When I was out running errands today, I was hungry and I decided to use the Free Fruit and Maple Oatmeal McDonalds coupon that came on the back of the coupon insert in this Sunday’s paper. It didn’t cost me a cent and although I have a hard time believing that anything that comes from McDonalds is actually healthy, I know it was a lot better than a burger and fries. I was surprised that it actually had a lot of fruit in it.
Tag Archives: Frugal Living
My Free and Healthy Lunch
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 21, 2011
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Getting The Most For Your Money- Good to the Last Drop
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 16, 2011
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It often amazes me how much product is left in many manufacturer bottles when they are “empty.” Today I “emptied” this bottle of dish soap into a hand pump dispenser. It looked empty and I bet many people would have tossed it straight into the trash, but I hate to waste and so I turned it upside-down. In a short amount of time, enough soap for more than a week had collected in the bottom.
When I moved into my current apartment, I moved my couponer’s stash of new household products before I was actually living in the apartment. A couple of days before we officially moved, I ran out of conditioner at my old apartment and didn’t think it was worth the drive to go get a new one at my new apartment (and of course it wouldn’t make sense to buy a new one when I had a stash already). So I simply cut open the bottle (that I couldn’t squeeze anything more out of) and *surprise* I had more than enough conditioner until we moved.
Now, I always cut open bottles and tubes before I toss them or add a small amount of water and shake them up. This is beneficial for my wallet and the environment and waste is not. I am shocked that sometimes I get more than a week’s worth of different products this way. Over a year or ten this could really add up. It could also save you from having to make an emergency trip to the store because you are “out” of something.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist but it seems a little too convenient that some companies who want you to buy more of product X are completely unaware that their products seem empty when there are still 4 of the promised 12 ounces left in the container. I made up those numbers but the results are visible. My mother has been doing this for years. I have to ask myself why I wasn’t?
Article- 9 Sneaky Tips For Saving More
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 12, 2011
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My Family’s Recent Frugal Deals
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 11, 2011
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I am very interested in ways that people save money without sacrificing their quality of life, especially when it also saves time and energy, so I decided to list some of the ways that my family and I have saved money recently.
– I bought a huge, beautiful entertainment center that is much nicer than I had even hoped for and it was only $25 at a Habitat thrift store. The money went to a good cause and I have wanted an entertainment center like that for three years. My parents bought the same brand but a slightly less nice model new at a wholesale store for $200. Savings- $175.00
– I use a binder type planner and instead of buying new pages I bought a single hole punch for .99 cents and printed and made my own using PrintablePlanners.net. Click HERE to print your own. – Savings- $12.00
– My sister and I found two matching solid wooden bookshelves being thrown away. I needed bookshelves since my cheap pressboard bookshelf fell apart after my last move (I was still using the three remaining shelves). I priced other cheap pressboard book shelves at $25-35 dollars each but the ones I got for free were much nicer. Savings- Over $70.00
– I recently found a perfect fitting suit jacket at Goodwill for $3.99. The brand is the same as a suit jacket I bought on sale new a year ago for $45 dollars. And I got a 10% discount for showing my student ID. Savings- $45.00
– For a family birthday we went to GatorLand. They are having a sale until the end of Feb. where Florida residents get in for only $9.99 vs. the usual $22.00. Savings- $72.00
– Making huge family breakfasts- eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, and coffee, instead of going out to eat during a family weekend vacation. Savings- $100.00
– Getting 6 small bags of pet food for free in the mail just by signing up for free samples. Click HERE to see a picture. Savings- $12.00
– Getting the books that I have wanted to read recently from the library instead of buying them- Savings- $65.00
– Doing my own nails. Click HERE to learn how to do a 6 Step French Manicure– Savings- $25.00
– Couponing for groceries and other household products (just this month) Click HERE to see where I find my deals. – Savings- Hundreds!
Frugal Reading- What I’m Currently Reading
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 4, 2011
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I am currently reading The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager and America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money by Steve and Annette Economides. Both of these books have been very interesting and have a lot of good ideas. I recommend getting them from the library if you want to read them. After all, it wouldn’t be very frugal to buy them.
Six Step Tape French Manicure
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 4, 2011
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People often compliment me on my nails, yet I have been in a nail salon only twice in my life. I have been doing them myself for years and no one can tell the difference. This is a fun and easy way to give yourself a great French Manicure at home.
What I use-
– a plastic cuticle pusher
– a nail clipper
– tape (yes tape!)
– a rough nail file
– a fine nail file
– Sally Henson Instant Dry White Nail Polish- You don’t need instant dry but I find that this works best because it is dry by the time I apply the topcoat
– Sally Henson Top Coat with Nylon and Retinol- The top coat you use will determine how long your manicure will last so make sure you get a good one
Steps I take-
1. I file my nails to the shape I want.
2. I push back all of my cuticles and trim them.
3. I file down any rough spots on the tops of my nails and then wipe off any nail dust.
4. I use a piece of tape to create the white tips of a French manicure by putting the tape under the lines on my real nails and then paint the tip white.
5. When I have painted the tips of all of my nails I then go back and paint over them with the top coat.
6. Let your nails dry before doing anything else and you’re done.
Bonus: You can also do this for a French Pedicure although it does take longer to get the white tips right.
Note- I have used different products/versions of these products over the years but this is what I am currently using. I have also done slight variations on these steps so I encourage you to figure out what works best for you.
Reader Picture
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 3, 2011
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Frugal Gift Bags
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 2, 2011
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Has anyone else noticed how expensive gift bags are? I would rather put my money towards the gift than its wrapping. So for my brother and sister’s birthday (they are twins) I decided to get creative. I used my printer to print out Happy Birthday! and attached it to bags I already had. The one on the left (you might have guessed) was a Victoria’s Secret bag I was given with a free pair of underwear and the one on the right I was given free at a UCF Fair. Both came with tissue paper already.
Frugal Reading- The Complete Tightwad Gazette
Posted by shopaholicsavers on February 2, 2011
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If you are trying to save money or live more frugally I am telling you that you NEED to get the book The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. It is written by Amy who formerly published a famous newsletter about saving money. She shares all of her family’s ideas for saving money whether practical, amusing, or crazy. She has 6 kids and raised them on her husband’s 30,000 per year military salary while saving for and buying a house! Anyone can find ideas for saving money in this book and if nothing else her book is great inspiration and fun to read. I recommend getting it for free from your local library!
Publix Shopping Trip 1/30/11
Posted by shopaholicsavers on January 30, 2011
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These Publix deals are good for the week of 1/26-2/01 or 1/27-2/02 depending on where you live.
I bought-
2 Buy One Get One French’s Classic Yellow Mustard 14 oz. at $1.89 (94¢)
– 2 .50/1 French’s Mustard printable
.89 cents for 2
2 Buy One Get One A1 Steak Sauce 10 oz., at $4.49 ($2.24)
– 2 $1 off A1 Steak Sauce printable
-$1/2 Kraft Grey Poupon, Salad Dressing, Miracle Whip, Mayo, BBQ Sauce or A1 (Target Coupon) printable
74¢ each
2 Buy One Get One Kraft Barbecue Sauce 16.25-18 oz., at $1.69 (84¢)
-$1/2 Kraft Grey Poupon, Salad Dressing, Miracle Whip, Mayo, BBQ Sauce or A1 (Target Coupon) printable
.34¢ each
2 Arm & Hammer Toothpaste, 6-6.3 oz., $1.50
-2 $1 off Arm & Hammer Toothpaste 4.3 oz + printable
or -$1 off Arm & Hammer toothpaste or Whitening booster 2.5 oz + printable
.50¢ each
2 Kotex Pads $3.41
-$2 off Kotex Reg or U product (Publix coupon), Publix Start Your Year Out booklet or SS 1/16
-2 $2/2 Kotex pads, SS 1/16
.41 cents each
2 Hillshire Farm Deli Select 5-6 oz. $2
-$1/2 Hillshire Farm Lunchmeats 5-16 oz. (Publix Coupon) Yellow Adv. Buy Flyer
-2 $1 off Hillshire Farm lunchmeat, (sign in) printable
. 50¢ each
2 Tombstone Pizza, 18.1-29.5 oz., $2.99
4 Dayquil or Nyquil 2 ct. $1.29
-2 $3 off Nyquil AND Dayquil product, PG 12/26
Free + .84 cents profit
4 Sominex or Vivarin 16 ct. $3.19
-2 $5/2 Os-Cal, Citrucel, Ecotrin, Feosol, Geritol, Tagamet, Debox, Vivarin, Gaviscon, Phazyme, Sominex, Gly-Oxide or Contac (Publix Coupon) Green Advantage Buy Flyer (starts 1/29)
-2 $2 off Sominex Sleep Aid printable -2 $2 off Vivarin Alertness Aid printable
Free + $2.62 profit for every two you buy
(NOTE- The Sominex, Vivarin, and Phazyme coupons can all be printed from the same website at the same time)
2 Phazyme 12 ct. $3.49
-$5/2 Os-Cal, Citrucel, Ecotrin, Feosol, Geritol, Tagamet, Debox, Vivarin, Gaviscon, Phazyme, Sominex, Gly-Oxide or Contac (Publix Coupon) Green Advantage Buy Flyer (starts 1/29)
-$2 off Phazyme printable
Free + $2.02 profit for every two you buy
1 Kleenex $1.99
– $2 off coupon that printed at the Walgreens Pharmacy
Free + .01 cent profit
2 Lenders Bagels 6 packs $1.99 each
(these were cheaper than the B1G1 bagels this week)
2 Friendship Sour Cream $1.65
– $1 off coupon from the coupon printer in front
.65 cents each
1 Bailey’s Coffee Creamer $1.50
Spent- $10.01 including tax
Saved- $75.36
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