Coupon Savings

Aunt Sissy suggested blogging my exciting coupon shopping trips, so I figured why not? I had a small shopping trip this week, but did have some noticeable savings that I was proud of! (Is it strange that coupons make me so excited?) How about you?

Wal-Mart Coupons
Most of these coupons were printed coupons from coupons.com or manufacturers' websites. The Suave coupon I got in the mail by doing a survey or something.

Toaster Scrambles: $1.88 - $1 coupon = $.88
8 Yoplait Yogurt Cups: $.60/each - $1/8 coupon = $.48/each
(Elizabeth & I have been eating a lot of yogurt lately)
2 Yoplait Kids Yogurt Drinks with DHA: $2.58/each - $1/2 = $1.58/each
Suave 2-n-1 Shampoo/Cond, large bottle: $3.00 - $3 coupon = FREE!
Aveeno Baby Wash/Shampoo: $2.97 - $2 coupon = $.97
18 gal Rubbermaid Storage Tote: $8.94 - $1 coupon = $7.94
(for storing outgrown girl's clothes)
Total savings through coupons (some of these were done more than once) = $14.00

Kroger Deals
Most of these coupons were from Sunday paper coupon inserts. Some printed coupons from coupons.com or manufacturers' websites. The e-coupons I used were from cellfire.com.

Pillsbury Cake Mix: Sale Price $0.94 - .40 coupon, doubled = $0.14/each
(got 2 for upcoming birthdays)
Red Seedless Grapes: Sale Price $.99/lb = $1.08
Viva Big Roll Paper Towel: $2.39 - .35 coupon, tripled = $1.34
Frito's: Sale Price $2
Cottonelle 4-pk: $1.19 - .25 e-coupon - $1.00 coupon = $0.06 OVERAGE
Cottonelle 4-pk: $1.19 - .50 coupon, doubled = $0.19
Cottonelle 4-pk: $1.19 - .50 coupon, doubled = $0.19
Kleenex with Lotion, large box: $2.09 - .40 coupon, doubled = $1.29
Kroger Milk: reduced for quick sale to $1.89/gal
Kroger Milk: reduced to $1.89/gal
Kroger Milk: reduced to $1.89/gal
(the sell by date on the milk was Feb 19, so I put it into the freezer until I need to pull it out)
Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath: $2.89 - .50 coupon, doubled = $1.89
Eggland's Best Large Eggs: $2.59 - .35 coupon, tripled = $1.54
Eggland's Best Large Eggs: $2.59 - .35 coupon, tripled = $1.54
6 Yoplait Light Yogurt Cups: $.60/each - .50 e-coupon - .50 coupon, doubled = $.35/each
Total savings through sale prices, coupons, and doubles/triples = $14.11

Total savings on this small trip = $28.11 !!!

The one that got away...

I find it's easiest for me to get away to do shopping by myself on Monday or Tuesday. Our Kroger sales run Wednesday-Tuesday. So on the last day of this week's sale, one biggie got away from me. They had the small boxes of Totino's Pizza Rolls on sale for 4/$5. Then I had 4 coupons for $.35 off, which would have been tripled, making each box $.20! I normally don't buy these, but at $.20/box I thought it would be something different for the kids or a quick snack for Dad. Apparently, this had been a popular sale, because they were completely out of the small boxes! Oh, well...

And nothing I've tried has helped, but I still can not print coupons from my computer from smartsource.com or eversave.com. : ( It's really annoying me, too, because I missed some more Cottonelle coupons and Tidy Cat!

Coupon shopping takes some prep-work, but it works for me!

Sorry about that massive banner for coupons.com. I put in the code for the smaller banner & this big one keeps showing up. If you're seeing a small one, never mind.

My Homemade Laundry Detergent Story...

Several people have inquired about my homemade detergent, so I thought the easiest way to respond would be to blog it. First of all, I must say this is not my invention, but a recipe I've seen all over the blogosphere since I've been reading homemaking & sustainable living blogs. I think my interest in detergent came with our switch over to cloth diapers when Elizabeth was a few months old. You have to use additive-free detergent with diapers (and no fabric softener) or they develop a residue build-up... which leads to really stinky diapers.

I started out with some homemade detergent that I'd found on Etsy. I used it only for the diapers & everything seemed to be working with it. But then I ran out. I read that baking soda was good on diapers, so then I used that alone on the diapers for a while. Then I started seeing the recipe for detergent all over these blogs I was reading, so I decided that when I ran out of Cheer, I'd make a total switch over to homemade. That happened in December 2008.

Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder

1 c grated laundry soap bar (which is about 2/3 of a bar)
1/2 c washing soda
1/2 c borax

Grate the soap with a cheese grater or food processor. Add all ingredients into a bowl that has an airtight lid. Stir or shake to mix well. Store the air tight container. Use 2 Tablespoons per load.

Here's what mine looks like all mixed up. I store it in a plastic Ziplock storage container. I used a regular cheese grater for the soap. The next batch I made I used a finer cheese grater & I like the finer texture a bit better. That's just personal preference. I can't tell any difference when it's in use. My next batch will be a double batch.

Now the nitty-gritty - does it work? I haven't noticed any difference since I switched between how this works & how our store-bought detergent worked! The Fels Naptha is a stain remover, washing soda cuts grease and odors and borax cleans, deodorizes and softens the water.

So now we use this for all the laundry. If I've got stains, I'll still use some OxyClean or a pre-treater. For our family, the biggest benefit to homemade detergent is that it's cheaper and it's also safe for diapers & sensitive baby skin, so I don't have to have 2 detergents. Some of the other bloggers have done the math and figure this recipe comes out to about a penny per load. The initial cost was about the same price as the big box of detergent from WM, but these ingredients are going to last me a long time!

I did have a problem at first finding all 3 ingredients. I found Borax at every store I looked, but no washing soda. I finally found it at HEB Central Market. The box was all dusty like they didn't sell much of it. I found a laundry soap bar at WM called Pink Zote, but it was really soft & I couldn't grate it, plus it had added color & scent, so I didn't end up using it. I finally found all 3, including Fels Naptha at Kroger. They can be ordered online if you can't find them locally. I know Amazon.com has them and there's probably other sites that carry all 3 also.

If you're interested in other homemade cleaners, check out the homemade cleaners at Down to Earth, an Australian blog which I just love reading. That entry includes recipes for: laundry liquid, laundry powder (which is what I use), heavy duty laundry powder, laundry stain removers, fabric softener (use this also), diaper pre-soak, all purpose cleaner, skin cleaner, oven cleaner, silver cleaner, soft scrub, window cleaner, wood polish, assorted flooring cleaners, crayon mark remover, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and deodorant!

Homemade cleaners... It Works for Me! (click to see more Works for Me Wednesday participants)

Works for Me: Practice!

Several of my commenters have mentioned how they've taken a CPR class in the past, but are not sure if they'd remember it if they needed to use it. I was the same way.

I've been practicing with my CPR Teddy bear for 2 years, now, and while I don't claim to be perfect by any stretch, I think I could handle performing CPR if I had to... not that I ever want to!

So, what works for me, to remember CPR skills, is practicing with my CPR Teddy!

Now, the little bear shown in this picture, is actually CPR Teddy Jr. He is not a practice bear, but is designed to walk you through the steps of infant or child CPR in an actual emergency! How cool is that?!? So if you freeze and can't remember, Junior will talk you through it! He's being released in December & I can't wait to get one in my hands.

I think these bears are one of the best inventions I have ever seen... so much that I'm now selling them on my website. But I'm giving away a CPR Teddy Jr. (to be delivered in December) right here on my blog this week! Click here to go to the giveaway post and enter to win!

Wow, it's been a while since I did a Works For Me Wednesday. I love this week's WFMW tip on the link there about keeping extra paint in jars. I'll have to do that with our extra paint!

Works For Me Wednesday: Ribbon Storage

I've been making a lot of little tag blankets in the last couple of months. After a couple of days of making these, I end up with a dining table covered in spools of ribbon that an inquisitive 3 year old has a hard time leaving alone!

While I dream of the day when I'll have a craft room with peg board walls and can wire my ribbon up for easy access, I needed a fix now! Enter the drawer unit that I've had since college:

In the top 2 drawers I ordered my spools of ribbon and can now measure and cut off the 5" pieces of ribbon I need without even removing them from the drawers! The bottom drawer is a compilation of small pieces of ribbon that are not long enough to roll on a spool. And I can pick up the entire drawer unit & put it away when it's time to clean the table! How 'bout that? It works for me! See what works for others at Rocks in my Dryer's Works for Me Wednesday!