5 Harris Teeter 1 lb bacon, buy 2 get 3 free
$3.79 reg each
$7.58 for 5 = $1.52 each final

3 Harris Teeter dozen large eggs
$1.29 reg each
$.88 sale each (limit 3)

2 packs boneless skinless chicken breast, bogo or $2.50/lb
(More than my target price, but I needed chicken.)

Luigi’s Italian Ice, bogo for $1.65 each
$.55 q, $.55 final

Mt Olive dill cubes
$2.29 reg
$.50 q (expires 8/2)
$1.29 final

Mt. Olive hamburger dill slices
$2.59 reg
$.50 q (expires 8/2)
$1.59 final

Hefty plates
$3.19 reg
bogo for $1.69 each
$.50 q
$.69 final

2 Honey Nut Cheerios
$3.75 each reg
$2 each sale
$1 q off 2
$1.50 each final

5 Ocean Spray Craisins, buy 2 get 3 free
$2.79 each reg
5 for $5.58 = $1.12 each final

3 Kleenex tissues
$2.29 each reg
$1.15 each bogo sale
$1 q off 3
$.82 each final

2000 Flushes
$3.49 reg
$1.75 bogo sale
$.55 q
$65 final

2 Peter Pan peanut butter
$2.65 each reg
$1.67 each sale
$1 q off 2
$1.17 each final

2 Swanson canned chicken 4.5 oz
$2.19 each reg
$1.79 each sale
$.75 q off 2
$1.04 each

Uncle Ben’s rice pouch
$2.19 reg
q for free package = FREE

Wacky Mac noodles
$1.49 reg
$1 sale
$.50 q
FREE

4 Bumble Bee tuna pouches
$1.39 each
$1 sale
4 $.55 qs
FREE

Colgate toothpaste
$2.75 reg
$1.38 bogo sale
$.75 q
FREE

Noxzema disposable razors
$5.99 reg
$2.99 bogo sale
$1 q
$1.99 final

Kerala Curry mango chutney Indian condiment
$2.63 reg
$1.36 close out

Kerala Curry Indian vegetable kurma sauce
$2.63 reg
$1.36 close out

Nature’s Pride multi grain bread
$3.69 reg
$1.85 bogo sale

10 Dannon yogurt
$.65 each reg
3/$1 sale
$1 q off 10
$.23 each final

Hefty Cups
$3.30 reg
$1.65 bogo sale
$.75 q
$1.15 final

Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts
$2.39
$.55 q exp 8/2
$1.29 final
(These were not on sale, but I wanted to use my coupon because it was expiring that day.)

I also saved $10 off my purchase because I am an eVIC member.

My pretax amount before sales and coupons was $130.95. After sales and coupons, my pretax total was $38.31. That’s a savings of about 70%! Woohoo! It feels good to save money!

What kinds of deals have you found this week?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Also, on all 3 sides of the family, we draw names.  That always helps.  And for one side, we draw names for the great grandkids and the adults bring one gift for a Chinese Christmas gift.  This has many names but it keeps you from having to struggle with finding a perfectly fit gift.

Have fun!  I love this time of year.  It is such a challenge to pay cash for Christmas and not spend a lot of money.  I love it!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Also, I have started talking to my daughter about a Christmas list.  We have told her that a list is simply a bunch of choices that her grandparents have to pick from but she will not get everything.  She is starting to get it.  We also tell her that we have to give more gifts than we receive.  So last year, we counted all the gifts we gave and she made sure she didn’t get more than we gave.  We got close.  When she realized it, she asked if we could give more gifts so she wouldn’t go over.  I thought that was so sweet.

Have fun shopping!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

What is it that you do or spend money on that you can put on hiatus for a few months in order to pay cash for Christmas?  Why do we always feel like we have to put Christmas on credit?  I haven’t in over 15 years and I have over 30 people on my shopping list.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1 Aleve Liquid 20 ct (sale price $4.00)
1 CVS maxi-pads 24 ct (clearanced 40% off)
5 Softsoap Cashmere bodywash ($4.49 each)
1 CVS cotton balls ($1.49)
1 Real Simple magazine ($4.50)
2 Oral-B Pulsar Pro-Health toothbrushes (sale price $4.99 each)
1 TRESemme styling product (sale price $4.27)
1 Excedrin Back and Body 24 ct (sale price $3.00)
1 package Peeps (50% off)

So, I’m sure you’re wondering how I got over $50 worth of stuff for $8.  Here’s how it works:

Each week, check the CVS flyer to see if there are any items that you can get for free.  If there are items, then first you must invest a few dollars to get that item.  Instantly your CVS Extra Care Bucks (ECB) will print off for the price of the item and then you can use them to get more stuff. 

These are my transactions:
1. Aleve
2. 1 Softsoap – I used my $4.00 ECB and spent 52 cents (including tax).
3. 1 toothbrush – I used the $4.49 ECB from the Softsoap and spent .53.
4. 1 toothbrush – I used the $4.99 ECB from the toothbrush and spent 0.
5. 1 TreSemme produce, 1 Excedrin – I used the $4.99 ECB from the toothbrush and I had a $2 ECB that printed when I bought the Aleve (I guess from some purchases I made a few weeks ago) and spent .30.
6. 2 Softsoap – 1.83
7. 2 Softsoap – 0
8. 1 pad, 1 Softsoap, cotton balls, 1 Peeps (I needed to buy the Peeps because I had a negative balance) – $1.06
9. Real Simple Magazine – .01 I used my remaining ECB of $4.49 to get something that I wanted.

Have you had much luck using the CVS Extra Care Bucks?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

2)  Register for your shower.  People will be more likely to get you what you need.  Also, if you are registered at Target, they have a more flexible return policy.

3)  Nurse if you possibly can.  Formulas can cost a lot of money.  If you’re lucky, formula will cost about $1200-$1400 a year.  If you child has colic or some other tummy problems, the more expensive formulas could cost double that amount.

4)  Check the consignment store for breastpumps.  The consignment store where I shop usually has a nice Medela single or double breastpump for sale.  You’re going to sterilize a new one or used one anyway, so get the used one and save $100 or more.

5)  Find out where you can get free breastfeeding advice.  Some hospitals have a free lactation center and others have lactation nurses that will call and check up on you.  You could also check with your local La Leche group for help.  Finding support is important if you want to continue breastfeeding.

6)  Don’t rush out and spend lots of money on a breastfeeding wardrobe.  More than likely you’ll spend the first two weeks inside resting and breastfeeding anyway.  After that time you can see what your needs really are.  Many times we overestimate what we’ll need and we buy too much.

7)  Don’t worry about brand names.  Wal-Mart and Target have come out with some cute lines of clothing.  You don’t have to have the most expensive name brands.

8)  Accept hand-me-downs.  Don’t give people the idea that you’re too good to take second hand stuff. 

9)  Be sure and tell people how much you appreciate the things they’ve passed down to you.  If you don’t seem thankful, then they may find someone else to give their stuff to.

10)  Shop thrift stores, consignment stores, and yard sales for baby clothes, baby equipment, bottles, toys, and more.  I can’t say that one enough.  Two weeks ago I was at a yard sale and picked up some Avent bottles for 25 cents each!  I don’t have any babies, but we have some friends that use these bottles with their baby.  I spent just a few dollars and they will be happy to get the extra bottles. 

I think this picture speaks volumes about why you should shop at consignment stores. 

11)  Buy some neutral things so that they can be used by your next baby, no matter the gender.  I have been saving a lot of my daughter’s jeans and denim overalls for my son. 

12)  Make your own baby food.  Parents.com has some recipes to get you started.

13)  Only buy what you need.  There are so many gadgets and products on the market.  Many of these items are unnecessary.  Talk to some of your friends and find out what their favorites are and why.

14)  Say “Yes!” if your doctor asks if you want to be added to a mailing list.  You will get lots of freebies in the mail.

15)  Keep those samples of formula the doctor gives you or that you get in the mail.  Even if you plan on breastfeeding, you might still need them.

16)  Visit websites and get put on their mailing list.  I did this with some formula and diaper companies.  They will sometimes send free samples and coupons.

17)  Before leaving the hospital, make sure they give you your free stuff.  Usually Similac or Enfamil provides hospitals with a diaper bag full of goodies for all new moms.  Inside, you will usually find diaper cream, lotion, coupons, and all sorts of great things.

18)  Forget about buying expensive shoes until baby can walk.  Unless your baby can walk, there really is no need to buy the $35 shoes.  All your baby needs is some socks or booties. If you want your baby to have on shoes, then go for the less expensive pair or a pair from the consignment store.  More than likely, your baby will kick them off anyway and you certainly don’t need the more expensive ones since your baby won’t be walking.

19)  Set up a photo website, email pictures, or make photo cds for everyone.  Making copies of photos can be really expensive.  I learned that lesson early.  Now I email pictures of the kids.  It’s less expensive and everyone gets regular updates.   Family members and friends can print off their favorites or save them to a cd.  About once a year, I make a photo cd for the grandparents.  Speaking of which, it’s time to do that again!

20)  Test drive a stroller before you buy it.  This one saved us at least $200.  My husband and I thought we would need a double stroller.  Thankfully, we test drove them around the baby store and realized how difficult and awkward they were.  Plus, I don’t think it would have fit very well in our van.

21)  Use cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers aren’t what they used to be.  Cloth diapers now come with elastic legs and snaps or velcro closures.  You can even buy them used or new on ebay.

22)  Make your own baby wipes.  Here’s my post on how to make them.

23)  Use bibs!  I am a firm believer in the use of bibs.  Bibs will save you money since you won’t be ruining good clothes and they will save you money because you won’t be washing clothes so much.  When my kids eat spaghetti, I usually take off their shirt.  It seems spaghetti always gets everywhere.  Another alternative to bibs is to buy larger shirts at a yard sale.  Put the oversized shirts on your baby when he eats.  You will get more coverage that way.

24)  Try out generic diapers and see which ones work for you.  Some people say generic diapers didn’t work for their children, but I’ve never had any problems with my two kids.  I’ve tried Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Food Lion, Sam’s, and more.  Never any problems.  I think it depends on the child.  Give them a try and if they don’t work then take them back to the store.  Most store brands have a guarantee statement printed on the package.

25)  Shop the clearance rack frequently.  I once got a $100 stroller at Target for $22.

Well, there are the 25 ways I could think of.  That’s certainly not every way to save money with a baby.  Perhaps one day in the future I could post another 25 ways to save.  Do you have any ways that you save on money on your baby?  Let us know!

Images from morrisons.co.uk, tgtbt.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So I went shopping this weekend and I splurged!

• 23 pieces at around $3 per piece.  Some of the outfits still had the tags on them and were all name brands like Gap and Children’s Place.  They included a jogging outfit, Old Navy jeans, PJ’s, shoes, and adorable rompers and dresses
• 6 books anywhere from $.12 – $1
• Leap Frog push around toy for $5
• Blue wooden, brand new high chair for $7.50
• Splurge of a chenille baby blue boppy with white clouds that has a removable cover
• Lady bug purse for $2.50

I was so happy to get such good deals.  I can’t wait for yard sale season to get into full swing.  Once I figure out what I need for the new baby, I will be able to shop guilt free.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The artisans of these bags have learned marketable sewing skills. They work an eight-hour day making quality handbags and receive on-the-job literacy lessons. Each artisan is eventually able to read and sign her own paycheck, which many have never been able to before! By purchasing a Henna Bag, you are supporting these women who are using their unique skills to be freed from the bonds of prostitution.

That’s pretty awesome.  You can buy a beautiful one of a kind bag at a great price, all the while helping a woman to be freed from a life of prostitution. 

The beautiful bag shown above is available for only $14.99. Also available are cosmetic bags, eyeglass cases, backpacks, pencil cases, totes, coin purses, and more. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

After my response, my husband began to do something that he does very well.  He began to research the many different brands and products that are available.  He did some research online and decided that we needed to buy a Eureka Boss Smart Vac.  He went to the Consumer Reports website and found out that they had very good things to say about the Eureka Boss and that it was an inexpensive vacuum cleaner. 

Consumer Reports tested 59 vacuums and rated the Kenmore Progressive 35922 ($300), Eureka Boss ($150), and Kenmore Progressive 25512 ($300) as Best Buys.  The Eureka Boss also ranked #4 among all the vacuums.

Once my hubby decided which vacuum we would purchase, he also searched for the best deal.  He found the best deal on e-bay through ABC Vacuum Warehouse.  Including shipping we only paid $103.68 for our vacuum!  We also got 9 extra bags with the deal.

We’ve only had our new vacuum cleaner for about a month now, but it is definitely the best vacuum cleaner we have ever owned.  I used to think we needed new carpet.  Now I realize we just needed a new vacuum cleaner.  My carpet has never looked better.  Best of all, my husband now likes to vacuum.  He has probably vacuumed more this past month than I have.  That’s enough to make a girl happy.   

The Eureka also has a hose (and attachments) with great suction power and it does floors.  This weekend I put the brush attachment on and started dusting just about everything in my house with it.  I was amazed at the super job it did dusting my tv.

The Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 is definitely a thrifty buy. Now, if only I were a celebrity.  I could get some major kick-backs for saying all these things! 

Photo from Eureka.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Thanks Darlene for the tip.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy