauce
8. Clean out the Fridge Night or Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup
9. Beans and Weenies + Fun Desert (Dirt Pudding?)
10. Corn Chowder and Homemade Dinner Rolls
11. Beef Roast, Potatoes, Carrots and Onion
12. Tami's Chicken and Rice Casserole + Frozen Vegetable
13. Taco Night + Chips and Salsa
14. Tuna Noodle Bake + Apple Crisp
15. Lasagna + Garlic Bread
16. French Toast + Sausage Links
17. Shredded Chicken Sandwiches, Chips, Jello Salad
18. Hamburger Helper + Peas
19. Black Beans and Rice + Queso Dip with Chips
20. Clean out the Fridge Night!

Maybe you'll see something here that will inspire you for dinner tonight! Remember, a meal planned is MONEY SAVED :)

My Top Ten Reasons to Bake From Scratch

Hope's Top Ten Reasons to Bake From Scratch

10. The aroma of rising yeast and baking chocolate!
9. The warmth of the oven. (When you are done baking, crack your oven and heat your home for "free!")
8. It's cheaper than buying from the store, duh...
7. You can teach your kids science (bread rising), math (measurements), and reading (cookbooks.)
6. You control what goes in (controls allergies, preservatives, fiber) - what, there are chickpeas in the brownies?
5. You can freeze (aka. "Freezer Bake") for quick breakfasts and snacks.
4. You can use up the garden's bounty - waste not, want not. (Zucchini bread, anyone?)
3. Home-baked goodies make wonderful, economical gifts. Add a ribbon and a dollar-store wooden spoon or whisk tied on and you are set!
2. Your kids may not remember their toys when they grow up, but they will remember their favorite pie, cookie, cake that Mom made. (Mine were these soft sugar cookies made with sour milk...mmmmm!)
1. Baking is a LOST ART! Have the courage to recapture it and make memories that will last for generations to come.

Baking feeds your body, fuels creativity, and is a natural relaxer. I believe it is truly good for the soul.




My favorite recipe (and a BIG seller at my Farmer's Market):

Cranberry Zucchini Bread

Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups grated fresh zucchini or yellow squash
2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup dried cranberries

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the grated zucchini and then the melted butter. Add baking soda and salt and mix in. Add the flour, a little at a time. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and nutmeg and mix. Fold in the dried cranberries.
• Divide the batter equally between 2 greased loaf pans, or 4 mini loaf pans.
• Bake for 1 hour for large loaves, 30 minutes for mini loaves. Test with a toothpick.
• Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks to cool thoroughly.
  

Makes 2 regular loaves or 4 mini loaves.

Enjoy!

This will be the LAST Super Double at KMart - read below

This is an email that a blogger at "My Frugal Adeventure" received regarding KMart's Super Double Coupon Events... Sniff, Sniff.

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the discontinuation of our Double Coupon events. We are always interested in hearing from our customers.The next Double Coupon event will take place from 8/30/09 and run through 9/6/09. After that event, all future Double Coupon events will be put on hold indefinitely. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Once again, thank you for contacting us about our Double Coupon events. We appreciate your business and value you as a Sears Holdings customer. We certainly hope you will continue to make Sears Holdings your choice for quality and value.
Sincerely,
xxxx
Retail Customer Care
Sears Holdings Corporation

Apparently we are overwhelming them with our coupon binders! :) Hopefully they will realize how many of us shop these deals and will bring it back in 2010.

Let's do this last one right, friends!

KMart - Again? You're Killing Me...

Word on the street is the KMart is having Super Double Coupons again the week of 8/30. So, start saving your big coupons and get ready for yet another trip to KMart. (Super Double Coupons = double any coupon up to $2 value, so $2 = $4! Get it?) This a good (bad) thing people, a good (bad) thing!!!

Carnival Foods

Today is the last day of the Carnival foods 2-Day Sale if you live in the Central Ohio area. I will be out later today to score some more lunch box goodies. Post to come tomorrow!