Freebie Roundup!

Here's a few freebies to make your mailbox happy!

:: Request a FREE P&G coupon book from Save-a-Lot right here.

:: Get a FREE breakfast from opening until 11a and a FREE kids meal from 11a - closing at Ikea from December 26, 2009 - January 3, 2010.

:: Didn't get your ham for the holidays? Print this $7.00/1 half Honeybaked Ham coupon and use it before 12/31/09 (think New Year's Eve parties!).

:: Request a FREE sample of NatureMade Triple Flex Joint Supplement from Walmart right here.

:: Request a FREE book from Crown Publishing's Read It Forward program right here.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

FREE Redbox Rental Codes!

We've been enjoying some great family movie nights at our house over Christmas break - and enjoying them for FREE with our Redbox free rental codes!

Here's two for you to use:

DVDATWAG (This code is good for Walgreens locations only.)

ACME25 (I used this today at our Speedway Redbox and it worked just fine!)

Enjoy your movies!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!!

BOGO Sale at Crocs.com: Get 2 Pairs for $11 or LESS + FREE shipping!

The Alice for girls; image courtesy of Crocs.com

I know I've mentioned it before, but in case you didn't know I am a total Croc-aholic. I love my Crocs because they are just so COMFY and I love my kids Crocs because they are so EASY to clean (we have a muddy yard!).

Right now, Crocs.com has their outlet shoes on sale Buy One, Get One FREE.

Even better, you can still get FREE shipping through 12/31/09!

But you know I couldn't let my deal end there - how fun would that be? ;-)

I ordered mine through Shop At Home to get 7% cash back on my purchase and I used some stackable coupon codes to get 2 pairs of Crocs (one for me, one for my daughter) for $10.79 with FREE shipping! Plus I'll get $0.75 deposited in my Shop At Home account!

Final cost after sale, coupons & rebates: $10.04 for 2 pairs of Crocs!

Want this deal? Let me walk you through what I did:

1. Shop through your Shop At Home account and you'll get 7% cash back credited to your account. Don't have an account - get one! It's FREE and you'll get $5 cash back credited to your account when you sign up; click here to get started.

2. Shop through the Crocs.com link at Shop At Home

3. Add (1) Alice (girls) for $9.99 and (1) Alice (womens) for $14.99 to your cart. The girls pair will automatically be FREE and the womens pair should be $14.99.

4. Use these promotion codes to get further savings:

-> MYCOUP20 for 20% off (should take $3.00 off to make the total = $11.99)

-> CROCSHOLIDAY for 10% off (should take $1.20 off to make the total = $10.79)

5. Buy your Crocs, get FREE shipping through 12/31/09, and be happy you saved SO DARN MUCH!

There are several other styles of shoes in the Outlet center for men, women, & children at Crocs.com, including several flip-flops, so this sale might be a great one for those of you stocking up for next summer or planning vacations to warm sandy beaches....sounds nice! Just use the coupon codes above on whatever you find in the BOGO outlet!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Hip Hip Hurray Giveaway - Link YOUR Giveaway Post!

I can hardly believe it's the end of 2009 - where did this year go??

I'm taking a break from giveaways this week so I can spend some time just hanging out with my blue-eyed crew of cuties. I've got giveaways scheduled for January 2010, so be sure to check in on Wednesdays and enter to win!

Do you have a giveaway going on at your webjoint? Drop your giveaway link below and share the goodies with the rest of us! ;-)



Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Let's Go Krogering! Week of December 28, 2009

Do love finding deals at your Kroger? This feature is for you! Link your post about what deals you found at your local Kroger or Kroger-affiliated store. Simple rules are here; the 149x149 button is in my sidebar. As always, please add a link back to me in your Krogering post.

My Krogering Trip - Monday, December 28, 2009



Spent: $31.58 ($21.00 was the dog food; $10.58 on groceries)
Saved: $23.23, or 43%

We didn't need much this week, mostly fresh produce and meat which I found for a lower price this week at my local Save-a-Lot.

What Kroger does have going on this week is a P&G promotion: Buy $25 worth of participating products, get an instant $5.00 off at checkout. This is a *great* opportunity to stock up on your fave P&G brands.

For my family, a P&G sale means a chance to stock up on Iams dog food for our GSPointer, Brownie. The best part? Kroger has been printing a $4.00/any Iams catalina for the past two weeks. I used (2) and saved BIG! I'll probably pick up more dog food before the sale is over since these P&G promotions are usually every three months or so.

Coupons used:

Iams Dog Food, 17 lbs (I found 10% more bags for a total of 20 lbs ea), $17.00
(2) $4.00/Any Iams bag dog food, Kroger catalina
*Received instant $5 off at checkout for buying $25.00 or more of P&G products.*
Final price: $10.50 ea

(1) $1.00 OYNO, Kroger catalina I received last week for buying (2) Post cereals

(1) $2.00 OYNO, Kroger catalina I received for buying a cumulative of $20 Kraft cheese/dairy products *(This promotion continues well into 2010, so keep your fingers crossed for a big sale on Kraft dairy products soon!)*

And if you're wondering why I bought (5) of the Kraft Easy Mac cups, I'm trying to finish up my rebates that expire at the end of the year. If you've been saving your receipts for the $20.00 Back to School Kraft Rebate, be sure to get those items purchased by 12/31/09 and your form sent off soon! Click here for the list of participating items. Hopefully you still have the form from the coupon booklet pictured; I don't believe that form is available online anymore. Anyone have the link?

Looking for this week's ad matchup for Kroger? Click here; don't forget to check your weekly ad online for any other items you might need right here.

How'd you do at Kroger (or your Kroger-affiliated grocery store) this week? Link *your* Let's Go Krogering! post all week and help another reader save some $$!

**12/29/09, 9:02p EST: MckLinky code fixed -- I put in the wrong end date (2009 instead of 2010)! Thanks to Jennifer at Saving and Giving for the heads up!!**



Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Save-A-Lot | Low Prices + Printable House Brand Coupons (Price Matchups Included!)

Image courtesy of Save-a-Lot

I've mentioned before that I occasionally shop at Save-a-Lot, usually for pantry and baking staples like flour, oil, shortening, and canned vegetables.

I don't shop at Save-a-Lot as often now as I used to a few years back when we lived in Illinois; we were in a very small town and my shopping choices were few (to say the least!). I discovered I could get what I needed at Save-a-Lot without any coupons and easily stay within my budget.

I also liked how small the store was; my two oldest children were in the toddler/baby stages and I found it far easier to get through Save-a-Lot with both of them compared to a big box store. The ladies that worked at that particular store were always so kind to me and my little ones. ;-)

When Save-a-Lot contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to shop at one of their stores and share my experience with you, I was more than happy to do so. If you're on a quest to lower your grocery budget, Save-a-Lot is a good store to have on your list of local bargains.

Most Save-a-Lot stores are located within a strip mall or plaza; they are smaller than traditional grocery stores and big box stores. They carry a mix of brand name groceries and house brands; I should tell you that I've always been impressed by the quality and low price of their house brands. When I shop for pantry items there, that's what I'm buying.

Save-a-Lot also offers fresh meat and produce, both of which are of high quality. One of the biggest pluses I found when shopping the Save-a-Lot in my little Illinois town so many years ago was that the produce was higher quality than what I found at the local big box store. That particular Save-a-Lot store bought local produce from Indiana and the shipping time was shorter than for a big national chain.

You do need to expect a "no-frills" shopping experience; you'll need your own reusable shopping bags to bag your groceries yourself.

Here's what I bought on my recent trips to Save-a-Lot:



For all that you see on the left, I had a printable coupon from Save-a-Lot (click here to get yours). All the goodies on the right were used in our recent easy and frugal gingerbread house building project.

I had a few printable coupons for items that weren't in stock so I picked those up late last week:



Here's the breakdown of the prices of the items/coupon matchups; all the coupons I mention can be printed here from Save-a-Lot.com.

Ginger Evans Brown Sugar, 2 lbs, $0.99 ea
$0.30/1 printable
Final price: $0.69 ea

So Cheezy Shells and Cheddar, $1.39 ea
$0.40/1 printable
Final price: $0.99 ea

Home Churned Butter, 16 oz, $1.49 ea
$0.50/1 printable
Final price: $0.99 ea

Wylwood Canned Vegetables, $0.59 ea
$0.50/4 printable
Final price: $0.47 ea

Ginger Evans All Purpose Flour, 5 lbs, $1.49 ea
$0.50/1 printable
Final price: $0.99 ea

Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk, 15 oz, $0.69 ea
$0.50/2 printable
Final price: $0.44 ea

Caskey's Cream Soups, $0.59 ea
$0.50/4 printable
Final price: $0.47 ea

Ginger Evans Self-Rising Flour, 5 lbs, $1.59 ea
$0.60/1 printable
Final price: $0.99 ea

Coburn Farms Cream Cheese, 8 oz, $0.79 ea
$0.50/2 printable
Final price: $0.54 a

Caskey's Chicken Broth, $0.59 ea
$0.75/4 printable
Final price: $0.40 ea

Westcott Vegetable Oil, 48 oz, $1.99 ea
$1.00/1 printable
Final price: $0.99 ea

McDaniels Coffee, 34.5 oz can, $4.00 ea
$1.00/1 printable
Final price: $3.00 ea

Country Crossings or Coburn Shredded Cheese, 12 oz, $1.99 ea
$1.00/2 printable
Final price: $1.49 ea

Portman's Salad Dressing, $1.29 ea
Buy1Get1 FREE printable
Final price: $0.65 ea

Want to make your savings stretch even further at Save-a-Lot?

Join the Save-a-Lot Smart Shopper Club here and you'll be able to print a $5/$20 coupon for your next trip to Save-a-Lot!

In my region (greater Cincinnati), I've also started to see more coupons for Save-a-Lot within their local ad circular so be sure to grab one when you walk in the store and see if there's anything worth clipping.

You can see I saved a bunch on what I bought using the printable online coupons; even the items I bought without coupons were good deals. Ofering good deals is really what Save-a-Lot is all about so be sure to keep them in mind if you're working on lowering your grocery budget in 2010.

*DISCLOSURE: Save-a-Lot graciously gave me a $15 gift card to shop my local Save-a-Lot as well as a reusable shopping bag and a product sample to try at home. For more about my personal disclosure policy, read my disclosure page.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Menu Plan Monday: December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas with lots of great food!

We have another simple week here with many get togethers and extra events. I'm keeping my meal plan simple as well.

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday

BBQ Pork Ribs, Loaded Baked Potatoes, Broccoli

Tuesday

Grilled Chicken over Salad w/Black Bean & Corn Salsa

Wednesday

Mini Cheeseburgers + Mac & Cheese

Thursday

New Year's Eve! FREE Night!

Friday

Brats, Kraut, & Mashed Potatoes!

Saturday

Free Night!

Sunday

Leftover Cleanout!

Don't forget to add your menu plan to the Meal Plan Monday linkeroo over at Orgjunkie.com!

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I'll post a new 5 Week Menu Plan next Monday, January 4, 2010. ;-)

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Weekly Deals Roundup 12/27/09 - 01/02/10

Looking for the matchups for this week?

Check out these sites for the best matchups this week, December 27, 2009 - January 2, 2010.

*Kroger (12/28-01/03)*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Mommy Snacks)

*Meijer*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Mommy Snacks)

*CVS*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Bargain Briana)

*Walgreens*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Common Sense with Money)

*Target*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Stretching a Buck)

*Walmart*

Current deals and matchups here (courtesy of Deal Seeking Mom)

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Image courtesy of Karen's Whimsy

Have a very merry, blessed, and safe Christmas!

Thank you for reading The New Frugal Mom!

Freebie Roundup!

Just a few freebies for you to grab while you're eating those Christmas cookies!

:: Here's one for my fellow java-lovers! Be one of the first 100,000 to fan International Delight Coffee Creamer on Facebook here and you'll be able to register for a coupon by mail for a FREE pint of International Delight Creamer! (I registered for mine late Wednesday night and it was still available.)

:: For pet owners feeling the financial pinch of visiting the vet, sign up here for a printable coupon for a FREE pet exam at Banfield Pet Hospitals inside PetSmart stores. What a great freebie - thumbs up, Banfield & PetSmart!

:: Register here for a printable (Bricks link) Buy1Get1FREE coupon for Special K cereal.

:: Join Universal Studios Sneak Previews Club here for the chance to be invited to attend sneak previews of upcoming movies in your area for FREE.

:: Got a new calendar or planner for 2010 yet? Tuesday, February 23, 2010, is National Pancake Day - visit your local IHOP between 7a-10a that day for a FREE shortstack (3) of their buttermilk pancakes.

Enjoy...and remember to save some of those cookies for Santa! ;-)

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Easy and Frugal Gingerbread Houses

Making a gingerbread house is one of our favorite traditions here because it involves LOTS of candy and because it's just plain fun. ;-)

Here are are a couple of our houses from past years:

My two oldest with our 2008 gingerbread house:



And our 2007 gingerbread house:

and from the back:

Those houses above I made from scratch - I made the gingerbread dough, rolled and baked it as sheets, cut the pieces, let them dry, and constructed the buildings.

This year, peeps, I simply did NOT have that kind of time!

But because this is one of our favorite Christmas traditions, I wanted to find a simpler way that would be cost effective.

And I did - look!



We made these from graham crackers and royal icing (confectioner's sugar + egg whites) in about an hour total, with about thirty minutes of drying time between the construction and the decorating of the houses.

Here they are drying:



And here they are under construction:



My oldest son (6).



My younger son (almost 4).



And my daughter (8), hamming it up for the camera!

To make these, you'll need:

-> Confectioner's sugar
-> Egg whites
-> Graham crackers (the rectangles, not the squares)
-> Foil pans or foil-covered cookie sheets
-> Ziplok bag for piping the icing
-> Candy, candy, candy!!

All of these are fairly low cost items, many that you likely have in your pantry or cabinets right now. My total cost to make all three, including the foil pans and candy, was about $8.00.

I followed the directions listed here - this is an excellent guide if you're new to building gingerbread houses. The author explains it very well and has pictures of all the construction steps.

If you've never tried building a gingerbread house, the graham cracker method is an easy way to start *building* your own Christmas tradition with your kiddos!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Winner of the Cheryl & Co. Ultimate Brownie Assortment!

Thanks to all who entered this *sweet* giveaway! ;-)

The lucky winner of the Cheryl & Co. Ultimate Brownie Assortment is....

#21: Dawn

Congratulations, Dawn! I'll be getting in touch with you by email shortly!

Let's Go Krogering! Week of December 21, 2009

Do love finding deals at your Kroger? This feature is for you! Link your post about what deals you found at your local Kroger or Kroger-affiliated store. Simple rules are here; the 149x149 button is in my sidebar. As always, please add a link back to me in your Krogering post.

My Krogering Trip - Monday, December 21, 2009



Well, despite what looked like a less than stellar sale week at Kroger when I skimmed the ad (much of it is a repeat of last week's ad), I managed to grab several great deals including some that aren't advertised.

Don't worry, I'll give you the scoop! ;-)

Spent: $53.08
Saved: $59.08, or 52%

Coupons used:

$5/$50, Kroger loyalty mailed coupon (these coupons come quarterly and are based on your personal shopping history at Kroger as noted by your Kroger Loyalty Card)

3 lb bag of Clemetines, $3.68 ea
$0.55/1, SS 12/06
Final price: $2.68 ea

Nestle Toll House Morsels, $1.99 ea
(3) $0.50/1, RP 11/01
Final price: $0.99 ea

Carnation Evaporated Milk, $1.00 ea
(3) $0.50/2, RP 11/01
Final price: $0.50 ea

Campbell's Cream Soups, $0.75 ea
$0.25/4, Campbell's Labels for Education booklet
Final price: $0.63 ea

French's Worcestershire Sauce, $1.79 ea
$0.50/1 printable here
Final price: $0.79 ea

Ronzoni Smart Taste, $1.69 ea
$0.75/1, SS 12/06
Final price: $0.69 ea

Breakstone Sour Cream, $1.89 ea
$0.55/1, SS 12/13
Final price: $0.89 ea

Cool Whip, $1.00 ea
FREE when you buy (2) Kraft products, Kroger My Magazine coupon
Final price: FREE

Suave Deodorant, $1.00 ea
$1.50/2, Kroger My Magazine coupon
Final price: $0.25 ea

Husman Cheese Crunch Curls, $2.47 ea
$0.30/1, peelie on package
Final price: $1.87

Fleischmann's Yeast 3 pk, $1.98 ea
$0.40/1, SS 12/06
Final price: $1.18

Starkist Tuna Pouch, $1.59 ea
(2) $0.50/1 printable (I don't believe this is available any longer)
Final price: $0.59 ea

Post Fruity Pebbles, $2.60 ea
$1.00/2, SS 12/06
**Catalina - buy 2 Post cereals, earn $1.00 catalina OYNO**
Final price: $2.10 ea (or $1.60 ea after coupon + catalina)

Sargento Shredded Cheese, $1.89 ea
$1.00/1, Kroger My Magazine coupon
Final price: $0.89 ea

Dannon Yogurt, $0.50 ea
$1.00/10, SS 10/25
Buy 3, Get 1 FREE, Kroger Loyalty mailer coupon
Final price: $0.35 ea

Green Giant Steamers, $1.66 ea
$0.50/1 printable here
Final price: $0.66 ea

Bob Evans Sausage, Buy 1 Get 1 Free, $3.99 ea
(2)$0.35/1, Found in booklet at Bob Evans Restaurant
Final price: $1.30 ea

Mike Sells Potato Chips, $1.97 ea
$0.35/1, SS 12/13
Final price: $1.27

Velveeta Cheese, $4.48 ea
FREE, any Velveeta, coupon received at Once a Month Mom's tweetup in September
Final price: FREE

Kraft Cheese Singles, $2.49 ea
$0.50/1, Kroger Loyalty mailer coupon
Final price: $1.49 ea

Philadelphia Cream Cheese, $1.25 ea
$0.50/2, SS 12/06
Final price: $0.75 ea

Looking for this week's ad matchup for Kroger? Click here; don't forget to check your weekly ad online for any other items you might need right here.

How'd you do at Kroger (or your Kroger-affiliated grocery store) this week? Link *your* Let's Go Krogering! post all week and help another reader save some $$!



Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook: Available TOMORROW 12/22!

It's here!

Erin Chase, cookbook author and blogger extraordinaire, will see her first (note I said first!) cookbook in stores TOMORROW, 12/22/09!

The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook will also be featured on Good Morning America on ABC on Tuesday, 12/22/09 - be sure to tune in and woot woot for your fellow blogger!

If the thought of stepping into another store the week of Christmas gives you the jimmies (like me!), you can still just order the book online; click here for the full details.

And if you're looking for help with getting Christmas dinner on the table without breaking the bank, Erin put together a little mini-cookbook for holiday feasts - best part? It's FREE!

To view the $5 Dinner Mom Does Holiday Dinner mini-cookbook, click here. ;-)

FYI: If you're resolving to save more money on groceries in 2010, I'll be giving away (2) copies of The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook for my Hip Hip Hurray Giveaway on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

Congrats again, Erin!

Menu Plan Monday: Christmas Week 12/21-12/27

It's a very simple cooking week here as we have several fun get-togethers with family and friends.

If you have a similar-type week filled with busy events for Christmas, take this opportunity to save some $$ on your dinners by planning just a few simple meals based around the same fresh ingredients. Think of it as a pantry challenge week or a freezer cleanout week - if you've got some extras stockpiled, this is a great week to use 'em up!

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday

Spaghetti & Meatballs, Fresh Bread (bread machine), Salad

Tuesday

FREE Night (We're heading to the coolest party in the 937)

Wednesday

Tacos

Thursday

Christmas Eve w/Family (I'm bringing pumpkin pie + salad)

Friday

Christmas Day w/Family (I'm sure I'm bringing something! Need to call my mom!)

Saturday

Free Night (Another annual family outing with cousins!)

Sunday

Meatball Subs + Pasta Salad

Don't forget to add your menu plan to the Meal Plan Monday linkeroo over at Orgjunkie.com!

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I'll be posting a quick Let's Go Krogering! tomorrow but I don't expect any spectacular sales; this week's ad is pretty much just a repeat of last week's ad. There are some deals but no stellar bargains. ;-)

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

$10/$30 Cost Plus World Market Printable Coupon (Good 12/17-12/20)

For my Columbus area readers - and those of you in regions where Cost Plus World Market operates - there is a $10/$30 printable coupon available right here.

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

FYI: I've Enabled Comment Moderation

Things have been getting a bit spammy around here behind the scenes. To keep the comments from becoming hijacked, I've enabled comment moderation (I know, I know, I should just head over to hosted Wordpress already - it's on the to-do list).

If you're entering the current giveaway, don't fret if you don't see your comment instantly; I'll get to as soon as I can. ;-)

Thanks!

Speedbumps on the Road to Debt Elimination

So, I've chatted here and there about my great heart's desire to kick our debt to the curb. That goal is the motivation for much of what I write and show you here on this site and how I manage our finances...and by manage our finances, I mean squeeze every dollar until it squeals.

Despite the spendiness that permeates our December which is filled with birthdays, gifts, and get-togethers, I kept to and even beat the budgeted amount I had set for our Christmas/gifts spending. Between that and our low grocery/household item budgets for the past two months (I've been keeping our spending OOP at about $300 average for our family of 5), I anticipated having a big chunk of change to add to our debt elimination plan.

But then life happened.

First, it was my hubs car in need of a big fat part replacement/repair. Even with him buying some of the parts and doing some of the work himself (he's pretty handy, that dude of mine), the price tag came to about $600.

Then, during the very same day that my hubs discovered that his car needed a repair (and by discovered, I mean breaking down on the side of the road in the dark - fun!), our dryer of almost 14 years died on me, right in the middle of five loads of laundry (double fun!) Despite my hubs best efforts to fix the beast (we've had it repaired at least twice during it's lifetime), we've decided to replace it with a new one. Estimated cost: $400.

I could gnash my teeth and moan about those dollars I had intended for debt busting being gone now, used instead for the necessary repairs and replacements, but I'm not. I'm actually taking this bump in the road in stride - why?

Because we have the cold hard cash to pay both these bills and that feels good.

What might have been a setback to us on our debt elimination plan is just a blip on the screen.

I'm hoping to post more about our debt elimination goals as 2010 begins. Not only does blogging about our goals keep me more detail-oriented and accountable, I hope that it inspires some of you out there set financial goals for yourselves, too.

Love you all!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Freebie Roundup!

Time to click your way to happy mailbox filled with freebies!

:: Join RecycleBank here (you can join and earn points even if your city isn't yet using this program) and you'll earn 100 points for joining. Redeem the 100 points right here and you'll get a FREE bottle of Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner!

:: Be sure to download your FREE holiday song daily from Amazon right here; ends December 25th.

:: Buy Olay Quench Body Lotion before January 29, 2010, then use this printable rebate form to get a full rebate making it FREE!

:: Print this coupon and take it to your participating salon or store for a FREE sample sized 3 pk of Aveda shampoo, conditioner, and smoother. (Exp 12/31)

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Guest Post at $5 Dinners

I meant to share my recipe for Savory Chicken and Dumplings here at TNFM; since I actually made this and delivered it to my dear friend Erin after she had her baby boy, I let her share the recipe on her *slightly* bigger site.

;-)

Click on over and read all about my fave cold weather comfort meal right here

And while you're there, be sure to check out how you can pre-order The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook. My advance copy just arrived today and I can't tell you how thrilled I am for Erin. If you're just starting on your own Frugal Journey, this cookbook would be a great resource for you to slash your grocery bill.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to The New Frugal Mom!

Hip Hip Hurray Giveaway! Win $50 Cheryl & Co Ultimate Brownie Assortment!

Last Tuesday, I was invited out to Cheryl & Co. in Columbus to celebrate National Brownie Day.



I was in great company; not only did I have fun hanging out with several of my dear friends, I met a bunch of other rockin' Ohio bloggers.

Image courtesy of the super-funny Jenny Rapson at Mommin' It Up!

Big thanks to Jenny for not getting a picture of me in my super-chic hair net!

Cheryl & Co. really went all out for us bloggers. The president of the company and the president of their parent company both talked to us about how they're excited about embracing social media as a means of better connecting with their customers.

We also were treated to a tour of the cookie-making operation which was so interesting. If you're like me and geek out on shows like How It's Made, you'd have loved getting a peek behind the scenes, too!

Their signature Buttercream Frosted Cookies?



Frosted by hand - every.single.one.

And this just intrigued me:



A cookie escalator. YUM!

After the tour, we were treated to a fun hour in the test kitchen making our own buttercream frosted brownies and treats.



Trust me when I tell you that nothing I made turned out quite so well. ;-) No worries; my kiddos still devoured the brownies and cookies I brought home for them.

And speaking of kiddos, I cannot finish this post without a big thank you {APPLAUDING} to Cheryl & Co. for not only inviting us bloggers but for also extending the invitation to our little ones as well. My youngest attended with me and he got to hang out with the other kiddos; the staff at Cheryl & Co. in charge of their day really made it lots of fun for them. There was much Play-Doh, cookie decorating, lunch, and fun with hairnets (I only wish I'd clicked a picture of that moment). Big thumbs up to Cheryl & Co. for making this a family-friendly outing!

Onto the giveaway!

Cheryl & Co. wants YOU to celebrate National Brownie Day, too...if a bit belatedly!

Image courtesy of Cheryl & Co..

I have been graciously given a Cheryl & Co. Ultimate Brownie Assortment to give away to (1) lucky winner (value $50)!

How to enter:

Leave a comment telling me your favorite kind of cookie, sweet treat, or dessert.

You can earn an additional (3) chances to win as well.

1. Tweet about this giveaway then come back here and leave me a separate comment to let me know you tweeted (add the url from your tweet please).

2. Post about this giveaway at your blog with a link both to this post; come back and leave the URL of your post in a separate comment.

3. Subscribe to my RSS feed by reader or email and leave a separate comment to let me know you're a new subscriber; you can also drop me a separate comment to let me know if you're already a subscriber for this extra entry.

Remember, you MUST leave me some way to find you online (by email or by your Twitter handle) if you don't have a blog - and if you do have a blog that is not public, be sure to leave me a means of contacting you. Entries with no contact information or means of contacting you online will be disqualified.

This giveaway will end on MONDAY, December 21, 2009, at 10:00 pm EST . I will announce the winner (selected by Random.org) on TUESDAY, December 22 2009.

Good luck!

Do you have a giveaway going on at your blogjoint? Drop your giveaway post link URL below and visit the other links to find more great giveaways, too! In the title of your link, please include this info: (Site Giveaway::Item::End Date of Giveaway). Thanks!




*DISCLOSURE: Cheryl & Co. graciously gave the bloggers in attendance gift bags that included products and gift cards. They also {quite kindly} provided lunch for us and the kiddos and sent the kiddos home with their own little gift bags. For more about my personal disclosure policy, read my disclosure page.

Let's Go Krogering! Week of December 14, 2009

Do love finding deals at your Kroger? This feature is for you! Link your post about what deals you found at your local Kroger or Kroger-affiliated store. Simple rules are here; the 149x149 button is in my sidebar. As always, please add a link back to me in your Krogering post.

$~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~$

Looking for the very best deals at Kroger? Click here to see the best deals at Kroger this week. (Thanks, Mommy Snacks!)

This week's ad offers a few decent deals but nothing outstanding. Let's hope for a fantastic sale next week.

The deals were so few that I only made a quick trip to Kroger, just in and out for fresh produce, dairy, and meat. I had -- hold the phone, folks -- NO coupons except for a peelie I found in-store on Husman's Cheeze Curls (mmmmm....so bad for you but so darn good!).

My trip was so small that I didn't grab a picture; here are my totals:

Spent: $45.83
Saved: $5.34, or 10%

I've got a nice little stockpile of our "usual" foods here so I was able to just grab the necessities. And since I'm not cooking or serving Christmas dinner this year, I'm not buying in advance for that either.

How'd you do at Kroger (or your Kroger-affiliated grocery store) this week? Link *your* Let's Go Krogering! post all week and help another reader save some $$!

**As always, please add a link back to my Let's Go Krogering! post in your Krogering post and be sure that you add your post's permalink to the Mr. Linky so everyone else can find your deals (rather than just linking back to your blog's homepage). Need help doing this? Email me and I'll walk you through it!**


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Christmas is Upon Us

And I, for one, keep reminding myself that it's not about the deals, the sales, or the great gifts you can found for pennies for all the ones you love on your list.

It's about the gift we all have been given - a Savior for the world.

I've been busy this weekend with family Christmas gatherings and the yearly Christmas show at our school; I'll be posting here a bit this week and next but it won't be my first priority.

My first priority is remembering that the holiness of that night so long ago is still with us. We are all called to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas and to carry the message of God's love with us into the world.

Do you have a post about how you celebrate the real meaning of Christmas with your family, either when you were a just a kid or now as the "official" grown-up? Please feel free to share your post url below. I think a little Christmas Linkup would be a good thing, don't you? ;-)

I'll make a little badge for this post; feel free to grab the code if you want to display it and spread the word. And I'll keep the MckLinky open until January 6, 2010. Extra gold stars to whomever knows why I picked that date! ;-)

The button:



The code, with a link right back to this post:




<center><a href="http://www.thenewfrugalmom.com/2009/12/christmas-is-upon-us.html/"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4PVFXX60X44/SycDe03VVeI/AAAAAAAACpM/gJcq5_JVvf8/s1600-h/Best+of+Christmas+button.png" /></a><center>

And below, my dear friends, is simply the best Christmas song ever. I promise you that I cannot hear this song without wiping a tear or two from my eyes. At Knute's Christmas party last week (Big Giant Corporation held it here and it was awesome fun for the kiddos), there was an a capella group who sang this. I don't think I was the only one getting smudgy eyes. I hope it moves you as well.

Thanks for sharing - I love you all!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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Weekly Savings Roundup | Stocking Up at Target & Walgreens!

Oh my - I sure hope you had a chance to grab some of the great deals this week at Walgreens and Target!

If your family is nutso for crackers like mine, there are some great opportunities to stockpile Nabisco crackers at Walgreens (buy 5/$10, get $3 RRs) and Cheez-Its at Target (buy 5/$10, get a $5 Gift Card).

And if you need contact lens solution (both my hubs and I wear 'em), you just can't beat the deal at Wags - buy a 2pk of Renu for $9.99, earn $9.99 RRs. Even without the coupon matchups, it's a steal of a deal!

My trip to Walgreens on Friday, 12/11



Transaction #1 (on the left)
Spent: $2.62
Saved: $31.37, or 92%

Transaction #2 (in the middle)
Spent: $0.97
Saved: $40.46, or 98%

Transaction #3 (on the right)
Spent: $5.68
Saved: $21.56, or 79%

And I walked out of Walgreens with $17 in RRs to roll over next week! Woot!

If you're wondering about what to do with the Touch of Gray for Men, I donate these to Goodwill for them to sell in their store.

For all the coupon matchups for the deals I grabbed at Walgreens, click here and here or check my $1 Deals tab in my header.

Don't forget that there are several rebates out there for some of these products; I listed a few with links to the printable rebate forms right here.

Wondering how on earth you can save like this at Walgreens, too? Read my post How to Save BIG at Walgreens. Feel free to ask questions in the comments, too. ;-)

Here are my weekly totals for all my stocking up trips around town. It's amazing what those little coupons and store rebates can do!

Spent: $105.53
Saved: $191.40, or 65%

I hope you saved a bunch this week, too! Check out all the savings found my super-smart bloggers this week at the weekly linkup over at Money Saving Mom. ;-)

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Rebate Roundup | Earn up to $54.50 back from SC Johnson, Touch of Gray, Kraft & Nabsico

I've been doing a better job this year of sending in rebates; there have been some nice ones that match up with products I get for free or nearly free when they're on sale and have high dollar coupon matchups.

Several of the rebates I'm finishing up this December expire 12/31/09 or shortly thereafter. I thought I'd post the links to the forms + participating products for you so you can be sure to get your rebates sent in before they're gone!

:: Just for Men, MIR up to $9.50 (limit 1 per household) Exp 12/31/09
Printable Mail-In-Rebate Form
-->On sale for $6.99 at Walgreens through 12/12/09 and it earns $6.99 RRs!
-->$2.00/1 printable here

:: Kraft Back to School 2009 Rebate, $20.00. (Limit 1 per household.) Expires 12/31/09.
->Form found in stores and by request here; unfortunately, I don't believe you can request this booklet/form any longer. Kraft changes their promotions quite frequently.
->List of participating products found here
-->Wheat Thins, Ritz, Triscuits on sale at Walgreens $2.00 ea through 12/12/09; buy 5/$10.00, earn a $3.00 RR!
-->$1.00/2 printable here (Click "Get Started" then click "Coupons" tab on the right of the page.)
-->$1.00/2 Triscuits or Wheat Thins, Walgreens IVC found in Diabetes & You Book by Pharmacy

:: Keep Your Jingle in Your Holidays 2009 Rebate from Kraft, $10.00. (Limit 1 per household.) Expires 01/31/10.
Printable Mail-In Rebate Form
-->Wheat Thins, Ritz, Triscuits on sale at Walgreens $2.00 ea through 12/12/09; buy 5/$10.00, earn a $3.00 RR!
-->$1.00/2 printable here (Click "Get Started" then click "Coupons" tab at the right of the page.)
-->$1.00/2 Triscuits or Wheat Thins, Walgreens IVC found in Diabetes & You Book by Pharmacy

:: SC Johnson Family of Products Rebate, buy any (3), get $5.00. (Limit 3 per household = $15.) Expires 06/30/10.
Printable Mail-In Rebate Form
-->Moneymaker deal when paired with the current $5.00 Target Gift Card offer on Glade Holiday Candles - read the full details here.
Just a quick note - I've already done this rebate twice and both times, SC Johnson has sent the check within two weeks. That's FAST!

There are more rebates out there, but these are ones I wanted to focus on today simply because there are many current sales and coupons for these products making the stamp for your rebate form *well* worth your time.

Do you have a great rebate to share? Leave the info in a comment below so everyone can grab the deal!

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Freebie Roundup!

Time to click your way to happy mailbox filled with freebies!

:: Did you fan Stacy's Pita Chips on Facebook yet for your FREE coupon for Stacy's Pita Chips? It's still available; click here to get yours.

:: Request a FREE water bottle here.

:: Get $10 off your purchase of $10 or more at JCPenney.com with the code NICE4U. You can use this on any purchase of $10 or more, meaning you can purchase $10 of items for FREE + shipping (psst...ship it to your local JCP store for less!).

:: Get a FREE 2010 calendar from DeLallo -- it's filled with lots of coupons, too -- right here.

:: Get a FREE cup of coffee at 7-11 with this printable coupon here. Exp 12/31/09.

Enjoy!

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Winner of the $25 Kroger Gift Card!

Thanks for all the comments - it seems like we're pretty evenly split on who likes cats vs. dogs. And for the record, I do like cats as well but my hubs is allergic and my dog...well, he's a GSPointer and he is just a *bit* cat-sharp!

The winner of the $25 Kroger Gift Card is....

#15: joross2003@xxxxx.xxx

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you by email soon!

And FYI, no giveaway or linky this week; I'll have a nice little giveaway for everyone next week and I'll keep it open a little longer since it will be Christmas week!



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