Christmas on the Cheap

Last week, my latest article was posted on HEDUA. Want some help celebrating Christmas on the Cheap?

HEDUA Blog--Money Saving Apps

I'm over at HEDUA today!
Make sure to check it out.

Another Money Making Site--Updated

I've shared before about how I pick up some cash or gift cards.

I use...







I've found a new one I'm starting on called SendEarnings. 
* Read emails 
* Take surveys 
* Play games 
* Shop online 
* Redeem coupons & more!
This one is like InboxDollars because you earn cash. Oh, and there's a $5 signup bonus when you join!!


There are affiliate links in this post. If you join any of the sites, I earn a little cash. It's a win-win situation! ;-)

Saving at CVS and using SavingStar

I'm back. God blessed us with a new-to-us laptop.

Haven't couponed much lately but made a good deal yesterday.

CVS is offering Dial Body Wash as B1G1 Free. 
There's a coupon in 6/15 Red Plum for Buy 2 Get 1 free.
Then on top of that, Ibotta is offering a $1 back on Dial Body Wash, $1 back on Dial for Men, AND a special Dial Clean bonus of $1 for redeeming any two of the Dial rebates.

Here's what my final deal looked like:

I purchased 3 Dial Body Wash at $5.99 each (much more than I would normally pay!)
Total         17.97
B1G1       - 5.99
                11.98
B2G1       - 4.49 (maximum amount for coupon)
                 7.49
Ibotta     - 3.00
Final          4.49

Final price for each body wash: $1.50 each.

Now that's a deal! Have you made any deals lately! Please share!

This post includes an affiliate link. If you join Ibotta, I will make a little additional cash. I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't use it or trust it.

The ABCs of Hand Washing AND Making Liquid Handsoap

I've been taking a kitchen safety class and learning some new things.

One of the things I've learned is a helpful hint about washing hands? Did you know that you are supposed to wash your hands long enough to sing the ABC Song or Happy Birthday twice?

Want to try an experiment that demonstrates the difference?
First, mix oil with cinnamon and rub it on your hands.

The first time you wash your hands for only 10 seconds in cold.
Here was mija's result:

You then can repeat the process washing for 10 seconds in warm water. Third, you do 10 seconds using soap in warm water.

A little better, but watch what happens after washing with soap and warm water while singing the ABC Song:

Yup, those are clean hands...the sink is filthy, but the hands are clean.

Now, a way to save money while washing your hands. How about making your own liquid hand soap?

I tried it out this week for the first time using a bar of soap, glycerin, and water.

Here's the site where I found out about how to do it:

Make sure to read all the comments. The next morning it started out as as a soft solid but after I stirred it, it turned into kind of a mucus. I added some more water and warmed it up. Still ended up soft solid and turned gelatinous. Added water and warmed one more time, but this time I whisked it. It made a difference.

It's not big on lather, but works just fine.

So now you know how to wash your hands AND have soap to use!

SavingStar Healthy Offer Of the Week: Lettuce

Save 20% on any single purchase of loose Lettuce at participating retailers. See offer info for complete details.

Making Money Using Apps

Last week, I shared my love for saving and making money. I mentioned that today I would share some way to actually make money when shopping.

I've mentioned previously some ways to make money while you are online. If you haven't started doing that, I suggest those as well. I have a $40 check from InboxDollars and have been adding up my Swagbucks and MyPoints since Christmas.

Well, today I'm going to share some ways I've been making money while buying groceries.

First, I found Ibotta. Here's the facts from their website.

• Choose your favorite rebates and unlock them by completing fun tasks. Rebates expire so don't forget to redeem them before they're gone!
• After shopping, tap on Redeem to verify your purchases.
• The best part about Ibotta is that you earn real money, not points or other made-up currencies. 100% of your earnings can be transferred to PayPal or Venmo as soon as you’ve earned $5.

Ibotta does not only groceries but also restaurants, movies and more.

Next, I found SavingStar.com. I use it more for the groceries but it also offers cash for some online purchases and such. Each week they offer 20% on a certain produce and each weekend there is one small item offered for free. It is linked to your loyalty card, but you don't have to upload a picture of receipt. You can get your cash after $5.

My latest discovery is Checkout 51. Unlike Ibotta and SavingStar, Checkout 51 is not linked to a store loyalty card. Also, you can earn $2.00 just by doing your first rebate! You just have to upload a photo of your receipt. You have to wait until you have $20.00 before you can cash out and get a check.

Now, here is how you can REALLY save.

Say bananas are on sale at HyVee.
This week, there was a coupon for $0.50 off coupon of fruit. On top off that, Checkout 51 is offering $0.50 cash back and SavingStar is giving 20% cash back. 

Or take the Belvita I purchased last week. I had a coupon for $1.00 off two. I earned $0.50 from SavingStar and $.50 from Ibotta.  That's $2.00 I saved/earned from that purchase. That means I basically paid only for one box.

So, that's how I've been making money while I've been saving money!


All these are affiliate links except for Checkout 51. That means if you join I will earn a little cash. 

Thoughtful Thursday--I like making and saving money when I shop

The stereotypical woman loves to shop or at least window-shop. I am not a stereotypical woman. I dislike shopping. Get in, get what I need, and get out...that's my motto. The only reason I walk around a mall is to get exercise. 

And the only reason I spend any length of time in a grocery aisle is to get the best deal.

And to get the best deals, I use couponing, rewards cards, and more. 


One of my main go-to saving sources is CVS. When you match the Extra Care Bucks deals with coupons, you do a great job saving and making money. (If it's actually something you need that is!)

For instance one week, I purchased $67.86 worth of items for $27.90. Doesn't sound that great except that I then received $20.00 in ECB back which means in the end I only paid $7.90 which is an 89% savings.

The following week I purchased $60.28 in stuff. I paid $3.15 out of pocket after coupons and that $20 in ECB from the previous week. Then I received $16 in ECB back which means CVS paid me $12.85 to take $60 of stuff home. Over 100% in savings!

Now I have $16 to spend next time.

Fairly recently, however, I've learned a few more ways to make money on things I purchased. Come back on Monday to find out more details on that!

How I am making a little extra cash---Join Me (Updated)

Things are tight financially here, and I'm sure we're not the only one. I spend a few additional minutes online to help my family out. Let me tell you about them and maybe you can benefit as well.

For example at Christmas, I managed to give one of my nephews a $25 gift certificate for GameStop and the other a $25 gift certificate for Target. I paid NOTHING. That's right. I gave $50 in gifts which cost me $0.00.

Here are the two programs I used to accomplish this. 


With SwagBucks, I usually do the daily survey, watch videos, and occasionally sign up for something. I also use it as my search engine to win extra points. It costs nothing to join, and I've never had trouble getting any of my rewards. Here's another example of how I've scored using SwagBucks.




The other program I use frequently is MyPoints. I click links in emails to earn an easy 5 points almost every time. They sometimes offer points for playing their games. MyPoints also works with Coupons.com to give you 10 points for every coupon you print and redeem. 



In another program I recently joined, I earn actual cash. In fact, when you join InboxDollars for free the program gives you $5.00 credit to start you out. This one sends emails like the previous one. Each paid email earns you $0.02 just for clicking the link. I've even made money just listening to their radio stations!

These are affiliate are program links, so if you click and join, I'll make make a little cash or earn some points or bucks! You can do the same once you join and share with friends.
Next time, I'll let you know how I've been earning some money on my purchases.

Sam's Club Open House timed with Tax Free Weekend

 Sam's Club is pretty smart. They are offering Open Houses on the weekends when various states are having their tax-free weekends.

So, on certain weekends you can shop at Sam's Club free without a membership and not pay sales tax on eligible items.

States that having both tax-free weekends and Sam's Club open houses this weekend include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Check HERE for all the details.

Answer to Prayer---CVS ECB

Yes, you read that correctly. CVS ExtraCare Bucks were an answer to prayer.

You see, while my husband has found a job, it doesn't offer much to live on after insurance, rent, and utilities. 

So we found ourselves facing the end of the pay period with no money and little food. In fact, the past few days I've literally been praying for food to feed my family. I'm not talking about not having anything we like. I'm talking about not having anything to fix AT ALL.

I faced today with a half pound of ground turkey, a box of couscous, and a few cans of veggies. That could be one meal, but I needed one more meal to make it until my husband gets paid tomorrow.

CVS to the rescue.

Yesterday, I received an email with a $3 ECB from CVS. At first, I dismissed it but then I realized that could be $3 in free food!

Today I scrounged up about $2 in pennies and proceeded to CVS.

Here is what I purchased:

Both items were on sale 2/$5. The total before the sale and ECB would have been $7.28, but I only paid $2.00 which is a savings of 73%.

This will give me 2+ meals. 
1.  I'll mix the Mac & Cheese with the cooked ground turkey with some canned veggies on the side. I "splurged" on the Deluxe because we are out of butter and milk; with the deluxe those items are not needed.
2. Fried sliced ham with couscous and canned veggies.
3. Left over ham with ?

So thankfully, God answered my prayer to be able to feed my family through CVS ExtraCare Bucks!

Educents----Kind of like a Groupon for Educators!

Do you like getting discounted deals through Groupon or Amazon Local?

That is the kind of deal you get with Educents except that all the deals are education related. Deals like:

• 75% off a Constitution Study pack
• 25% off Kids Music Library
• 28% off Clifford the Big Red Dog Science Kits
• 33% off Intro to Architecture Class

You can sign up for a daily email with the current deals. 

And if you sign up now, you can get a $5 credit to use on a purchase!  That $5 free for merely signing up for their daily emails.

This is deal is good through August 31, so sign up today!

Another Impromptu CVS Run--Only paid 2/3 of retail

Mija's face is breaking out again! I knew we needed some generic Benadryl for which you generally don't find a coupon. I also knew we needed some generic Prilosec---again not a coupon thing.

But I went to CVS anyway knowing that the selection would be better.

Still saved money.

It just took a little thinking.

First, I scanned my card at the Magic Coupon Machine.  I received $4 from my ExtraCare Card earnings and received a coupon for $2 off Softsoap Body Wash and $1.50 off any CVS brand allergy med.

Also, the CVS brand "stomach" stuff was buy one get one 50% off.

So, I purchased 2 CVS Prilosec, 1 Softsoap (which we had just run out of this morning), and a bottle of CVS Benadryl.

My retail would have be $66.75 but have the CVS coupons from the machine and sales, I only paid $45.70 which seems like a lot, BUT I saved 32% for merely running in, scanning my card, and looking for the sales!

Free Birthday Treats---a couple of options

You know I love free.
I also like birthdays.
Put the two together and your get free things on your birthday!


At Free Birthday Treats you can find a bunch of places which offer free or discounted items for your birthday.
The one catch is not to wait until your birthday to look because most items require that you sign up online for a free club or emails.


Free Birthday Stuff works a little differently. You sign up for the site and then you "shop" for all the free birthday treats you want. You put free entry at the Tennessee Aquarium, a birthday card and coupon for free pet food for your dog, and a free birthday gift card from Victoria's Secret in your cart, check out and then select how you want to receive the items. You can select as many as you want but some are location specific.

Last minute CVS run---Savings of 76%

Used BeCentsAble.net and Kansas City Mamas to make a run before the sale ended this week.

Gain or Ajax Dish Liquid – $.88 
$.25/1 Gain Dishwashing Liquid from 5/12 PG Insert 
Final Price: $.63 

V05 Shampoo or Conditioner $.82
$1/4 Alberto V05 Shampoo or Conditioner from 6/16 SS
Final Price: $.57 each

Gold Emblem Candy $0.99 (treat for my hubby)
$0.25 coupon from Coupon Machine
Final Price: $0.74

My retail total was $7.02, but I paid $1.65. That's a savings of 76%.

Saving On-the-fly Money at CVS

Been dealing with a questionable scab and spreading rash-type thing.

It started with the small black scab, developed into the redness around it, then started a rash going around the opposite eye and then starting to spread to the  eye on the same side. I ended up taking her to urgent care last night.  

This picture show the rash has lessened greatly after two doses of steroids (I know. I know.) The redness around the little black scab is about as worse as ever.

Anyway...

What this post is about is saving some money at CVS.

We needed to purchase some hydrocortisone cream for face. I hadn't checked out the CVS deals yet, but I noticed that there was a tag advertising $2 in ECB when you purchased certain CVS brand products.

The cream was included in the deal. It was $4.99. We needed new band-aids, so I grabbed a $2.67 box. 
I got the ECB when I check out meaning that I got the box of band-aids for only $0.66! 

Can't beat really cheep band-aids when saving on-the-fly at CVS!

Homemade Laundry Soap

I've heard of homemade laundry soap for awhile, and then I read about it in Lorrie Flem's Chore Bundle which I reviewed for Gabby Moms. I've seen the same recipe several other places, so I thought I would try it.

And Lorrie and others have said that it's save to use in an HE washer.
Here's what you need.

1 cup Borax

1 cup Washing Soda

2 cups (1 bar) Fels-Naptha soap

First, you grate the bar of soap. It took me about 10 minutes, but I was distracted several times.

Yes, it looks like grated cheese. I just used my regular grated and it cleaned up fine. After all, it just soap!

Then you add the other two ingredients and mix. It'll look like this.

One thing we noticed was you may need to mix it up before you use it because the powders can settle. 

You only use 2-3 tablespoons!  Yup, that's all. 

The total amount for all the ingredients was about $9.00. I have enough of the two powders for at least 3 more recipes. That means I will end up paying up $13.00 for 128 loads of laundry or $0.10 a load. Powdered Tide with Bleach (which is the quality Lorrie to which she compares it) ends up being $0.30-$0.70 a load.

We've been using it and have liked it mighty fine!

We've also been using white vinegar as fabric softener in the wash and it also works!

Love it when you can go more natural and cheaper at the same time!!

Price Chopper--saved almost 70% on groceries

Thanks to Kansas City Mamas I was to save some money on groceries this week. Here's what I did.

Crystal Light Drink Mix - $0.99

$1/2 Crystal Light Drink Mix, exp. 6/30/13 (SS 04/21/13)
Pay $.49 after coupon

Ken's Dressing - $1.50

$1/2 Ken's Dressing, exp. 6/30/13 (SS 05/05/13)
Pay $1.00 each after coupon

Secret Deodorant - $1.50

$1/1 Secret Antiperspirant Deodorant, exp. 6/30/13 (P&G 06/02/13)
Pay $.50 after coupon

Old Spice Deodorant - $1.50

$1/1 Old Spice Product, exp. 6/30/13 (P&G 06/02/13)
Pay $.50 after coupon

Tony's Original Crust Pizza - $1.49

B4G1 Tony's Original Crust Pizza, exp. 6/30/13 (SS 06/02/13 R)
Pay $1.20 each after coupon

Smart Balance Buttery Spreads - $1.49

$1/1 Smart Balance Buttery Spreads, exp. 6/26/13 (SS 05/12/13) (I had $1/1 but they said $1/2, so I got a better deal then they listed.)
Pay $.49 each after coupon

Hormel Compleats Meal - $2.29

$1/1 Hormel Compleats Microwave Meal, exp. 7/1/13 (SS 05/05/13)
Pay $1.29 after coupon

My retail total would have been $40.36, after sales and coupons I paid 12.70. That's a savings of 69%!!

CVS Coupon Run--I paid 5 cents on the $1

You know you're broke when you too broke to coupon! That's why it's such a blessing to be able to start investing in a Sunday paper again!

Here's my first, real CVS run in over a year! A few of the things I wanted were out of stock.

Clear Shampoo---$4.99
Free Coupon from CVS coupon machine
$1.25 rebate from Ibotta
Betsy's Price: +$1.25

I purchased 2 Almay Mascara for $5.99 each and 1 Wet 'n Wild nail polish for a total of $15.47
Earn $3 ECB
$5/$15 make-up purchase from CVS coupon machine
$5/2 Almay Cosmetic Products
Betsy's Price: $0.82 each!!

So, I purchased $27.06 retail. I paid $5.47. I received $3 back in ECB meaning I paid $2.47 which would be a savings of 91%. But then I top of that I earned a $1.25 rebate from Ibotta which means I ended up paying only $1.22 for $27.06 in products. A savings of 95%.

I've shared before about how I buy next year's  stocking stuffers and Easter basket items after the holiday is over. 

So I purchased some candy and items at 50% off. The retail total would have been $11.34. After the 50% off, one item free because it was "Buy 2 Get 1 Free", and using the $3 ECB I received on the first order, I only paid $1.65. That's a savings of 85%!

A word about holiday candy. Most are now marked with "Best when used by" date. While I've been choosy in the past concerning which candy I would trust for a whole year, the dating on the candy is a handy tool.

Home Educating Family Blog--Economic Downturn Education

I definitely wrote from my real life experiences on my blog post today for the Home Educating Family Blog!



Check it out!