As I was standing in Starbucks waiting to order yesterday, I noticed a stack of cards on the counter that were for a free download on ITunes. Every Tuesday Starbucks picks a different artist and song to offer as a free download.  Now, I have NEVER (yes never) downloaded something from ITunes (a benefit of having a music guru as a husband), but I thought, I like new music and it is free.  It was then that I realized that there are TONS of these "free" opportunities around me everyday that for years I have not taken advantage of. No more! I will be keeping my eyes open from now on and taking advantage of these offers.
    Looking back, there are a lot of offers that I have submitted since I started saving.  For example, Flinstones vitamins were on sale with a smart source coupon at Rite Aid a few weeks ago. There was an offer in Smart Source next to the coupon for a free Madeline book with one UPC code and receipt. I filled this out yesterday and mailed it in. Wouldn't a Madeline book make a great back to school gift for C? And this past weekend, CVS had a great deal on Welch's jam so I sent away for a free sandwich keeper with the purchase of 2. Great for the kids lunches.  Every week it seems that I see a handful of offers on different saving blogs or even in the coupon section of the newspaper. 
    I also hit Target yesterday and it was the first time I used my new Target Debit RedCard.  I was a bit dubious at first about getting another "credit card" for a store. This one however, has the option of being used as only a debit card, drawing directly from your checking account. We looked over the details of the card with a fine tooth comb and could find no drawbacks. With this card you get 5% off every purchase made at Target or Target.com. It comes off immediately at check out.  Also, 1% of all of your purchase go back to the school of your choice as long as you register a school.  There are some added benefits when using it to pay for prescriptions as well.  So yesterday, on my $18.00 bill, I saved another $0.90. That is just like using another coupon!!!!
    One of my guilty pleasures is Starbucks. There is a store right next to where I work and so I now only indulge when I go to work, which most weeks is only one time.  And of course because of all of the baby baking I am doing, decaf it is! Last Christmas, I got a Starbucks gift card which I found out you can register on the Starbucks website. When you register your card, you get drink points added to your account for every drink you purchase. Right off the bat, you get a card for a free drink on your birthday at any Starbucks. I also receive emails with special offers quite regularly. I am 2 drinks away from getting my Starbucks gold card (yes, it is gold!) which allows me a free drink for every 15 drinks.
    These are just some of the "deals" I have taken advantage of.  I know there are TONS out there.  I would love to learn about others, so feel free to leave comments!

    All right, so I said before, the fam doesn't necessarily love freezable meals BUT, there is no reason we can't eat parts of meals that are freezable. The staples I will call them. I decided to start off the weekend making and researching a few of these staples so that I can try them out.
    Last week, I posted about the Mix in the Pan Pie Crust that I tried (most definitely better as a dessert crust I think).  This may not be freezable, but is absolutely more economical than buying a crust.  I found this recipe on food.com. All of the ingredients (flour, sugar, oil, milk, and salt) are ones that you have on hand I am sure. 
    This morning, I decided that I would try to make some Honey Pizza Dough. I found this recipe on a really neat blog called Simple Bites.  There are a ton of other freezable options as well  on this blog! Here is the recipe:

    On the menu for this last week was homemade spaghetti sauce (my favorite plain jane recipe from my cousin Nicole). You can add to it what your family likes, but it is a really great base, especially for kiddos that like plain. It makes an entire stockpot, so I get to use it for dinner, freeze some, and I usually make it as a meal to help out a friend.  Here is the recipe:

THE BEST SPAGHETTI SAUCE!

1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (28oz) can pureed tomatoes
2 (28oz) cans tomato sauce
1 (12oz) can tomato paste
1 can condensed tomato soup
3/4 cup sugar (yes, sugar)
italian spices (your preference)
garlic
onion

I saute the onion and garlic (obviously cut up) in a large stockpot with some olive oil. Then I dump all of the other ingredients in and stir occasionally on low heat for the entire day. THAT'S IT!
I usually will put my cooked homemade meatballs or italian sausage in half way through to soak up the sauce and add some flavor. 

    Anyway, I have some of this sauce leftover from last week, so I will use that as the pizza sauce when we make our homemade pizzas this week! We just need some cheese (anyone have a cow we can raise?)

    I really enjoy baking and cooking, so there are many other recipes that I would like to try that can be parts of meals to come in the coming weeks and months. I will keep you posted.  Here a couple from my to do list for right now though:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles (all right, not freezable, but just for fun:)
Pita Bread (also from Simple Bites)

Going to the movies this weekend? Regal Cinemas is offering a free popcorn coupon! Click on this link to add your mobile phone number and have the coupon directly sent to it. Redeem at Regal Cinemas, United Artist, or Edwards Theater.  YUM!

Thanks SmartMomsSave!

    Well, it has been just over a month since I began this savings adventure. I thought I would reflect on the last month and list some goals for August.  Couponing was the focus of July as well as the idea of not using a single credit card and developing a living on our means plan.  We sat down and had the dreaded "budget talk".  The one thing that came out of it was that we just needed to stop spending. There was nothing else to cut (at this time) except for the extra spending.
    So far, we have done AWESOME with sticking to the "budget"! I am proud to say that almost ALL of the unrealistic, frivolous spending was cut this month and honestly, the kids for sure could not even tell.  We filled our days with their new favorite activity of couponing adventures and fun outdoor activities as well as low cost ones. There were definitely days though that we went on an excursion or got a pizza or ate out with friends. Though these days were few and far between. 
    Our spending before cutting and seeking out coupons amounted to this: about $110 in groceries every week and another $50 at Target for other essentials (laundry, diapers, cleaning products, shampoo, deodorant, etc.) every week.  This is a low estimate.  Now....we are averaging less than $100 for everything combined.  This includes all of the stores that I frequent now (Giant, Redners, Target, CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Walmart).  So far, that is a savings of about $240 in just the last month alone?  We have not limited our shopping trips for necessities in any way, we are just using coupons combined with sales and being more realistic in what we actually need so as not to waste. 
    Honestly, I have noticed that the long term differences are the most amazing. I have seen this in just the last week and am sure will continue to see improvements.  I have noticed with our grocery bill especially that by stocking up when there are sales, our bill sometimes is about $50.  We still get a bunch of fresh foods, some stock up items, and other necessities without depriving ourselves at all. 
    It has been so easy (and addicting) to get into this couponing craze.  I need to remember that my saving goal is more than just couponing and stockpiling.  While I have already witnessed the savings that we can have, there are so many other ways to be frugal and save money.  My focus is to learn how to be the most frugal and savvy I can be when it comes to our expenses and saving methods. 
    Best part for the hubby other than the savings? A reason to try out all of the new products.  His favorites this month have been the Dove Mens Care Deodorant (smells AWESOME) and his new Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor!

GOALS FOR AUGUST:
Write to companies and review some products in hopes of getting coupons in return
Keep a list of savings for our records. 
Pick one other mode of savings to attempt or learn about
Think of more ways to save money

    Well, finally, my final paper is finished for my master's class this summer! WAHOO! Anyway, it is the reason I didn't post today or yesterday. We had family over today, my lovely niece and Ben's parents, so I decided to make some chicken pot pie!  I usually (or always) use Pillsbury pie crusts (the store brand just don't do it), but with our new saving adventure and them not being on sale, it was a no go this time. I decided to make a "mix in the pan, no roll pie crust". 
    SUCCESS! We loved it! Of course, as always with new recipes, there are a few tweaks that I can make, but honestly, I loved that it was homemade and I really loved that it was CHEAP. 
    The recipe can be found here and is called Mix in the Pan - No Roll Pie Crust. I used it for a savory dish, but this really would be great for a dessert. When I make chicken pot pie I use a pie crust for the bottom and one on top as well. With this pie crust, I did the same, but I would recommend using one for just the top or just the bottom. It tasted too cakey. 
    Best part about the recipe? I saved money...AND you mix it in the pan with NO MESS AT ALL! That is always a plus! 

I love Kashi! My favorite is their Good Friends cereal, with TONS of fiber! Here is a link that will take you to a request page for samples of either dark chocolate Kashi peanut bars or a sample of cinnamon cereal.  I can't wait to get mine and try out this new product!

(Thanks Money Saving Mom!)

  

Looking to go on a date this weekend? Head on over to Ruby Tuesdays with this coupon for a free garden salad bar entree with the purchase of any adult entree (I love their salad bar). Here is the link to sign up and the coupon will be emailed to you.
        * Note...last time I signed up for one of their offers, it took a couple of hours before the coupon was emailed, so don't panic!


(Thanks Money Saving Mom!)