Archive for the 'freebies' Category

Cutting A Cantaloupe

Published
by
Cara
on April 7, 2009
in Cooking, Homemaking, Shopping and freebies
. 4 Comments

I learned how to cut a cantaloupe when I was a teenager working at Old Country Buffet. I didn’t know how valuable a skill the Lord allowed me to learn way back then. I hardly knew how to cook at all, and could really care less about it at the time. Now, I love cooking! And have a growing family who actually likes to eat my cooking. And now, I am able to share this skill of cutting cantaloupes with you today.

Here we go!

First, slice off the ends. This makes it easy to slice the cantaloupe without is sliding around your counter top:

img_1868

Next, stand up your cantaloupe on the flat side we just cut. We are going to slice the rind off all the way around. Like in the picture:

img_1869

It should look like this when you are finished going all the way around:

img_1871

Now, slice the cantaloupe in half ( long wise) and scoop out the seeds with a spoon (or your hand):

img_1872

After scooping out the seeds, place the cantaloupe “hollowed” side down and slice into thin pieces. See picture:

img_1873

You can leave it like this for eating:

img_1874

Or, cut the slices one more time in the opposite direction for chunks or wedges:

img_1875

That’s it! It’s as simple as that.

Happy slicing, cutting and eating!

For more kitchen tips, stop by Tammy’s Kitchen Tip Tuesdays!

Super Savings Saturday-Apple Market

Published
by
Cara
on March 21, 2009
in Apple Market and freebies
. 3 Comments

I had to share what I got at Apple Market today. If you didn’t know, today is the last day for this week’s 4-day sale and I would highly recommend you stopping by to stock up on pasta sauce and pasta. All the different kinds of Ragu Sauces are on sale too; like Alfredo, Cheese, Chunky, etc.

There is an in-ad coupon for:  Buy 2 Ragu Pasta Sauces (on sale for $1ea.) and get free pasta (up to $1.50).  That is $2.25 (including tax) for two meals! How can you beat that. You have to do separate transactions to keep taking advantage of the coupon. Read here for more info on this deal and to see what else you can pick up while you are shopping.

Here is what I got:

img_1852

Transaction #1

  • Pork Loin 12.65 lb. (on sale for $1.48lb.) $18.72 …this will be used for 4 or 5 meals! :)
  • 2 Crab Classic free w/ 2¢ overage! , used 2) $1 off printable Q’s
  • 2 Organic Ragu Pasta Sauces $2.00
  • Best Choice Whole Wheat Noodles free w/1¢ overage! (these noodles are on sale for $1.49), used in ad Q
  • Fuji apples 3.49 lb. (on sale for 68lb.¢) $2.37
  • 2 packages of strawberries $2.96

Total OOP:  $28.20!

Transaction #2

  • Best Choice Whole Wheat Noodles $1.49, free w/1¢ overage!, used in ad coupon
  • 2 Organic Ragu Pasta Sauces $2.00

Total OOP:  $2.25!

See how others saved big this week at Money Saving Mom with Super Savings Saturday!

Walgreens Run 3/1 – 3/7

Published
by
Cara
on March 5, 2009
in Walgreen's and freebies
. 2 Comments

There were too many free things available to not go to Walgreens this week, so I made a run. And what a run is was. I hope you will have an opportunity to go too and get stocked up!

Money Saving Mom had a slew of things listed for free on her site: Dove deodorant, Dove soap and Starbucks chocolate, Revelon beauty supplies, almost free Johnson and Johnson products, toothbrushes, crackers, Blink Tears, toothpaste, lotion, and the Free After Rebate items!

I also got a tip from Holly saying, “I am sure you have heard that you can get FREE Sambucol at Walgreens which is listed on “Money Saving Mom”, but I just wanted to let you know (if you didn’t already) that inside each box of Sambucol is a $3.00 off your next purchase of Sambucol. SOOOO, that means as many free boxes of Sambucol as you can find!” Thank you Holly! I used this fabulous tip to get three boxes of Sambucol myself. Don’t worry, there were 5 or 6 boxes left!

I tried using the $4 off printable Q for Sambucol and the Topeka Walgreens on 21st and Fairlawn would not take it. I printed it in black and white and wonder if that made them think that I photo copied it. I let it go, no biggie. When I tried to use my $3 off Q (from inside the box, on my next transaction) with the Easy Saver $10 off Q, the manager said that I wouldn’t be able to do that because I would get overage. I showed him that I was buying other items to cover the overage (one penny!) and asked if he would try to put the coupons through anyway to see if they would work. He agreed to try. And it did go through! It is permissible to stack a Walgreen’s coupon with a manufacturer coupon.

They didn’t want to take my $1.50 off printable Q for Blink Tears either, because they said I would not get my Register Rewards if I used a coupon. I told them that was not true, that I always shop here using coupons and have always gotten my RR’s in the past and to please try it…guess what? The coupon went through and I got my RR! Yipee!

I tell you all that to give you the heads up. I was not trying to do anything wrong and not according to their rules and regulations. Here is a great link to read about how to shop at Walgreens, if you would like a little more help in understanding their coupon, Register Rewards and Free After Rebate system.

Transaction #1

  • 2 Reach toothbrushes $3.58, used a BOGO Q and$1 off Q and Wags in ad 99¢ Q
  • 7 Dove Bar soaps (the limit is 3 per transaction, but they allowed me to buy them all at one time) $11.13, used Wags in ad 99¢ Q
  • Dove deodorant trial size 99¢
  • Wal-Zyr $3.99
  • Colgate toothpaste $3.29 (notice this toothpaste only cost $3.29, but my RR still came out $3.50!)
  • Johnson & Johnson dental floss $1.79
  • Sambucol $12.99, used $10 off ESQ (they wouldn’t take my $4 off Q on this one)
  • Blink Tears $7.99, used $1.50 off Q

Total OOP:  $28.64 all on my gift card (so free for me), with $21.50 in RR for next time! I will also get back $4.38 back in rebate from the Wal-Zyr. I would have paid $48.73 with out any coupons. Wow!

P.S. I tried to get a RR for the Reach toothbrushes…I didn’t get it. I guess you had to buy 3 brushes and not 2 brushes and 1 dental floss.

Transaction #2

  • Spray bottle $1.99, use Wags in ad 99¢ Q
  • Sambucol $12.99, use $3 off Q (found in first box I bought) and $10 off ESQ

Total OOP: $2.02 (paid on my gift card, so free to me)!

Transaction #3

  • Peroxide $1.69
  • Sambucol $12.99, used $3 off Q (from inside box)
  • 2 boxes of 12 giftcards, used Wags in ad BOGO Q (that makes these cards 8¢ ea!)

Total OOP:  $4.91 (all on my gift card, so free to me)!

How did you do this week? I would love to hear!

What a Deal!

Published
by
Cara
on February 17, 2009
in Coupon talk, Dillons, Shopping and freebies
. 4 Comments

***Update!!! My sincere apologies! After really taking a good look at the Planter’s Granola Bars coupon, I realized it says you must buy a carton of granola bars to get the $1 off, not just one bar. I am sorry for misleading you all in this deal. Please don’t try this deal with that coupon, as it is not meant to be used in that fashion.

Thanks!

Cara

I stumbled upon a great deal at Dillons (21st & Fairlawn) today! They have a Planter’s Peanuts display set up at the end of the candy isle with Planter’s Granola Bars on sale for 69¢ a bar. The greatest part was there is a $1.00 off Q right on the display making these free, plus 31¢ towards your other groceries! (Don’t worry, I left some Q’s for some of you too, but hurry, they won’t last!)

  • 2 Heartland Pastas 3.00, used $1.60 in Q’s
  • popcorn kernels $1.99
  • 2 Russell Stover chocolates 2.98, used BOGO Q
  • 15 Planters bars 10.35, used 15 $1 off Q’s

Total OOP:  $1.54! That was a 98% savings!

Annie’s is Celebrating

Published
by
Cara
on January 31, 2009
in freebies
. 0 Comments

****Here is the updated link to read more on how to enter this sweepstakes to win!

Annie’s Homegrown turned 20 on January 23, 2009 and they want to celebrate by hosting a Birthday Sweepstakes starting February 1st. 20 winners will each receive a whole year’s supply of Annie’s products ($1,000 value)! If you like Annie’s products be on the look out for this great opportunity to win some free food! More info to come on their site February 1st; check them out then so you can find out the rules, regulations and most importantly, enter to win!

On top of this, they will also be donating 20¢ for every sweepstakes entry they receive to Sustainable Harvest International. (SHI provides farming families in Central America the training and tools they need to move from slash and burn farming to sustainable practices.)

Tuesday’s CVS Run 1/18 – 1/24

Published
by
Cara
on January 19, 2009
in CVS and freebies
. 0 Comments

It is not Tuesday yet, but I had to post this deal. Hurry on over to CVS to get 15 greeting cards free! FREE!

When you buy 3 American or Hallmark greeting cards, you’ll get $3 ECBs! Buy the 99¢ greeting cards and you’ll get them all free. Limit 5, for a total of 15!!!!

I started with $3.99 in ecbs, so here are how my transactions looked:

Transaction#1

  • 4 Hallmark cards @ 99¢ ea., $3.96
  • used $3.99 in ecbs that were adjusted down to $3.96 (CVS will not give you actual money out of the register if you do not spend it all, but you can choose to forfeit it, which is what I did in this case and in all of the next transactions.)

Total OOP:  0¢, with $3 ebcs for next time!

Transaction #2

  • 3 Hallmark cards $2.97
  • used the above $3.00 ecbs, adjusted down to $2.97

Total OOP: 0¢, with $3 ecbs for next time!

Transaction #3

  • 3 Hallmark cards $2.97
  • used the above $3 ecbs, adjusted down to $2.97

Total OOP:  0¢, with $3 ecbs for next time!

Transaction #4

  • 2 Hallmark cards $1.98
  • 2 candy bars 1.00 (you could just buy another card, it will still be free, you just won’t get credit for it, but I had chocolate…with coconut on the brain)
  • used the above $3 ecbs, adjusted down to $2.98

Total OOP:  0¢, with $3 ecbs for next time!

Thank you Addicted to Coupons for this fabulous idea!

Also take a peek at Money Saving Mom and The “Cent” sible Sawyer to see what else is on sale. You can also see what others are saving at CVS. This is really helpful if you are new to shopping at CVS. It can give you an idea on how to buy items for a low or no OOP (out-of-pocket) price.

Just in Case…

Published
by
Cara
on January 8, 2009
in Coupon talk and freebies
. 1 Comment

You don’t have enough toilet paper, here are two more links to print a 50¢ off Q for Cottenelle. The 4pack is only 99¢ at Dillons. The best part of the deal is that Dillons doubles coupons; so you will get your toilet paper free! Now who couldn’t use free toilet paper?!

coupons.com

Redplum.com

And if you don’t know what to do with all that toilet paper, check out this idea over at Saving Your Cents! Free entertainment!

Tuesday’s CVS Run 12/14 – 12/20

Published
by
Cara
on December 16, 2008
in CVS and freebies
. 1 Comment

I went to CVS this week not really planning to buy anything. I had the opportunity to take my sister there and give her the CVS low-down. While I was there she found these cute purses. When I realized I could get them for free, I snagged them for her. I am not really into the purse, but I really like the smelly-good stuff, so it was a deal! Plus, I have one happy sister now; another deal! :)

On a sad note:  The Topeka, KS CVS is no longer taking expired CVS coupons. So if you have some coupons in hand that are getting ready to expire, use them soon!

  • 2 Essence of Beauty Urban Charmer bags $22.48 (The Urban Charmer bags are on sale for Buy One Get One 50% off), used 2 $5 off CVS Q’s—these print out of their little red scanner machines.
  • Kit Kat (for overage purposes)
  • used 12.98 in ecb’s

Total OOP:  .oo !!! FREE

For more scenario ideas and to see what the best deals are this week at CVS Stop by Money Saving Mom and The “Cent”sible Sawyer!

Free Toilet Paper, Anyone?

Published
by
Cara
on December 12, 2008
in Dillons and freebies
. 0 Comments

picture: jeltovski

I just read at The “Cent”sible Sawyers site that you can get a 50¢ off printable Q from Cottonelle toilet paper.

Dillons has their 4-pack of Cottonelle at regular price for 99¢ here in Topeka, they also double their coupons, so you actually make one penny by using this coupon to “buy” a package of toilet paper!

Quick, go get your coupon!

Freebies and a Recipe

Published
by
Cara
on December 11, 2008
in Cooking, Recipes and freebies
. 2 Comments

Take a look through your coupons before you go to Dillons this week! There are at least five items that you can get free. Daisy sour cream, Tennesse sausage gravy, Fleishmen’s yeast, Lifesavers candy and Sure deodorant! Shannon at The Grocery Weekly has a more detailed list here.

And now a yummy recipe to use some of that free sour cream in.

Apple Carmel Bread

  • 3/4 c. sugar
  • 8 oz. sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 2c. flour–I used whole white wheat
  • 2 t. baking powder
  • 1/2t. baking soda
  • 1/2t. salt
  • 1 1/4c. chopped, peeled apples
  • 1/2 c. chopped nuts, optional–I left these out
  1. Beat sugar, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla on low until combined. Beat on medium speed for 2 more minutes.
  2. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
  3. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until combined.
  4. Stir in apples and nuts.
  5. Pour batter into a greased 9 X 5 X 3″ loaf pan. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 55-60 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack.
  • 1/4 c. butter
  • 1/4 c. brown sugar
  1. Combine butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 2 minutes.
  2. Drizzle over the top of your cooled apple loaf.
  3. Eat and enjoy!