Kraft First Taste

Join Kraft First Taste to receive offers for free products like those pictured above.  The current offer is for every item in the picture above:
Six new and delicious tastes! • KRAFT HOMESTYLE DELUXE Macaroni & Cheese. Its rich and creamy cheese sauce finished with a crunchy breadcrumb topping will make it a new family favorite.


• KRAFT 100 CALORIE PACKS CHEESE BITES. Big flavor in perfectly satisfying 100 calorie portions.

• DIGIORNO® Deep Dish Pizza. Fresh-baked taste in minutes. Great for lunch.

• KOOL-AID Fun Fizz Drink Drops. Fun and delicious way to get kids to drink water.

• OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Meats. Sliced, packed, sealed at the peak of freshness.

• RITZ CRACKERFULS Filled Crackers Real cheese, 6 grams whole grain per serving



Also, go to House Party to host a Kraft party and get even more free Kraft products!

Vocalpoint Crystal Light Pure Fitness Sample

Vocalpoint is offering a free sample of Crystal Light Pure Fitness here

Read more about Vocalpoint and other companies that have similar offers by clicking here

Free Sample Pampers Cruisers

 

Vocalpoint is offering a free sample of New Pampers Ultra Thin Cruisers!  These will surely run out FAST!

Free Samples Every Day in May!

All You is giving away free samples every day in May!  So far they have had a sample of Dove Haircare, GasX, a pet safety kit, and today is a Tampax Being a Girl Kit.  Go here for the details.

March Madness - Couch Cushion Money

Nothing sold on ebay...nothing.  I'm not gong to let that stop me.  March is a long month and I  have plenty more garbage previously loved items to get rid of.   I have been very busy at this challenge and am working hard on a few different things, but they take a little longer than usual. 

I have been cleaning like a Mad Woman and I had to stop because we had so much paper, etc in the recycling bin the top wouldn't shut.  It feels so GOOD!  Did you ever notice that when you have a clean house it doesn't bother you anymore when you have gold flecked laminate counter tops instead of dreamy granite?  Nope, me either.    What I have realized a week into challenging myself is that coupons are a smaller piece of the pie for me now.  I am busy, so are you, and we can't chase deals and clip the coupons constantly.  Sometimes it feels like a chore-matching up all those deals and pulling those coupons, going from store to store. It was feeling like a chore instead of a game-what am I, like 5?   I started to catch up with some of my favorite blogs looking for inspiration.   I found  things that really resonated with me.  I needed to keep my home in order, and I needed to have better control over my finances.

So,  I am creating a Home Management Binder and starting Once A Month Cooking.  I will create separate posts to show you how I did it, and why, with links to the bloggers who brought these ideas back to life for me. (Oh, you thought I was this fabulous on my own?)

Here is one simple idea you can do today : I recently read in a magazine that most households have at least $100.00 in "couch cushion money."  Hmmm...so as I have been going around the house this week I am keeping my eyes out for extra coin.  I have been putting them all in a jar and am going to count them this week after I clean  the cup holder from my husband's car.  I collected almost $5 so far in my own cup holder and wallet!   I hope I get to $100!  I am currently on credit card 3 of 5 in my debt snowball, and would love to get this one paid off-and be more than halfway through the stack- I could use the motivation from that accomplishment.  The card has under $200.00 dollars left, and whatever I find is going toward the card,so that I can stretch my snowball that much farther into card # 4. 

Good Luck finding  your "couch cushion money" 

March Madness Day 1

 

 Ok, I promise I will not use this "picture" for all of these posts. I made my first attempt at selling on ebay today.  My husband is gladly taking part of this challenge and gave up some collectibles he has.  They are not even on display, so he figured they were not that important to him.  It took me about 2 hours to figure it all out, so I will be putting more on tomorrow, in addition to a few things on Craig's List.  

This weekend I am planning on weeding out my books and selling them as well.  I have an assortment of books, DVD's, and decorative items that I will also be selling.  (I think my husband is worried we may have an empty house soon!) 

The other technique I am employing this month is getting my spring
cleaning done, which means organizing and throwing things away.  This weekend I worked on the bathroom, I threw away an entire large black garbage bag of things that can no longer be used.  I cleaned and am so much happier!  I bought new clear storage containers on clearance at Walmart.  I created one for First Aid, another for OTC Medicines, and one for the dog's medications, etc.  This weekend I will work on the kitchen.  

I don't think I need to explain how much time and money are saved by being organized.    

That is my boring little post for today...in the meantime, you should check out Money Saving Mom's  Freezer cooking day posts.  I think this might be my goal for April.  In addition to starting to get ready for gardening! Sleep tight!

A new spin on March Madness

 

So lately I  have had that feeling.  You know the one.  It sneaks up on you even though you feel it coming?  The bottom line is I am feeling somewhat unhappy.   Don't get me wrong, I am blessed to have many things, experiences, relationships that some don't.  So getting to the point already, I am feeling like I was meant to do more.  I (we) am (are) making some changes: I am planning on going back to school.  I want to be a pastry chef, and take some restaurant management courses.  I don't want to work while I do that, although many people do (and I admire them).  

Quitting my job is not an option, I  have crunched the numbers.  However, it is February, school starts in August/September. I toyed around with trying to live on one paycheck in March, but like I said, I crunched the numbers.  So, I am announcing March Madness!  For the month of March our household will have two goals: to spend as little as possible and create extra income.  Of course, I just had to pick one of the longest months of the year.  I mean, how lame would it be if I had done it in February?   

First, the budget is limited to bills and necessities such as gas & groceries.  I will be setting a budget for groceries that it as bare bones as possible.  We will also be taking advantage of ebay & craigslist to sell unwanted items.  I'll be taking as many online surveys as I possibly can that earn money or points that can be cashed in using Pay Pal. 

I believe that we can survive on my husband's income plus one of my paychecks.  Of course I get paid twice a month.  The plan is that the other paycheck goes toward debt.   I would like to pay off over half the debt in the next  months.  Then I know we can live on one income. 

So this is the plan for March! Who's with me?

Glade Fragrance Collection Coupon

 

Right at Home is offering a $2 off printable coupon for the Glade Fragrance Collection here. 

Free Regenerist Starter Kit!

 

Beginning at 12 PM on February 24th, the first 1,000 women to sign up will win a free Regenerist Starter Trio! .
Go here



Also on the above link there is an offer to get a $15 rebate when you purchase any three Olay facial moisturizers, treatments, cleansers, hand & body lotions, body washes or 6+ bar soap packs.  You can combine these with the coupons from the February P&G Brandsaver to get Free products when you buy Olay products.  

New Printable Coupons from Coupon Bug 2/18

Coupon Bug has some great new printables out today- get 'em before they are gone!  $2.00 off 1 20 count or larger Excedrin! that could be useful at CVS or WAGS!  Also, $1.00 off Yoplait Smoothie, which happens to be on rollback at my local Walmart for $2.50! 

Hot 1.50 off 1 Kashi Coupon!

Go here to print $1.50 off 1 Kashi Heart to Heart Cereals or Crackers....brought to you by Vocalpoint.  Don't forget to hit the back buttonon your browser to print it twice!  If you have not read our views on Online Communities start here. 

Almost-Last-Minute Frugal Valentine's Day Ideas

Don't you love Better Homes and Gardens?  I signed up for the 100 Days of Holidays last year ans this year and received a daily email starting in September and going through to New Year's with cooling, decorating, crafting, and other tips to make the Holidays more enjoyable and sentimental.  Now, BHG is including Superbowl, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, etc!  Today I received some great inexpensive ways to express your love for Valentine's Day.  The one pictured above is to write the reasons you love someone on apiece paper and put it in the jar for them to read as they want to.  Go here  to see all 30.  Not all of them are frugal,but I am sure we can all get paper and some type of jar at the Dollar Store.  Another favorite idea was to buy a calendar and write reasons you love them in the squares.  So, now you have no excuse, can make Valentine's Day even more meaningful. 

Are these the most Frugal Valentines Ever?

Probably not, but I think they're the cutest!! I stole the idea from 24-7-365 here.  I had a 15 minute photo shoot with the kids, created the Valentine background with my photo software (which is not necessary, the pics are cute by themselves), uploaded them to Wal-Mart one hour and spent about 45 minutes or so poking the pops through the pics (after making a little slit with scissors). I did spend about $12 between the 1-hour photos and the lollipops but I think the end result was priceless!
Heather

Free 6 Month Magazine Subscription

 

Lori at Moms By Heart  has the scoop on how to get this subscription here. 

Thrifty Valentines Day Decor

 

Who needs a mantle?  

Not me! I love getting creative around the house, I have really had this calling lately to make our house our home.   We have lived here for a little over 5 years, and have done some work: new siding, made two small rooms int a larger living room, and the small living room into a comfortable dining room, put up a fence, and ...that is it actually.  We have not done any real decorating, or any fun decorating.  My mindset was always that a pretty basket or bowl would not make a difference on a gold speckled counter top-I am not exaggerating  thrifties.  Gold. Speckles.

This is totally the wrong mindset.  We should create a haven for our families where ever we live.  Our homes are our "bedrooms" in the world.  We need to feel safe, comfortable, and esthetically pleased with our homes.  In the spirit of that, and appreciating the little things in life, I did some decorating for Valentines day today!  Let me run it down for you.  The two apothecary jars were purchased at Michaels with the weekly 40% off coupons, making them about $8 or $10 each. I use them for every season, at Christmas they had ornaments and glitter snow in them.  For Easter they will be showcasing moss bunnies on a stick (so cute) and speckled eggs.  Note: speckled eggs in home decor are good; speckled counter top not so much.

I used Extra Bucks and Register Rewards to buy cinnamon hearts and conversation hearts as filler at 99 cents a bag.  The frosted take out counters came from the Target one spot a few years ago, as well as the heart doilies and the ribbon I used to make them into a garland.  The candle holders inside the jars are items I have had for a few years, as well as the Fairy with the flower.  The rose photos were gift I had given to my grandmother and my mother told me to take them home after she passed away.  They went from her apartment to her room at the nursing home.   My husband gave me the pink jar candle for Christmas, and I took off the label and added some of the ribbon I bought at the Target One Spot, and it is sitting on top of its lid for additional height.  

This is on top of the microwave.  The three tier server is Pampered Chef ( I wasn't always frugal you know) and I took the white bowls out and put in these little striped basket from the Target One Spot.  I did not spend fifty dollars at the One Spot, these items have been purchased over the past two to three years and stored away.  Yup, I am one of those.  It is okay, I know you won't judge.  The candle holder  was a wedding shower gift 11 years ago! The bucket and flowers I have had for about 5 years.  (I love tucking those hydrangeas into my Christmas tree!)

I think there is a second point emerging here.  There are so many decorations that can be used for multiple holidays or multiple decorating purposes.  This year when I packed Christmas away I had a few containers of generic decorations candle holders, ribbon, grapevine wreaths, etc that can be easily changed out for the seasons.  There is no need to suffer because we don't have granite counters, or a dozen roses.  Get creative and stay frugal, and you'll find more than just an esthetically pleasing home, you'll find some self confidence and satisfaction from your creativity. 

 

Michael's Valentine Workshops Feb 9th & 13th

 

Michael's stores will be holding valentine's craft workshops on February 9th and 13th.  You will need to purchase the bag (shown on top) for 79 cents and the wood heart frame for $1.00, Michael's will provide the supplies to decorate with.  Get all the details  here.

Getting Coupon Deals on Facebook

I keep seeing these really great high dollar value coupons for being a fan of these manufacturers or their specific products on Facebook. Interesting. I really don't like to do this for some reason. Maybe I don't want all my friends to think I am some crazy coupon who lady who will be any body's slave for a good coupon. Or so cheap I will clog my wall with advertisements just for a free bag or Oreos....YEAH RIGHT!

I decided that an alternative for anyone else like me (crazy, paranoid, eating chocolate frosting with a spoon...) is to create a second Facebook account and link it to my separate couponing email account. That way if I do have any notifications they won't be clogging up my inbox... keeping from eating my chocolate frosting.

Anyway, I am seeing all over blogland that tomorrow you can get a coupon for B1G1 Free eggs for becoming a fan of the Incredible Edible Egg Facebook Group. They are being given away to the first 30,000 people who become a fan tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!


Join the Facebook group here

Did You Miss Us?

I cannot believe it has been 3 months since anything has been posted here! The past few months have been so crazy! Right after Thanksgiving I had a minor car accident but a painful case of whiplash (I am soooooooooooo much better now), and then I was in rush for Christmas since I couldn't shop until the week before, New Year's came and went, and hubby has a new job!

The job has turned out to be quite a blessing, with a much larger salary (no small feat in this economy) and I have been toying with the idea of going back to school. I have put that on the back burner until at least Fall, so that we can take advantage of the extra income and really push that snowflake into a debt snowball! I also have a lot of home improvement projects I want to accomplish. This year I am cutting back on the outside world and putting the focus on our home that has been seriously neglected for the past two years. When I say home I mean, life, marriage, and our house as the sanctuary it is meant to be. Right now I still plan to continue to blog.

What will you see from Shopping Without Money in 2010? Maybe a name change and a redesign? Definitely more posts about life in general to go along with great deals and better coupons, and before and after pics of inexpensive home improvement projects!

This year I am focusing on really healthy eating- fresh fruit and vegetables, little to no meat, and the least amount of processed food as possible. I will no longer consider the 100 Calorie Pack a "healthy snack." I will still report the great coupon deals to you, so you can shop away without your money. I personally will be using my coupons on personal products and cleaning products (I already use a lot of natural cleaning products). So I guess that means we should have tons of coupon giveaways right???? Okay not tons, that will be expensive on the postage, and this is a blog about saving money- so maybe just a whole bunch! Shake your head yes so I know you are excited :)

In another weeks my husband's new and improved paycheck will be arriving and we'll be having another Dave Ramsey style Budget Meeting to makeover our spending, debt snowball, and other goals. See, you can be thrifty and have makeovers too!

Ok, talk to you soon my thrifty little loves....................frugal dreams!

Refresh Your Nest Coupon Booklet

Go here to get a booklet with over $35 in coupons for products like Cascade & Febreeze

Printable coupons from Tylenol

Go here to register for a Tylenol calendar with $50 worth of printable coupons.