Publix Ad and a Few Reminders

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

This week is full of stuff for Super Bowl parties, so if you need any of those items now is probably the time to stock up on them.

Also, I have a few reminders for you:

• It's the end of the month, so remember to print your coupons before they reset tomorrow.
• Don't forget to enter my giveaway. You can't win if you don't enter!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Pizza
Tuesday-  Pretzel Crusted Chicken Nuggets, Tater Tots, Veggie
Wednesday- Hawaiian Grilled Cheese (or out, not sure)
Thursday- Beef Stroganoff, Peas
Friday- Lazy Nachos
Saturday-  Pork Chops, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Veggie
Sunday- Breakfast

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Friday Favorites- Giveaway!

Edit: This giveaway is now over!

Each year many people make resolutions to lose weight and/or get more active, but come February (or earlier!) we find that we have already fallen back into old habits.

It can be a challenge, but this year MultiGrain Cheerios® cereal and The Biggest Loser Club® can help you get started on your weight management goals with a free 7-day plan. 

You can also find tons of great stuff on the MultiGrain Cheerios website that can help you start your weight management journey. After entering the code found inside specially marked boxes of MultiGrain Cheerios cereal, you can access some great tools, including:

• A Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator to gauge how much weight you may need to lose or gain to be considered healthy and not at risk for serious health problems
• A 7 Day Plan that pairs daily meal plans with cardio and strength-training routines
• 15 tasty recipes that will give your body the fuel it needs to get through the day
• Daily workouts that couple cardio with mobility and resistance exercises to hit major muscle groups

MultiGrain Cheerios is actually one of my favorite cereals out there. It tastes great and is only 110 calories a serving. It also has 16g of whole grain. Eating MultiGrain Cheerios can easily be a part of your weight loss goals. It's great plain or you can add some fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or bananas. I also sometimes eat it as a healthy snack before bed. I was very excited when MyBlogSpark and MultiGrain Cheerios provided me with a great prize pack because I really do love this cereal!

If you need a little more inspiration, you can join MultiGrain Cheerios on Twitter™ during each episode of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser: Couples” Tuesday nights at 8PM EST through May 24, to connect with past contestants, share weight loss tips and discuss how to become your own Biggest Loser. Be sure to follow @MGCheerios and use the hashtag #mgcheerios to keep up with the conversation! 

And what's more is MyBlogSpark and MultiGrain Cheerios have given me another prize pack just for one of my readers. The prize pack contains a box of MultiGrain Cheerios with a code to access the online tools, a gym bag, a water bottle (BPA-free), and an on-the-go cereal container. 

To Enter:

1. Comment on this post on how you are going to be The Biggest Loser at Home, or one healthy living tip.
2. Subscribe to the Frugal and Provident feed or email.
3. Follow Frugal and Provident via Google Friend Connect (found in the right side-bar).
4. "Like" Frugal and Provident on Facebook.

This means you can enter up to 4 times! Please remember to leave a comment for each form of entry (up to 4 comments total)! The winner will be chosen on 2/4/11 around 9pm. Emailed comments and those left on Facebook will not be counted. Please be sure to share this giveaway with your friends as well!

Disclosure: MultiGrain Cheerios and MyBlogSpark provided me with info and a prize pack for me and my winner. All comments and opinions are my own.

Publix Trip 1/27/2011

I spent $44.58 for $86.36 worth of groceries, saving $41.78 or 48%. But I will submit for the World's Best Cat Litter rebate bringing my savings up to 58%.

See my original list here.

Added:
(1)World's Best Cat Litter $7.99
(1)Milk $3.25
(1)Chocolate Milk $2.89
   -(1)Free wyb 1 Gallon of Milk printable (promotion over)
(2)E.P.T Tests $10.99
   -(2)$5/1 from 1/9/2011 SS


Deleted:
Nothing!

Prices, Price Changes, Coupons, and Coupon Changes:
Kraft BBQ BOGO $1.65 not $1.48
Pizza Dough $1.99 not $1.69

It was an ok trip, nothing too exciting. Not great savings, but great to me considering what I got!

Frugality: Food for Thought

Jenny over at SouthernSavers gave us some real food for our thoughts this week on supercenters (Wal-mart).

Check it out HERE.

Many people are confusing her argument though. Keep in mind as you read this that she is refering to people who use good couponing habits, which is buying a stockpile of things at their lowest price with coupons. This is not for people who just walk into the store each week and by whatever they want. But even then I can tell you Walmart is not always the best price, or worth the hassle. Be forewarned that using coupons at Walmart can be one of the worst experiences of your life, unless of course you like to feel like you just stole something.

I honestly cannot stand going in there. It's always crowded, it's usually dirty, most things are out of stock (but yet they are always stocking when I am there?), check-out lanes are always long, and customer service stinks. With all that being said, I'd rather reward a store that cares for their customers (and their employees, vendors, etc.) even if it costs a little more.

That's just my 2 cents.

Shopping List for 1/27/11

Blue= Manufacturer's
Green= Publix
Red= Competitor

(2)Kraft BBQ Sauce BOGO $1.48
   -(1)$1/2 Target HERE
(2)Near East Couscous BOGO $2.19
(2) Tidy Cat BOGO $7.49
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(1)Asparagus $2.69/lb
(1) Mushrooms $2.69
(2) Publix Sour Cream $0.75
(2)Pizza Dough $1.69


Not that big of a trip for me!

How Do I Use It? Sugar Part III: Cooking

The best thing about sugar is there is no cooking required to use it. You could just eat it as is, but that's way too sweet for most people.

There's really two main uses of sugar in meals: to sweeten or to counteract acidity. Below are some examples of each.

To sweeten:

• Drinks- like lemonade, koolaid, etc.
• Sweet Baking- very few baked goods do not have sugar in some amount. 
• Toppings- Whipped Cream, sprinkled on fruit, on cereal, etc.

To counteract acidity:

• This is most often in homemade pasta sauces, salsas, etc. 

One other use of sugar is in yeast baking. When you use yeast you usually proof it in water with some sugar for the yeast to feed on. If you will be baking breads with your food storage, you need some sugar.

Creative New Uses

I came across this website when I was researching for future posts, and I got to say these are some pretty creative uses for old things! I a lot of them are old computer stuff (floppy disk, mouse, etc.), but it's definitely creative. Some is artwork, some is functional. You should definitely check it out for a little inspiration.

One of my favorites:

Enjoy!

Publix Ad

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

I see a few good things this week. Not as good as the last few weeks, but still good.

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Salad
Tuesday-  Pasta with Broccoli, Tomatoes and Sausage
Wednesday- Chicken Patty Sandwiches, Tater Tots
Thursday- Philly Cheesesteak
Friday- Oven Ranch Chicken, Pasta, Veggie
Saturday-  Fish, Rice, Broccoli
Sunday- Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Veggie

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Friday Favorites- Giveaway Winner!

And the randomly selected winner of the Yoplait Original Gift Pack is....

Marci (tristatecruisers@)

Congratulations! Be looking for an email from me shortly.

Thanks again to everyone who entered! Also, be on the look-out for yet another giveaway really soon!

Publix Trip 1/20/11

I spent $10.97 for $84.85 worth of groceries, saving $73.88 or 87%!

See my original list here.

Added:
(2) Halls BOGO $1.65
   -(2) 50¢/1 Target HERE
   -(1)$1/2 from November All You
(2)Kikkoman Lite Soy Sauce $1.39
   -(1)$1/1 HERE
   -(1)B1G1 HERE
(2)Mrs. Paul's BOGO $4.49
(4) Steamfresh Veggies $2.39
   -(2) Free Steamfresh wyb 1 Mrs. Paul HERE
   -(2) Free Steamfresh wyb 1 Mrs. Paul Yellow Advantage Buy
(1)18ct Eggs $2.19
   -(1)55¢ off eggs wyb 1 Kikkoman from Feb 2011 All You


Deleted:
Nothing!

Prices, Price Changes, Coupons, and Coupon Changes:
Fresh Express BOGO $3.69 not $3.99
Quaker  BOGO $3.99 not $2.98
Country Crock BOGO $2.09 not $1.89

It was a great trip. The store wasn't crowded, my favorite cashier was there, and everything I wanted was in stock. Can't ask for much more than that!

Frugality- Sources of Coupon Inserts

Sometimes you need more than one insert (especially if you live in areas of True BOGO). Many would just suggest going to a clipping service, but here are a few ways to get full inserts if you feel uncomfortable about using a clipping service, or even want some free inserts.

• Call your newspaper. Some newspapers, believe it or not, will be generous with their inserts. (Unfortunately this is not mine).
• Ask the libraries in the area. This is actually a nice perk of my husband's new job. He now can bring me home 2-3 copies of each insert from the library he works at. 
• Ask businesses. A lot of businesses have newspapers for their customers to read on Sunday, some would be more than willing for you to have the inserts.
• Ask your neighbors. If your neighbor gets a paper, ask them if they use their inserts. If they don't, ask if you can have them. 
• Ask your family. Perhaps you have family nearby (or even far away). They may be willing to cut out coupons you know you will use or maybe send you all the coupons.
• Ask your friends, co-workers, playgroup members, church members, etc. These can be great sources of inserts. 
• Go for a walk on recycling day. If you live in a place that uses open recycling bins, you may be able to score some inserts just by getting some exercise. If you live in an area that has automated pick-up (where you have a large can with a lid, and all the recycling is mixed), you probably will want to skip this method.
• Use drug stores deals to buy your newspaper. I've heard of many people who use their register rewards or extra care bucks to grab more newspapers.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas. If you have any to add, please feel free to share below.

Shopping List for 1/20/11

Blue= Manufacturer's
Green= Publix
Red= Competitor's


(6)Kraft Dressing BOGO $3.19
   -(2)B2G1 Target HERE
   -(2) $1/2 Walgreen's IVC
(2) Fresh Express BOGO $3.99
   -(2) 55¢/1 HERE
(4)Hunt's Tomatoes BOGO $1.39
   -(1)$1/3 All You Jan.
   -(1)75¢/3 from 1/9/11 SS
(2)Quaker Instant Oatmeal BOGO $2.98
   -(1)$1/1 All You Feb
   -(1)$1/2 Target HERE
(2)Kraft Homestyle BOGO $2.59
   -(2)$1/1 from 1/16/11 SS
   -(1)$1/2 Walgreen's IVC
(2)YoPlus BOGO $2
   -(2) $1/1 HERE
(2) Shedd's Spread BOGO $1.89
   -(2) 40¢/1 HERE
   -(2) 50¢/1 Target HERE
Blueberries $2.99
   -(1) $1 off produce wyb 2 Kraft Dressings


$5/$25 Save-a-lot

How Do I Use It? Sugar Part II: Types and Uses

Sugar! You'd actually be surprised at the different kinds of sugar out there. But the good news is most sugars can be used interchangeably. Check-out some of the types.

• Refined Sugar- plain old white sugar
• Raw Sugar- Intermediate sugar in the refining process. Often seen referred to as "sugar in the raw"
• Brown Sugar- Sugar coated with molasses
• Turbinado Sugar- sugar that has been semi-refined. Closer to refined sugar than raw sugar.
• Evaporated Cane Juice- Another type of sweetener.
• Molasses- Syrup remaining from processing sugar
• Honey- Sweetener made by bees.
• (High Fructose) Corn Syrup- Syrup made from corn. High Fructose is just processed more.
• Invert Sugar- used in baked goods to prolong shelf-life
• Confectioner's Sugar- super fine sugar.

And of course there are several sugar substitutes out there. Some of these are better than others, but it's best just to use the real thing. Here are just a few I know of:

• Splenda
• Stevia
• Nutrisweet
• Equal
• Sweet N Low

Publix Trip- Kimberly Clark MIR

I spent $7.95 for $44.24 worth of groceries, saving $36.29 or 82%! But I will submit for the KC/Mead Johnson $10 GC MIR bringing my savings to 105%! 

Here's the match-ups:

(4)Kleenex 4/$5

   -(1) 50¢/3 from 12/5/10 SS

   -(2) $2/2 from "KC Start Your Year Out With Savings" Booklet

(4)Kotex $3.31

   -(2) $2/2 from 1/16/11 SS

   -(4) $2/1 from "KC Start Your Year Out With Savings" Booklet

(1)Scott TP $5.79

(1)Scott Wipes Tub $2.29

   -(1)$3 off Scott TP and Wipes from KC booklet

   -(1) 75¢/1 found inside previously purchased product

(1) Scott Wipes Refill $1.99

   -(1) 75¢/1 found inside previously purchased product

(1)Pull-ups $10.99

   -(1)$2/1 HERE

   -(1)$3/1 Publix Baby Club Coupon

-$5/$25 Save-a-lot coupon

New Uses for Dish Soap

You might think there aren't a lot of uses for dish soap other than washing dishes, but you would be surprised. Check out this list of uses for dish soap:

• Fruit wash. A mix of dish soap and water is a great way to wash fruits and veggies, and is much cheaper than a speciality fruit wash.
• Pesticide. A surprising number of pests do not like dish soap.
• Carpet Stains. Can be used instead of expensive cleaners for minor carpet stains.
• All-purpose cleaner. It's not just for dishes. It can be used to clean counters, windows, bathrooms, etc. It even works on glass cooktops.
• Stainless-steel cleaning. Instead of a specialty cleaner, often a little bit of soapy water used to wipe with the grain of the steel will do the job.
• Flea wash. Supposedly washing a dog with dish soap (and washing their belongings in hot soapy water) will get rid of fleas. I haven't tried this myself. 
• Cleaning your fingers before a manicure. Helps to clean off any oils, so your polish sticks better.
• Laundry pre-treating. Especially on oil based stains. Be careful not to use to much, and for HE washers you may want to wipe the excess away so you don't cause too many bubbles.
• Science experiments. There's lots of experiments you can do with kids that call for dish soap.
• Bubble solution. Make your own bubble solution to blow bubbles with by mixing water and dish soap.
• Ice packs. Put dish soap in a plastic bag and use it as an ice pack. (You may want to double or triple bag it). Works great, and it remains movable which makes it great for injuries. 
• On driveways. Use the kitty litter method to clean up excess and then dish soap to help clean up the stain.
• Clean walls. Soapy water is a great way to clean dirt, grime, etc. off of walls.

If you have any ideas for a new use for dish soap, share below, and I will get them added to the list!

Publix Ad

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

I haven't had much of a chance to look at it yet, so I can't tell you if it's great or not.

On another note, don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Burgers, Tater Tots, and Corn
Tuesday-  Chicken and Broccoli  (I didn't actually get to make it last week...)
Wednesday- Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Thursday- Easy Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti, and Green Beans
Friday- Cheeseburger Loaves, Mashed Potatoes, Peas
Saturday- Applesauce Brown Sugar Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese, Broccoli
Sunday- Italian Chicken, Olive Oil Pasta, Green Beans

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Friday Favorites- Another Giveaway

Getting enough calcium can be really hard for most adults. Calcium is important especially for women, who are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis as they age.

Luckily, Yoplait is trying to help! They're Yoplait Original two times more calcium then the other leading yogurts, which is 50% of your daily recommended value. It also contains 50% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium.

I actually really love Yoplait yogurt, and they have sooo many flavors to choose from, and they keep adding more. Currently they have about 23 flavors. It's great as part of a breakfast, as a snack, or as a healthy dessert.

Yoplait is also giving away a million cups of free yogurt on their facebook page. You can also get a coupon for 75¢/4 coupon here.

Yoplait and myblogspark also provided me with a wonderful giftpack to help keep my bones strong, and what's even better is they want to give one to one of my readers!

To Enter:

1. Comment on this post with how you plan to get more calcium.
2. Subscribe to the Frugal and Provident feed or email.
3. Follow Frugal and Provident via Google Friend Connect (found in the right side-bar).
4. "Like" Frugal and Provident on Facebook.

This means you can enter up to 4 times! Please remember to leave a comment for each form of entry (up to 4 comments total)! The winner will be chosen on 1/21/11 around 1pm. Emailed comments and those left on Facebook will not be counted. Please be sure to share this giveaway with your friends as well!

Disclosure: Yoplait and MyBlogSpark provided me with info and a prize pack for me and my winner. All comments and opinions are my own.

*Coupon not valid in CA, ID, LA, MN, NV, NJ, ND, and TN.

Good Luck!

Frugality- Story!

Instead of my normal tips for saving money this week, I thought I would share a bit about why I find all of this information to be important.

For the past 6 months, my husband had been unemployed. We were fortunate enough to get a head's up way back in April 2010 that this might be the case, but we had hoped for the better. My husband worked as a music teacher, and unfortunately with a crappy economy that meant his position was one of the first to go when the school had to tighten it's budget even more (which is unfortunate for students today, but I'll spare you that rant).

We worked hard to build up a savings and build upon our food storage. I'd love to say that it was easy and he found a job right away, but he didn't. He decided to get certified for elementary school, hoping to widen his field of options. He got several interviews, but no jobs. We figured when the school year was starting more jobs would be available... but there weren't. And of course during this time several things happened to us. Our air-conditioner broke and had to be completely replaced costing over 5k. Our car battery died. Our stove broke. My husband's computer died.

But we also had blessings. An un-expected bonus from the school he worked out because the school met and passed it's annual yearly progress. Unexpected gifts from family members. Deals on the things we needed when we needed them. Receiving even the smallest amount of unemployment.

We watched as each week passed. Eventually my husband decided that maybe he would look into getting a master's in one of the other fields he loves, library science. He quickly registered for the GRE (more money!) and applied at a college for a distance learning program. He was accepted, but this still wouldn't be enough to live on. He applied anywhere and everywhere, libraries, schools, even Publix, Target, Home Depot, etc. Still nothing. We passed by Thanksgiving and were quickly approaching Christmas.

My husband and I are very active in our church, and one of our leaders encouraged us that if we were facing financial difficulties we should double our fast offering (each month we fast for two meals and give the equivalent of what we would have paid for those meals to help feed those in the area) and double it again. We did just that. It just so happened the month that we would double it again was December. Within that week he was called in for interviews at three different libraries. I received back word from a work at home job as well. With much prayer, we continued on waiting for word from the jobs he interviewed at. Within just a couple weeks (they all had said we might not hear back until the new year), he heard back from not one, but two of them to offer him a job! Just in time for Christmas!

And through this whole period we had enough to live off of because we prepared ahead. You could say it was a coincidence, but I think it was something more.

I hope you enjoyed my story!

My thoughts...

So amid all the craziness in my life these past few weeks, I haven't been quite as good at posting as I usually am, but I saw a link to this posted yesterday on iheartpublix, and it made me want to emphasize the importance of food storage.

With these winter storms all across the US, it can become real easy for you to be unable to get out of your house, and when you do you may not find food at the stores. With big winter storms and hurricanes, people sometimes fall into this false sense of security that since they know the storm will be coming they can run out and get food to cover them. Unfortunately too many people think this, which is why stores run out of important items before a storm even hits. People also then falsely assume that they only need a few days to cover them because the storm will only last a few days and then they can go to the store. This is also a really bad idea because first the stores ran out of important things before the storm got here, and there's a good chance that trucks were not able to come replenish that. If the storm is bad enough it can take weeks before the stock is replenished.

There's also the fact that many people forget that they can lose power from storms, and while power companies are pretty good at getting it back and running quickly, there is no guarantee that they will be able to. That's why you need emergency power sources. Generators, camp stoves, flash lights, etc. 

The moral of the story? The time to prepare is long before a storm is even mentioned. 

Next week I will be back to the "How Do I Use It? segment! 

Publix Trip 1/13/11

I spent $13.91 for $65.07 worth of groceries, saving $51.16 or 79%.

See my original list here.az

Added:

(2) Zephyrhills Bottled Water 

   -(2)Free wyb (1) Box of Cheez-its

(2)Publix Sour Cream 75¢

(1) Additional 2-liter Coke B2G1 @$1.79

   -$2/2 wyb 2 Cheez-it

   -(1)$1/3 Hang-tag (the manager was checking me out and said that was ok because one goes to the Cheez-it people and the other to coke, ymmv)

Deleted:

Stay Free- They were much more expensive at my store, and I think there was a $3/1 in the Walgreen's ad this week...

Prices, Price Changes, Coupons, and Coupon Changes:

Cheez-it BOGO $3.99 not $3.29

Jimmy Dean BOGO $5.87 not $5.99

Cheerios BOGO $4.29 not $3.99

Price for 12pks was $4.99 (free with my coupons)

It was a good trip there, and the store wasn't even crowded for once. 

Shopping List for 1/13/11

Blue= Manufacturer's
Green= Publix
Red= Competitor


(2)Cheez-it BOGO $3.29
(2)Jimmy Dean D-Lights BOGO $5.99
   -(2)$2.50/1 HERE
(2)Multi-Grain Cheerios BOGO $3.99
   -(2)75¢/1 HERE
(2)Goldfish 10/$10
(3) Coke 12pks B2G1
   -(2)Free from mycokerewards
(2)Hass Avocados 4/$5
(1)Broccoli $1.69
(1)Strawberries $2.99
(2) 2-liters Soda
   -(1)$2/2 wyb 2 Cheez-it
(2)Stayfree $2.85
   -(1)B1G1 coupon from Paper (I don't have it in front of me at the moment)
   -(1)$1/1 HERE
   -(2)$1/1 from Green Advantage Buy Flyer (If my store has them in...)
-$5/$25 Save-a-lot coupon

New Uses for Books

Man it's been crazy for me lately. So instead of an entry by me, here is a link to an article from the NY Times on new uses for books. They wrote it because some speculate that books will eventually go away, but I got to say I really doubt it. But these might be helpful for some of those books that you won't read or read and can't stand. So check it out HERE.

Meal Plan Monday

Sorry this is late, it's been a hectic weekend (complete with an ER trip), so things have been a little crazy here.

Monday- Three Cheese Macaroni with Tomatoes
Tuesday- Pretzel Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Wednesday- Left Overs/ DIY
Thursday- CiCi's Pizza
Friday- Turkey Noodle Soup
Saturday- Chicken and Broccoli 
Sunday- Breakfast

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Friday Favorites- Giveaway Winner!

And the randomly selected winner of the Yoplait Light giftpack is...

Beth (babydoll_tm@)

Congratulations! I will be sending you an email shortly!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and be on the look-out for another great giveaway from Yoplait in the near future. ;-)

Giveaway

Hey guys!

Due to some technical problems with the site that hosts my comments, I will extend the end time of the giveaway to tonight at 9pm. Hopefully by then anyone who may have experienced any issues will have a chance to enter!

And just a reminder, you must leave a comment for each one of the entries you make!

Publix Trip 1/6/11

I spent $6.10 for $48.68 worth of groceries, saving $42.58 or 87%! (Not pictured: 18 lbs Publix Cat Food)

See my original list here.

Added:
(1)Strawberries $2.99
(1)Special K Protein Bar $6.49
   -(1)Free wyb (2) Special K Cereals
(1)Publix Cat Food $11.99

Deleted:
Nothing!

Prices, Price Changes, Coupons, and Coupon Changes:
Special K BOGO $3.99 not $3.89 (but free with coupons)
Ronzoni BOGO $1.71 not $1.79
Publix Bread $1.69
-$13 left on a gift card


It was a great trip. I wish I could have found one more of those peelies for the free protein bars. And I picked up the strawberries because they looked good, and hey they are fruit and I'll never say no to a craving for fresh produce that's on sale! Hope everyone is having a great week, and don't forget the giveaway ends tomorrow!

Saving Money on Babies and Toddlers: Diapers

I've pretty much covered everything else, but the one that can cost a ton is diapers. I think the best way to deal with this is a good ol' cloth vs disposable comparison.

Cloth
Pro's
-Reusable
-"Eco-friendly"
Con's
-Upfront Cost
-Need for place to store dirty
-Learning Curve
-Need for laundering

Disposable
Pro's
-Tend to be simpler
-Coupons
-Can just toss away
Con's
-Environmental impact
-Cost over long-run
-Smelly Trash

Now here's the thing about the comparing the two. Either way can be cost effective. Cloth diapers cost a bunch more up-front, but if you end up using them for more than one child you reap the savings. There's also the issue of how many days you want to go between washing. If you have to run less than full loads of diapers and then dry them, you may actually spend the same (if not more than disposable). This also means the "eco-friendliness" of the diaper is diminished especially if you wash them with any harsh detergents/bleach. I've actually read quite a few books on green-living that have said cloth and disposable have the same ecological impact. Disposables do have coupons and cost much less per diaper, but the more kids you have the more you will have paid for diapers in the long run. Truly it's hard to make an apples to apples comparison of the two because it depends on your specific situation. Maybe you use an energy efficient washer with homemade or eco-friendly soaps and line dry them, or maybe you will only have one kid and are on the go all the time and need convenience of disposable. Then there are hybrid diapers like g-diapers. The choice is truly yours, so do what your personal values and experiences dictate.

To save on any kind of diapers:

• Look for coupons (not so likely for cloth, but still possible)
• Look for retail codes (especially good if you are buying online)
• Don't buy a ton of any one kind of diaper until you know it works for your kid because some kids just manage to leak through certain kinds of diapers. Every baby is different.

Shopping List for 1/6/2011

Simple week this week for me:

(4)Special K BOGO $3.89
   -(2)BOGO Coupons HERE
(4) Ronzoni Healthy Harvest BOGO $1.79
   -(2) $1/2 HERE
Bread


Also, please don't forget to enter my giveaway.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!

How Do I Use It? Sugar Part I: Background

Sugar. We love how it tastes, but hate what it does to us. But actually it can be a great, if not necessary, thing to have in your food storage. Let's look at it's background.

• Experts believe it originated in the South Pacific 8,000 years ago.
• First mention of it is from an officer in Alexander's army about 325 BC
• Used to be a luxury in Europe.
• Columbus brought it to the America's on his second voyage.
• Sugar is product of photosynthesis.
• Found in all plants, but highest concentration in sugar cane and sugar beet plants.

Why Should You Store It?

• If stored properly, it will last indefinitely.
• Has many different uses for a ton of different recipes.
• Provides energy to the body. 

New Uses for Cards

We all get cards through-out the year. Some we keep for sentimental reasons, but there are plenty that just take up space or just end up in the trash (hopefully the recycling), so here are some use for them.

• Crafts. Cut out the animals, use the letters to make a fun note, the possibilities are endless.
• Scrapbook. You can easily put those cards that mean something into a scrapbook or even just a memory box.
• Turn them into placemats for kids by laminating them.
• Turn them into a postcard by cutting off the side that is written on and writing on the back of the pretty picture side.
• Turn them into bookmarks.
• Turn them into recipe cards.
• Turn them into gift tags by using cookie cutters or other shapes to cut out pictures from the front.
• My personal favorite is to donate them to St. Jude's You can learn more about that HERE.

Do you have a use for old cards? Please share it below and I will add it to the list!

Publix Ad

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Taco Bake
Tuesday- Pasta and Italian Sausage, Broccoli
Wednesday- Left Overs
Thursday- Out! (It's my birthday!)
Friday- Chicken Cordon Bleu
Saturday- Out of Town. 
Sunday- Smoked Sausage

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Publix Trip 1/1/11

I spent $14.95 for $50.47 worth of groceries, saving $35.52 or 70%! I will also submit for the Febreeze rebate bringing my savings up to 75%!

Here's what I got:
(2)Al Fresco Chicken Sausage BOGO $5.49
   -(2)$2/1 Printable HERE
(2)Prego Sauce BOGO $2.53
   -(1)50¢/2 from Share Something Delicious booklet
(2)Tam-x-ico Tortilla BOGO $3.19
(4) Mott's Medley's $1.69
   -(4)$1/1 Blinkies
(1)Crest Pro Health $3.99
   -(1)$2/1 from 12/26/10 PG
(1)Publix Hotdog Buns $1.19
(1)Publix Turkey $4.29
(1)Febreeze Warmer 2/$5
   -(1)$1/1 from Home Made Simple Mailer
   -Free after MIR 
(1)Special Olympics Donation $1 (It came with some Publix Coupons)

-$5 Publix G/C


So far I haven't seen much in the way of any new corporate coupon policy that everyone has heard rumors about. The only sign posted at my Publix was that they would no longer take BJ's coupons (which I never used anyway because I felt it wasn't really fair to the store). We'll see if anything changes in the coming weeks.