New Vocal Point Freebie!--Crest Toothpaste

I have mentioned Vocal Point before and how they give you a freebie PLUS coupons for more freebies!  If you haven't created an account--do so now using this link.

http://www.vocalpoint.com/

Otherwise, log in and you will be able to request your sample of Crest Toothpaste!  (located on the right hand side of the screen)

Being Green with plastic bags

Paper Recycling bin & kitchen trash (right) with one week of accumulation



Recycling & trash cans in front of my oven (to show you how big my cans are)



A Target bag is my trash bag!  Thank you TARGET!

When possible I use reusable bags.  However, in today's age, I still end up with a plethora of plastic bags.  I know they are bad for the environment, however, I always make sure to reuse my plastic bags. 

My number one way of reusing plastic bags is as garbage can liners.  In fact, I have not bought a garbage bag in years.  I have small trash cans in all rooms and I am able to recycle, compost, and reuse so much that we actually have very little trash.  Not only do I use plastic bags as liners, but I also use packaging.  For example, disposable diapers come in plastic wrapping that perfectly lines my upstairs bathroom trashcan.  I also buy toilet paper in 12 -24 roll packages and I reuse their packaging as liners as well.  The key is to make sure you open the packaging at the narrow end so you create a bag.

I know some people have a lot more waste and do not see a plastic bag working as their liner--but I challenge you to try it.  What's the worse that could happen?--perhaps you have to take the garbage out more than once as week!  (Hey that's probably a good thing!)  I also love using small wastebaskets.  I find it leaves so much more room and I can easily tuck the garbage in a cabinet or the bottom of the pantry.  I also do not have to worry about pets or babies getting into it. 

So what else can we do with plastic bags.  Of course they are great at toting things to and from, but they also can do the following:

Pick up animal poo--eww!
Thaw out meat (keep meat in the packaging and then place in plastic bag--it will help keep that juicy mess contained)
Donate to your local library (they use them for checked out materials on rainy days to keep them dry)
Donate to your grocery store (some recycle, some reuse)
Reuse at the grocery store in place of your reusable bag
Use as packing material when packing delicate items
Save for your garage sale (your customers will need them!)
Keep a few in the car to collect that random garbage (You can hide it under the seat or loop the handle over the headrest so it is easy to toss things when in the backseat, these also make a quick alternative barf bag)
Use them for dirty diapers (or dirty clothes bag) when traveling (cloth or disposable)
Cover your shoes in plastic bags if you are going to be in the mud and want to protect them (think gardening)
Litter box liner
Use bags to organize (separate projects such as sewing or knitting projects0
Cover your plants to protect from frost
Use as a smock for kids (cut head hole, arm holes and then slit down the back side from head hole down, the slit goes on the child's back)
Store wet paintbrushes overnight
Lunch bag
Some people make rugs or purses out of them (No KIDDING!)
Use to contain your liquids when traveling and protect from spillage (shampoo, conditioner, etc...)
Use when traveling to separate dirty clothes from clean clothes

What are your ideas for reusing plastic bags?

This week's Sentry deals & Steals! Sept 9 - Sept 15

So this above is what I purchased at Sentry for $2.81 yesterday....Hmmmm...Lookin' good!  Bagel Bites are regular price at $2.39--most magazines currently have an insert for $1 off--double that and get them for $0.39 a box!

Here is my grocery list of good savings for Sept 9 - Sept 15.  Remember they double ALL coupons up to and including $1 on Mon, Tues, & Wednedays this month!  And this is only at the Cottage Grove Rd. location.

Hamburger Helper $1
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default
Q is $1 off 3
Get 3 for $1 AND use the in ad coupon to get $1 off of meat

Campbell’s Chicken noodle or Tomato soup $0.60
http://www.campbellskitchen.com/coupon.aspx
use Q for $1 off 4 OR $0.50 off 2
$0.10 each

Gold N’ Plump all natural chicken thighs (20 oz) $3.49
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=vi&tqnm=zh5fdeo2835963&o=65189&pt=&lang=&ws=&ct=&ci=&cl=&cp=&eb=1&c=GP&p=5641&z=&r=&pc=&tc=
use Q for $1.50 off
$1.99

Pillsbury Sweet Moments
http://coupons.target.com/mcp/pd.cfm?encp=gn9UtVoi3Jkq6cjDb07Qmj3YSJkNg%2FkX60nE5yMRnSH9wLnpXCHER1Qk%2FAR3bfpDgLiA8xOhGRzL%0D%0Az9lPcCbBh%2FPPLUwXrfRdEErCmSjnD3J6W1DrRyjTRS%2FRETTPwl8x5BYxU3ylJgVCV%2BiU90ppD%2BhV%0D%0AiEIq5YAXfKKjX1mF4c3y%2FfonlC%2BSjGrOofgXEzklNXqgfO44ZCHq8nJGfkavqJv2rQgYZtsA8rPW%0D%0ABnpv7U4HXRiP03KiiIvBQ9dv%2B%2BzBH9waT5ejhaQj6%2FhX7kdwqg%3D%3D#
(this might be a target coupon and not work)
Q for $1 off
$0.49 each

Hormel Always Tender Flavored Pork Tenderloin $6.99 for 1.15 lb
http://www.hormel.com/updates/coupons/
Q for $1 off
$4.99

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Coconut Cremes $1.99
http://www.redplum.com/pages/ViewOffer.aspx?id=1590084&frm=0&pl=true
Q is for $1 off
Free!

Red Baron Pizza/pasta $3.33
http://www.redbaron.com/panparty/
Q is for $1
$1.33

Dean’s Gallon of milk $1.99 (2%, 1% & skim)
Use in ad coupon

Ortega salsa or taco shells $1.49
http://www.ortega.com/
Q is for $1 off 2
$0.99 each

Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes $1.00
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default?wt.ac=homepage_05-01-2008
$1 off 2
$0.50 each

Totino’s Pizza Rolls $1.25
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default?wt.ac=homepage_05-01-2008
$1 off 2
$0.25 each

Sentry is doubling Coupons Mon, Tues & Weds in September

I am SO excited!

I don't normally shop Sentry, but was stopping there for a great meat/peanut butter/salad dressing sale. 

Walking in the door I noticed a sign--The Cottage Grove Rd. location (located on Cottage Grove Rd. and Acewood near Stoughton Rd) is doubling ALL manufacturer coupons up to (and including) $1 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in September.  There are no stipulations (no limits, no amount of money that needs to be spent) except that the coupon can't be over $1 and you can't use more than 3 of the same coupon.  Woo-hoo! 

I was excited about getting salad dressing for $0.50---but then got it free with my doubled coupon!  It also looks like they are accepting overage  (i.e. the salad dressing was on sale for $0.99 and they took $1 off my entire purchase price.)  I think I will be skipping Copp's for the rest of the month to take advantage of this rare deal.  I will try to put out some shopping lists with links to coupons in the next couple of weeks.

YEAH for Sentry!

Free Dishwashing Detergent & Dryer sheets!

Take a survey with this website and be rewarded with Cascade Dishwashing detergent or Dawn Dish soap with Olay. It took me about 2 minutes to complete this survey. Definitely worth the freebie!


http://www.madejmedia.com/public/techcleansurv/

Vocal Point is offering Downy Dryer Sheet trials. Vocal Point is an AWESOME site that I highly recommend becoming a member of. Not only do they send you a sample, but they usually send you 4 coupons that result in getting the product FREE! My last Vocal Point mailer was Crystal Light. They sent me 4 packages (8 come in a box). Then they send me 4 $2 coupons, which I combined with a sale and got 4 FREE boxes. The time before that they sent me a FULL bottle of Pantene shampoo with 4 $2 coupons. I combined those with a sale and received an add’l 4 FREE bottles of shampoo & conditioner! They do like you to take a minute a write a comment about the product after you receive it. I usually write a sentence (takes less than a minute)—but no comment/review is required. Try setting up your own account with Vocal Point and check out the Dryer Sheet Freebie! (Be sure to use that email address you set up for these freebies/offers, since you don’t want their advertisements cluttering up your personal email.)

http://www.vocalpoint.com/downy/#

Labor Day Deals

I haven't gotten the HyVee flyer yet (maybe it will come Sunday)---but here is what I have so far: (* depicts Rock bottom price)

Sentry --good September 6 - 8

*Jennie-O Ground Turkey 1lb $0.99 (use coupon in flyer, limit 1)

*Skippy Peanut Butter $0.99 (use coupon in flyer, limit 2)

*Wishbone or Western Salad Dressing $0.99 (use coupon in flyer, limit 3)
use this link and make it $0.50 a bottle!  http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=vi&tqnm=zhwiczf2576511&o=65213&c=UL&p=4aFxwjMN&utm_source=Wish-Bone_Aug&utm_medium=email&utm_content=PrintCoupon_button&utm_campaign=subscribers

*Pork shoulder $1.19 lb --can we say pulled pork sandwiches!  YUM!

Pork Ribs or Sirloin Roast $1.89 lb

Pierce's (Good now through Sept 8)

 *Fresh Ground Beef 80% lean $1.68/lb sold in 3lb packages.  This is unheard of for fresh ground beef.  I have never been in Pierces before, but this price tempts me...I would definitely stock up!

*Shurfine Cream Cheese $0.88 each

Pop Tarts 2/$3 (use coupon in flyer)

Copp's (good now through Sept 8)  I expect an add'l flyer from them on Sunday

Roundy's Butter 1lb $1.68 (use coupon in flyer, limit 1)

*Roundy's Hamburger/Hotdog buns $0.48 each (use coupon in flyer, limit 2)

*Broccoli $0.89 lb

Savers: 50% off almost EVERYTHING on Labor Day

I love Saver’s! Monday’s are my favorite day to go, because it is $0.99 colored tag day. They pick a tag color and any item with that colored tag is $0.99. I scored 3 skirts for $3 for myself there a few weeks ago. You can’t do much better than that!

This Monday is one of Saver’s big 50% off day. Everything EXCEPT toys, housewares, books & videos are 50%. This means clothes galore, bedding, towels, bags, purses, and shoes are ALL 50% off. WHOO-HOO! I am hoping to make it there early Monday morning to score myself a new purse ($2 purse…I think I will…) and hopefully get Alaina a pair of shoes. She just had this outrageous foot spurt and pretty much jumped from a size 4 to size 6! (and I had these cute little Dora shoes in size 5 that I had bought her that only got worn once *SIGH*--well good thing I only paid $1.50 for those at Saver’s! Ha! No big loss!)

So a couple of things on how Saver’s works. Starting on Tuesdays, Saver’s picks a colored tag and makes that item 50% off. Then on the following Monday that colored tag is $0.99. If it is a popular item (i.e. kids clothes) you will have a hard time finding good $0.99 sales—HOWEVER—I do tend to find some good ones from time to time. I have found the $0.99 sales to be better for housewares and older kid/adult clothing. I save my kid clothing shopping days for the 50% off everything days!

My favorite Saver’s sale is President’s Day. (You know..the blahness of winter---February!) That day is 50% off EVERYTHING! I get there early and usually score big!

Saver’s has also recently adopted a “manager’s special Thursday”. This means they post an extra deal. This past Thursday it was “buy a pair of shorts, get one free.” They do not post the deals ahead, so you won’t know what goodie they might have until you get there.

If you are interested in saving additional money at Saver’s, you can start a card with them. For every $5 you spend or bag of stuff you donate you will get a punch. Once the card is full, it turns into a 30% off your next purchase coupon. I have never spent enough money to fill a card (you have to fill it in a certain time frame)—however, I have used my garage sale leftovers to fill a card. All donations are tax deductable (be sure to ask for a form) and go towards Easter Seals. So you get a little added bonus!

I love second hand stores. It keeps things out of the landfill, and is a little lighter on my pocketbook! Plus, they are so much fun to browse through—you never know what you will find. What is your favorite score at a thrift store?