If you haven’t had a chance, please take the Kansas City Mamas Reader Survey.

I want to make sure that I’m providing you with relevant content and information that helps you save money and live well.

It will only take you five minutes and I would really appreciate it.

And because I know that everyone’s time is worth something – after you have completed the survey, come back and leave a comment letting me know you did. And at the end of the survey time I’ll pick a comment and they will win a $10 Gift Card from Target. The survey will be open till September 6, 2010.

PS – This post will remain on the front page till September 6. Thanks in advance for taking it – it really helps me decide on future projects and future features for the blog.

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Good Living: Free Home Depot DIY Workshops

by Kelly on September 3, 2010

One of the benefits of being a coupon-ninja is how my appreciation for the simple dollar has transcended into other areas of my life.

I love garage sale “buying” and making use of really cool stuff that someone else thought was junk. I like being able to “recreate” a room by moving a few pieces of art and accessories around. And I love DIY projects that need paint and sand paper. And I love that I can do all of these for pennies on the dollar.

Before, I go any farther – let me say that Hubs is the main go-getter in the DIY projects. He is the muscle and I’m the planner. I’m that creative eye that sees what the possibility might be given a little creativity and sweat. He’s the one who swings the hammer.

But not all of us have Hubs, but you may have the creativity. So if you are a looking for a little DIY lovin’ and training - Home Depot has four FREE workshops (sign up for one or all of them) available that will help you spruce up your house and saving a little green in the process.

  • Fall Face Lift: Interior & Exterior Painting
    • Learn about patching, prep and maintenance for refreshing your home’s interior and exterior
    • Find out about some of the basic tools and accessories to make your project easy, fast and clean
  • Decorative Flooring Solutions
    • Explore the range of laminate, tile or carpet flooring options that make your projects easy and affordable
    • Learn about the range of colors, textures and innovative benefits like stain resistance and warranties
  • Save Energy. Save Money (This one will make money right after you take it.)
    • Begin weatherizing your home with a range of low-cost sealants and insulation that make your home more comfortable and save you money
    • Learn about other easy-to-install products that help you get lower electricity and water bill
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New Organize In Style P&G Coupon Book

by Kelly on September 3, 2010

Sign up here to receive a FREE Organize in Style coupon booklet from Proctor & Gamble.

Book will take between 6 – 8 weeks to arrive.

Thanks This Frugal Life.

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Check out Libby’s Get Back To The Table and receive coupons good for $1/3 Libby’s Canned Vegetables and $1/2 Libby’s Canned Fruit. Use these on the Hen House Deals this week and score cheap veggies and fruit.

Also – there is a new $1/1 Roman Meal Bread Printable Coupon.

Other coupons of note:

$.50/2 Land O’ Lakes Butter

$.50/2 Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers

$.50/1 Tetley Tea

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Follow me as I chronicle my shopping adventures in an effort to spend $300 per month on groceries, health/beauty and cleaning products in Success Stories.

New Month. New Budget. AMAZING sales.

Hy-Vee & Hen House

Hen House Pictured: (2) Spaghetti Os, (15) Libby’s Canned Vegetables, (4) Dole Mandarin Oranges, (4) Dole Pineapple, (2) Dole Tropical Fruit, (8) Libby’s Canned Pears, (2) Libby’s Canned Apricots, Betty Crocker Cake Mix, Betty Crocker Frosting, (2) Chunky Soups, (8) Jolly Time Popcorns, Worcestershire Sauce, (2) Best Life Buttery Spreads, Eggland Best Eggs, (10) Kraft Cheese, Jell-O Pudding Snacks, Blue Bunny Ice Cream Bars, (3) New York Brand Texas Toast, and (2) Johnsonville Brats.

Total: $42.96 (Saved $110.92 according to the register.)

Hy-Vee Pictured: (2) Bakery Hamburger Buns, M&M Pretzel, (4) Capri Suns, Cheetos Zingers, (2) Lay’s Potato Chips, Pillsbury Brownie Mix, Hy-Vee Hot Dog Buns, Town House Flatbread Crisps, (2) Wheat Thins, Orville Popcorn, (2) Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread, (3) Baby Carrots, 2.82 lbs Pink Lady Apples, 2.83 lbs Green Cabbage, and 2.40 lbs Green Grapes.

Total: $27.11

Free items at Hen House:

Spaghetti Os with $.50/2 Printable Coupon
Best Life Buttery Spreads with $1/1 Manufacturer Coupon
Worcestershire Sauce with $.50/1 Printable Coupon

My FREE item list isn’t extra long, but I was able to get SO many items for under $.50 each that I stocked up. I was especially excited to get the Libby’s Veggies and Fruit, Chunky Soup, and Spaghetti Os for so cheap because they will be donated to my local food pantry.

On a side note – I broke the register at Hen House again. Luckily, Jennifer, the supervisor, was working my checkout lane. She was able to fix the problem and took my coupons (all 37 of them). They all know me as “the coupon lady” and are nice as can be. I love my College & Quivera Hen House!

Price Chopper

I went the Ball’s Price Chopper at I-35 & Roe to pick up some MORE Hatch Chilies. And I have to tell you that I was in HOG heaven in their Hispanic food aisle.

They had all sorts of weird ethnic foods of varying shapes, sizes, and brands. I can see a future trip there when I have a little discretionary money. Oh, my.

Pictured: (2) 8-count flour tortillas, (2) Breyer’s Ice Cream, 3.44 lbs white onions, (9) limes, and 10.31 lbs of Hatch Chili Peppers.

Total: $20.53

The white onions were DIRT cheap at $.50/lb and the limes were a screaming deal at .12 each. (Can you say Gin & Tonics this weekend?) I’ll be drinking those as I’m roasting the 10 lbs of Hatch Chili Peppers on my grill.

So, it was an EXPENSIVE week for me.

When you add in the retail value of my CSA plus everything in the picture, I’ve spent $115.60.

But the majority of these purchases were for my stockpile. And when prices are this low – you need to take advantage of them.

Will I need to watch my spending the rest of the month? Absolutely.

But, will I enjoy all those peppers, canned fruit, and microwave popcorn in January. Absolutely.

What about you? How was your week? Leave a comment and let me know. Or even better, send me a picture of your trips. I’d love to share them with everyone on the blog or on Facebook.

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My answer….AFullCup.com

I use the A Full Cup Forums to get the “skinny” on upcoming national catalinas, as well as which catalinas are reported as “working” at our local Hy-Vees. The members are super nice and helpful, because they are coupon-crazed people like you and me.

In addition, the forums are helpful for finding hidden deals at Walgreens and CVS. The members know before about anyone else which items are producing RR or ECBs and which items are on clearance.

In addition to reading your favorite money-saving blogs, I recommend that you be part of a forum board. A Full Cup is FREE and it is a great way to gather information about stores that are important to you, as well as garnering a first-class education in utilizing coupons to your advantage.

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Get Organized: Fresh Produce

by Kelly on September 3, 2010

I love fresh produce.

I hate paying full retail for it.

I also hate buying it for cheap and then throwing half of it away because it has gone bad.

Enter into my life the Rubbermaid 8-piece Food Saver Storage Containers. (Insert Hallelujah noise.)

My strawberries, blueberries, romaine and iceberg lettuce, and watermelon have all lasted at least 50% longer when stored in these containers vs. just in regular storage containers.

I assume it is because of the cool, little insert – but to be honest, I don’t care. All I know is that my produce lasts longer and I’ve thrown away less produce since buying and using these containers. I figure these wonderful square pieces of plastic paid for themselves within the first month.

So maximize your savings, eat better produce, and organize your fridge with these amazing Food Save Storage Containers.

And for only $9.97 at Amazon – how can you go wrong?

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Five Freebies For Friday: 9/3

September 3, 2010

It’s FRIDAY. And time to recap the best freebies from the week, as well as a couple of new ones. Hope you are able to score some great stuff! FREE 7-Day Guest Pass to Bally Fitness plus No Membership Fee. Great way to experience the gym and some cool exercise classes for FREE. Become a [...]

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