I did it and so can you.

     Now, I don't know about you, but it is worth it to me to take a few hours a week to plan a list and pick which store(s) to go to and get the most for your money. I usually try to go to the drug stores every week because the deals are just too good. I get a lot of stuff for free and I just can't pass that up. My family appreciates it, too. As for grocery stores, I usually go to Publix or Kroger, whichever gives me the most for my money. Sometimes Ingles has good meat and milk prices so I might go there. Wal-mart gives me the least for my money in general but if there was a Super-Target near me, I would go there. They have several deals each week that would make it worth my while.


     People ask me all the time how many stores do I have to go to and how long does it take me. Set up a class with us and we'll be able to help you learn to organize the information to best suit you. Then you can decide, depending on where you live, what is the best plan for you. It may even vary from week to week depending on the sales or your cash flow.   I spend about 5-7 hours at the absolute most, each week.  I gave you an example of what an average week for me is like.  This was a particularly good week but this is still a fairly average week.  I save more money this way than I would make getting a job outside of my home.  With the time it takes to homeschool and keep up with a household, I don't have a lot of extra time as it is.  I don't know many people that do.  The question you need to decide is...
Can you afford not to learn how to stretch your money?

Look what I did!!!! You can, too!

I went to CVS this week and bought $89.88 worth of groceries.  I only paid $19.28.
This is what I came home with:
4 Oust Air Sanitizers
2 Cottonelle wet wipes with bonus packs
2 Stacy's Pita Chips
2 Pistachio Nut Chips  (I'm sorry, I can't think of the brand name.  They cost $3.49 ea.)
2 Tostitos Scoops
1 Tostitos Salsa
6 12-packs of Pepsi
1 CVS Kitchen garbage bags

I also left with 3 ECB to start my next order with!!

I went to Walgreens and bought $12.56 and spent $2.23.
This is what I came home with:
3 dozen eggs
2 Betty Crocker Frosting
1 Betty Crocker Brownie (single bowl serving)
4-14oz. Swanson Chicken Broth

My favorite shopping spree was Rite-Aid. 
I bought $77.36 of products and only paid $1.47.  I am also getting a check mailed back to me next month for $11.98 from that order alone.
This is what I came home with:
2/PK Longlife GE light bulbs
1 PKG. 10 ct. Gillette Pivot Razors
1 Theraflu Cold, Regular size
1 Contac Cold and Flu, Regular size
4 Post Cocoa Pebbles  (Jose was with me, so he got that!)
3 Post Honey Bunches of Oats
3 Post Shredded Wheat

    

Hi! We are back

We lost touch for a few months.  Between health issues and the holidays and everything else that comes with that time of year, we had this on the back burner.  We are back and I have been saving so much money that it was driving me crazy not to post it.  We have openings for classes, just e-mail us and we will set up a class.  The cost is $10 a person.  However, being a coupon and money saving class, we have a 'coupon' for you.  Bring one guest with you and you get $5 off.  Bring 2 guests and you get to come for free.  They can use the same deal as well!  sistersense@yahoo.com

Enjoying the perks of being a CVS customer!!

Last night on the way home from a friends house, Brendan and I stopped at CVS to pick up Coke for Jose.  It is on sale for 4/$13, get back 3CVS Bucks.  (Today is the last day, so use your CVS card.  You can get one from the cashier if you don't have one.  You will have to pay the $13 if you are a new CVSer.  But then you get $3 CVS Bucks back which is same as cash at CVS.)  I had $10.49 in CVS Bucks so I only paid $2.80 with tax.  I got back the 3 CVS Bucks so really I had overage of $.20 for 4-12 packs of Coke.  That is something to be happy about!!! 

If you haven't been this week, this is a great way to get started.  Go to your CVS and purchase the Glade Fragrance Collection Scented Reed Diffuser or Soy Candle 4.9-10oz.  If you save your coupon inserts from the Sunday papers, look in the 10/4 Smart Source ad for the $3 off coupon.  If you don't have that you still may be able to find a coupon at: http://www.rightathome.com/offers/0908-fragrance-collection/Default.aspx?email= 
If you are fortunate enough to get a coupon, you will actually make money on this deal.  If not then you still will make out good!!
Purchase the Glade Fragrance for $6.99 and get $6.99 back in CVS Bucks.  I had the $3 off coupon so I only paid $3.99 but I still got back the $6.99.  You can then make a second transaction and buy the 4- 12 packs of coke.  Use your $6.99 CVS Bucks and you will only pay $6.01 and get $3.00 of CVS Bucks.
Once you start CVSing, you'll be hooked.  How could you resist getting free stuff or getting money for buying stuff......?

AND DON'T FORGET TO SAVE YOUR SUNDAY PAPER COUPON INSERTS IN A FILER.  DON'T CLIP UNTIL YOU NEED A COUPON AND YOU WILL HAVE A VERY EFFICIENT WAY TO FIND YOUR COUPONS WITHOUT TAKING UP ALL OF THE TIME OF CLIPPING.

Spring/Summer Shopping - What?!

Yes, you read it right!  Now is the time to buy for spring/summer clothes - especially for those growing children.  You can really get some great deals!!  I happened to be at Wal-Mart in our area last night and was able to get a nice Ocean Pacific bathing suit for $3 for my daughter for next year!!  I know with kids it is hard to shop early, but for the most part you can guestimate from their past growth patterns.  Not perfect - but works most of the time.  Hope everyone has a blessed day and week to come!! 
         ~ Krista ~

Garage Sales!!!! I love them!

     I had a great day today because I have been looking for a chair and coffee table since I moved here that fit what I was looking for.  I can't pay for something that isn't what I wanted and I just hate buying something brand new.  There isn't much that we own that we bought new. I think my mattress is the only thing we paid full price for (not counting the game consuls that Jose buys.  He still has a hard time waiting for the best deal.  All the more reason why I have to save!) 
     I was so excited when I saw just what I was looking for.  They were asking $25 originally for the chair and went down to $15, and a beautiful coffee table that I think they were asking $35-$40.  (I can't remember.)  I was able to talk it down to $35 for both.  It was a little difficult because the chair was part of a set and they didn't want to break it.
      I got all of my Fall/Winter clothes for $30:  2 sweat suits, 4 dress suits, 1 pair of slacks, 1 sweater, 1 skirt, and 4 blouses + I got 2 boxes of dishes and 1 pair of boy gloves for my nephew thrown in.  The dishes are beautiful white with most of the set of 8.  For those of you that know me, you know I love different sets of dishes for different times of year and occasions but I refuse to pay for my luxuries.  If I can't get it dirt cheap, I'm not getting it!
     I hope you take advantage of these garage sales, too.  Brent went with me and he bought a brand new game of Life, marked $5, for $1.  All of the pieces were there and it was in tip-top shape.  Brendan just said yesterday that was his favorite game, so Brent is giving it to him for Christmas.  (We're kind of competing with each in making our purchases overall, who can get the best deals.  We decided as a family to not get caught up with spending during the holidays so Brendan will be really excited when he finds out the deal Brent got!) 
     $65 for all of that is my kind of bargain!!

My Sunday Publix plan

     I am really excited this week because you can make a dollar on milk at Publix this week.  There is a coupon in their flyer for free milk when you purchase 3 Kelloggs.  (I'm sorry but I can't remember if it has to be cereal or any item from Kelloggs.)  Either way, there is a coupon machine in the cereal aisle for $1 off of Fruit Loops/Fiber or Applejacks/Fiber (makes them $3, too much if you ask me) or better yet, purchase the Mini-wheats which are BOGOF (buy one get one free) for $2.  I had some coupons for this so mine were $1.50/ea.  (I did this deal on Friday night.)  Get your free milk-$2.49-.  Head on over to the Sara Lee bread (on sale for $2.19) and look for a tear off pad for $1 off of milk. 
     Total for 2 Mini Wheats, 1 Fruit Loops, 1 milk, 1 loaf of bread without mini wheat coupons = $8.16.  A value of $16.85.  Guess what?  That is a 48% savings. 
     One of the most important things to using coupons to your advantage is using them when the store is running sales.  I rarely have to buy something when it is not on sale and without a coupon at the same time.  It will take about 8-12 weeks to really be on a good cycle with a good storehouse of coupons.  When I started using coupons, my pantry, refrigerator and freezer were bare.  (We were trying to prepare for moving.)  Anyway, I am still stocking up and with 2 growing boys so sometimes I am barely keeping up as it is.  But with deals like that, and most of them are better, we are well on our way. 
Thanks be to God for providing for us so plentiful!

Nothing like saving money!!

Krista and I went to Publix tonight and I spent $96 and saved $92.  I bought over 9 lbs. of ground beef and the most I spent on one lb. was $.74/lb.  That was my favorite buy, besides the free Publix bag and tube of Grands Biscuits.  The only things I bought that I didn't have coupons for were: 3 pack. of chicken legs/drumsticks and thighs for $.99 lb., 2 bags of black beans, 1 green bell pepper,olive oil and 2 packages of cream cheese, which Jose specifically asked for to make some of his yummy Cuban food.  Out of those items only the beans and cheese were not on sale.  Most of the items that I bought were under $1. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Starting soon, Krista and I will be teaching classes on how to save money like this for only $10/person.  We are running a Grand Beginning Special:  $5 off for each friend you bring.  So you can attend the class for free!  You get your first of many freebies!!  If you are interested in scheduling a class, or for more information, contact us here or e-mail at sistersense@yahoo.com.   Have a great night!!

Been Sick - Caught The Cold

Sorry guys - haven't been around the past few days.  The kids and I have been fighting sinus issues and head colds.  We are so thankful, though, for home remedies like lemon water and the good ole' Netti Pot.  Thanks, Michelle, for commenting on our picture from the paper.  I actually have not seen it.  If anyone has a copy still, feel free to send it to me or we'll find a time to meet up.  The picture in the newspaper was taken when my family and I were enjoying the Bartow History Museum on Museum Day this past Saturday.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful and fulfilling week!  Blessings to you all!
          ~ Krista ~

Sometimes you just have to take a time out.

Just a little note to encourage you.  There are so many things going on and it's hard to remember to put things into perspective.  Take some time to just do nothing.  Let your mind rest and your body relax.  Pray and ask God to re-energize you.  You will feel like the world was lifted off of your shoulders.  Have a great day!

What Fun the Weekends Are

We, too, went to a museum this weekend, free of charge courtesy of our friends at the Smithsonian Magazine.  I hope many of you were able to take advantage of this great event.  We were going to go to the TellUs, like Kim and her family, but it was packed when we got there as well.  We did not want to wait - which is very difficult for excited little boys and girls anyhow.  We chose to go to the Bartow History Museum instead.  This is a great little museum - and we were the only ones there during our visit.  It was so very relevant to our homeschooling, too, as we are talking about the colonial days.  Bartow History Museum shows what it was like in Bartow County from the time of Native Americans, early colonial life, through the Civil War, and onto the present.  There really are some great exhibits in there.  Again, hope you had a wonderful weekend with your families. 
          ~ Krista ~