The Grocery Gathering~ Meijer

Meijer Deals Aug. 31- Sept. 6

Aunt Millie's Bread B1G2 free
.35 coupon (doubled) 08-10 RP exp.09-30
If you have 3 coupons this should be a real good deal.

Select General Mills Cereal $1.79
.55 Cinnamon Toast Crunch coupon here
$1.24 per box

Eckrich sliced turkey or turkey ham B1G1
$1/2 coupon 08-10 S2 exp.10-31

Exrich Smoked Sausage B1G2
.75 coupon 07-20 S exp.10-31
If you have 3 coupons this should be a real good deal

Ball Park Franks B2G2
$1/2 coupon 08-24 RP exp.09-28

Rice a Roni 99 cents
.50 Nature's way coupon(doubled) here
Free

Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups
.50/2 coupon (doubled) 07-13 S exp.09-06
$1.29 per box

Juicy Juice 64 oz bottle 2/$5
$1 coupon here
$1.50 per bottle.

Capri sun 4/$7
Buy 4 and get $3 off your next purchase.

Powerade 59 cents
.75 coupon 06-08 S exp.10-31
Free

Valasic Pickles 3/$5
$1 coupon here
67 cents per jar.

Super Saving Saturday~CVS

For me it was a very good week at CVS. I made 3 trips and spent a total 64 cents out of pocket. That is 64 cents for over $42 of merchandise. I still have about $7 in ECB's but I plan to go again today to finish up the deal on Garnier Fructis products. Here is what I got.

2 packages of Stayfree Pads

2 packages of Kotex liners

2 bottles of Garnier Fructis PlayStyle Liquid gel

2 bottles of Revlon nail polish

1 bag of True North Almond Clusters (I love them)

1 box of ZipFizz Energy Drink packs

1 bottle of Children's Advil

5 candy bars( 4 of which were eaten before I could take the picture)

This really was a great week for me with most items being something I wanted or needed and the candy as fillers and to keep the kids happy. To see how others saved this week be sure to visit Money Saving Mom.

Frugal Friday-Just Ask

Sometimes saving yourself money is just as easy as asking. I learned that lesson again on a recent visit to the dentist with the kids. My kids use Smart Rinse by Listerine. My kids love it because they think they see their germs in the sink and I love it because it is a good fluoride rinse for them. I often see coupons lying around at the dentist office so I asked the hygentist if she had a coupon for Smart Rinse. Well not only did she have the coupons but she also gave me a free bottle for each kid. The kids thought it was so cool that they got their own bottle and I was thrilled with the money I just saved. I though to myself boy am I glad that I asked.


You can find a coupon for $1 off Smart Rinse here. Sometimes it really does pay to Just Ask.

New Snack Find

While I was on a recent trip to my sister's I stumbled upon a new snack in her kitchen, True North Almond Clusters. I can't tell you how many bags we have gone through since my discovery, but I am hooked along with the rest of my family. These crunchy nut clusters combine freshly roasted almonds with a surprising hint of sweetness. They are 100% natural and have no preservatives or artificial flavors. If you are looking for a good healthy snack you should give these a try. If you can't find them at a store near you they are available here. Happy Snacking

Wordless Wednesday

He almost looks Amish

For more WW go here or here.

Free Lunch

A new Chipotle Restaurant is opening up at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor this week. My husband happened to give me a card to stop by today for some free food. I did while out shopping with my daughter and mother. To our surprise the card was good for free food and drinks. We could order anything we wanted off the menu and we didn't pay a penny. I was lucky enough to get a card for my daughter and mom and we all ate lunch for free. You can't beat that FREE great tasting food. Thanks Chipotle. You can get some free food tomorrow as well if you live near Ann Arbor. Stop by the Brairwood Mall Chipotle on Wednesday between 11-7 and you can get a free Burrito.

Tea Giveaway Winner

The random winner of the Simpson &Vail Signature Blend tea is Jenny who says she would have liked to try the White Lilac Tea. That is a flavor I have not tried but it does sound good. Congratulations Jenny, please contact me so I can get you your tea. Even if you didn't win head over to Simpson & Vail and purchase one or their great teas. You won't be disappointed. I hope to be giving away more tea soon so check back this week.

The Grocery Gathering~ Meijer

Meijer Deals 8/24-8/30

OK my deals are now fixed. Sorry for the mix-up.

Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage B2g1

Fiber One Bars 5/$10
.50 coupon(doubled)08-10 GM exp.10-04
$1 per box

Totino's Pizza Rolls 40 ct 4/$10
.35 coupon(doubled) 08-10 GM exp.11-01
$1.80 per bag

Pillsbury Grand Biscuits .97cents
.30/2 coupon(doubled)
.67 cents per tube

Meijer Tilapia B2G2

Chex Mix 4/$5
$1 coupon here
.25 cents per bag

Fast fixin Chicken B1G1
$1 coupon here

Eckrich Bologna or Salami B1G1
$1/2 08-10 S2 exp.10-31

Minute Maid Lemonade 5/$5
.55/2 coupon 06-29 S exp.08-31
2 cartons for $1.45

Edwards Singles Pie Slices 1/2 price
$1/2 coupon 06-29 S exp.09-06

SuperPretzels 1/2 price
$1/2 coupon 08-24 RP exp.10-31

Pillsbury Toaster Strudels $1.88
$1/2 coupon 07-13 S exp.10-04
$1.38 per box

Betty Crocker Fruit snacks 3/$5
.50/2 coupon(doubled)08-10 GM exp.10-04
$1.17 per box

Suave Body wash $1.66
.50 coupon(doubled) 07-13 RP exp.10-05
.66 cents per bottle

For deals from your favorite store be sure to check out The Grocery Gathering at BeCentsAble

Tea Giveaway.

Just a reminder that my tea giveaway ends tomorrow. You can find all the details about it here. Don't miss your chance to win.

Free Aveeno Sample

I recently completed a campaign for BzzAgent for Aveeno Positively Ageless firming and lifting night cream. I got to sample their product which I thought was great. You can also now try a free sample and get a coupon for $1.50 for an Aveeno facial care product. Go to Avenno and check it out.

Frugal Friday

Spend Your Gift Certificates Now

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You've heard this before, right? Well it's true for gift certificates, gift cards and other cash equivalents as well. Until you actually use the gift card, it only represents the potential for obtaining what you want. And that potential has a way of escaping your grasp if you aren't careful.
While there is something to be said for timing your purchases to coincide with a sale or special promotional discount, there is also a tendency for people to fall into the trap of hording their gift cards or freebie coupons for some big purchase down the road. Holding onto these payment alternatives for long periods instead of using them in short order can actually decrease, rather than increase your buying power in a variety of ways.

Inflation: Over the course of time, inflation will gradually erode the real spending power of a gift certificate or other payment type with a fixed dollar value. Before hiding that gift card in your sock drawer for next year's birthday blowout, read our article about Beating the Time Bandit. The basic concept is that inflation consistently drives up the price of consumer goods by about 3% each year. The end result is that you could spend your $10 gift card now to buy a $10 hat. But if you wait a year before trying to make your purchase, you'll likely find that the same hat will then cost about $10.30 which means your gift card has lost buying power and is no longer worth what it was when you got it because its cash value has remained the same while the real cost of goods has increased.

Loss or Theft: The longer you hold onto your gift certificate, the more likely you are to lose track of it somewhere in your house (especially if it's within the reach of your children) or to discover that it was stolen before you had the chance to use it. Other destructive forces posing a risk to your ability to use that gift certificate 6 months from now include sunlight (yes, that ink can and will fade over time), liquid spills, and accidental disposal.

Fees and Expirations: Thankfully, this is becoming much less of an issue than it once was. But you should still be aware that some gift cards and certificates may come with a value reduction clause that will begin decreasing their dollar value over time until no balance remains. Some may also indicate a specific expiration date beyond which you simply can not use them.

Out of Business: Keep in mind that your gift certificate or gift card only has value so long as the specified merchant is in business. The author watched this happen first hand. A $100 gift certificate to a local spa was given as a birthday present. The recipient had no immediate plans to visit the spa. As the months rolled by, the giver occasionally reminded the recipient of the gift, encouraging the recipient to make use of it soon. After a few more months, it was discovered that the spa who issued the gift certificate had quietly gone out of business and the certificate had become worthless paper. If none of these reasons spurs you into action, consider this. Think of your gift certificate as a monetary loan to the issuing store and realize that the longer they have the cash that purchased your card without having to hand over the goods that could have been bought with that cash, the more money they make at your expense. They'd be perfectly happy if you never redeemed it at all, now wouldn't they.

This is an article my husband wrote on Pinchtown.com. The spa gift certificate he mentioned was mine. I really felt so bad about it. He had given to me after our son was born and I never made the time to use it. I felt horrible that he had spent all the money and I never got to go the spa. That was not the only certificate with which we had problems . we had 2 other gift certificates we had similar problems with, but eventually were able to find a place to use. We have learned our lesson.

For more frugal ideas be sure to visit Biblical Womanhood.

Wordless Wednesday

See I can milk a cow.

For more WW go here or here.

Tea Giveaway.

On my recent trip to Connecticut I made a stop Simpson & Vail ,which is my favorite place to buy tea. I stocked up on some favorites and bought a few new flavors to sample. Simpson &Vail is a company owned by the Harron family. I have met Jim on several of my visits and this time I also had the pleasure of meeting his son Jim Jr. They blend their own tea and have so many great varieties to choose from. I have the opportunity to offer one of my readers a chance to try their wonderful tea for yourself. Simpson & Vail was kind of enough to give me 2 ounces of their Signature Blend loose tea to give one of my readers. This tea is their own secret blend of Ceylon and Indian teas which has been with the company for many years.

To enter this giveaway visit the Simpson & Vail website and pick your favorite flavor of tea and then come back here and let me know what it is. You can also receive an extra entry by adding a post about this giveaway on your blog. The giveaway will close next Monday August 25th and I will choose a random winner. If you aren't a registered user make sure you leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

To see what others are giving away on their sites be sure to visit Money saving Mom.

The Grocery Gathering~ Meijer

Meijer deals 8/17-8/23

McCormick Seasoning, Sauce or Gravy Mix .50
.25 coupon (doubled)05-04 RP exp.08-31
Free

Lysol Neutra Air Freshmatic Kit 1 ct
$5 coupon 08-03 S exp.09-29
should be close to free.

Skippy Peanut Butter 2/$4
.40 coupon(doubled)08-17 RP exp.11-09
$1.20 per jar

Knorr Rice or Pasta Sides 5/$5
.60/2 coupon 08-17 RP exp.10-12
.70 cents per package

Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.49
.50/2 coupon(doubled)08-17 RP exp.10-26
.99 cents per jar.

Lawry's Marinade 3/$5
.50 coupon(doubled)08-17 RP exp.11-09
.67 cents per bottle

Hellman's Mayonnaise 30oz.jar 2/$5
.50 coupon(doubled)08-17 RP exp.11-09
$1.50 per jar

Tyson Boneless Chicken or Anytizers 4/$10
$1 coupon 07-20 S exp.10-18
$1.50 per box

Kellog's Pop Tart's 2/$3
$1/2 coupon 08-03 KL exp.09-28
$1 per box

Kool-Aid Jammers 3/$5
$1/2 Meijer Mealbox coupon
$1.17 per box

Bob Evan's roll sausage $2.39
.30 coupon(doubled) 06-22 S exp.08-24
$1.79 per roll.

Meijer Sour Cream
.50 Meijer Mealbox coupon
.79 cents per container

Kraft Deli Fresh Cheese Slices 2/$7
.75 coupon 07-20 S exp.08-24
$2.75 per package
Buy @ packages and get one package of Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh Shaved Meat free

Eggo waffles $1.15
$1/2 coupon 08-03 KL exp.09-28
.65 cents per box

Dove Shampoo or Conditioner 2/$6
$2 coupon 08-17 RP exp.11-17
$1 per bottle

For more deals from your favorite stores be sure to visit The Grocery gathering over at BeCentsAble.

Its Always Great To Be Home.

My kids and I had a wonderful vacation visiting my sister in Connecticut. We took a detour on our way home and spent a few days in Lancaster County, PA. We really enjoyed the beautiful countryside and had a great time. After a long day in the car today I am so glad to be home. If you are looking for my Meijer Post for the Grocery Gathering I will have it up tomorrow.

Zucchini Pie

This is the time of year when many people have an abundance of zucchini and are wondering what to do with it all. When you get tired of making zucchini bread you can try my favorite summertime recipe for zucchini pie.

4 cups sliced zucchini
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup margarine
2 T. parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. basil
2 eggs
8 oz. mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 salt
1 ready made deep dish pie crust
Optional 1/2 lb. hamburger cooked and drained.( I prefer it with the hamburger)

Saute Zucchini, onions and margarine in a pan. Drain. Put in a mixing bowl. Add parsley flakes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, eggs, meat,and cheese. Mix well. Pour into pie crust and bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour. Insert table knife, when knife comes out clean pie is done.

A Wonderful Suprise

This beautiful flower arrangement arrived at my sister's house the other day. To my surprise they were for me from my husband. They are absolutely beautiful and in a very pretty tea cup. I can barely wait to be able to use the tea cup but I will be more excited to see my husband . I feel like I should be the one sending him flowers since he is left home working while his family is on vacation.

Wordless Wednesday

Mommy Can Fish!

For more WW go here or here.

The Grocery Gathering~ Meijer

Meijer Deals 8/10 to 8/16

I am away from home this week so I have not had time to look up all the deals but here are a few that I found. I hope that these help.

Select General Mills Cereal
$1/2 coupon 07-13 S exp 08-23 or .55 Cheerios coupon here
$1.30 or $1.25 per box

Capri Sun 4/$7
Buy 4 and get $3 off your next order

French's Mustard 5/$5
.30 coupon(doubled) 06-22 S exp.08-31
.40 cents per bottle

V-8 V-Fusion 2/$6
$1 coupon 07-13 S exp.09-30
$2 per bottle

Cheerios Snack Mix 3/$5
.60 cent coupon here
$1.07 per bag

Sargento Deli Slices 2/$7
.55/2 coupon 06-22 RP exp.09-15
2 bags for $6.45

Meijer Frozen Potatoes 5/$10
$1 Meijer Mealbox coupon
$1 per bag

Eggo Waffles 2/$5
$1/2 08-03 Kellog coupon exp.09-28
$2 per box

Powerade 32 oz. 69 cents
.75 cent coupon 06-08 S exp.10-31
Free

Eckrich Franks B2G2
.75 coupon 07-20 S exp.10-31

Revlon cosmetics or Beauty tools 1/2 price
$1 tool coupon 05-18 S2 exp.09-18
$2 Color Cosmetic coupon 07-20 S exp.11-16

To find deals from more of your favorite stores visit BeCentsAble.

We Feel Loved

The kids and I have come to Connecticut to visit with my sister and her husband. After a long day in the car we arrived to a great dinner and this chocolate eclair cake for dessert. Boy did we feel loved, not only one of our favorite desserts but also a great welcoming message from my brother -in-law. Here is the recipe

Chocolate Eclair Cake

2 small packages French Vanilla instant pudding

1 8 oz. container of Cool Whip

1 box of Graham Crackers

1 can of chocolate frosting

Prepare pudding as package directs (I use 3 1/2 cups of milk instead of 4). Add Cool whip and mix together. Set aside. Line bottom of a 9x13 pan with a layer of graham crackers. Pour half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Add another layer of graham crackers. Pour the rest of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Add another layer of graham crackers and then frost with chocolate frosting.

Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before serving.

My daughter who is 5 loves to make this dessert and it is quite easy for her.

Coupon Giveaway

My Spot is a blog I just discovered and they are currently having a giveaway of over 500 coupons and a terry cloth tote. You may want to head over to try and win yourself some free coupons. The giveaway runs through August 13 so be sure to check it out.

Cocoa Puffs Winners

Congratulations to Carol, Reeva, Family and KJ. These are the 4 random winners that were chosen from this Random Number Generator to receive a coupon for a free box of Cocoa Puffs. Congrats and enjoy your free cereal.

The Grocery Gathering~ Meijer

10 for $10 Deals

Pillsbury Frosting

.40 coupon(doubled)07-27 RP exp.09-30

.20 cents per container

Tostino's Pizza Rolls

.35 Coupon(doubled) here or here

.30 cents per box

Shedd's Country Crock Spread

.55 Omega Plus coupon 05-18 RP exp.08-10

.45 cents per tub

Meijer pasta Sauce

.50 Meijer Mealbox coupon

.50 per jar

Glade Aerosol Spray

B1G1 coupon 08-03 S exp.09-13

.50 cents per can.

Rice-A-Roni

.50 coupon(doubled) here for Natures Way

Free

Other Deals
Coffee- Mate Creamer 2/$3

.50 coupon (doubled) 06-29 RP exp.09-27

.50 cents per bottle

Pillsbuury Ready to Bake Cookie Dough 3/$6

$1/2 coupon here or 07-13 S exp.10-04

$1.50 per package

Pert Plus Shampoo 2/$5

$2 coupon 08-03 S exp.09-30

.50 cents per bottle

L'Oreal Products B1G1

There are many coupons out for these products

Buy 5 Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Irish spring or Softsoap Products and get $5 off your next order. It has been reported that trial sizes are receiving the $5 Catalina.

The Hanes Deal is still going on. Buy $10 worth of Nabisco products and get $10 off of 3 Hanes Basic products. Hanes are on sale this week, so you could get some good deals.

Many of the Internet coupons can be printed right from my blog. Just look on the right side for the Quick Print coupons.

To find deals from your favorite stores be sure to visit BeCentsAble.

Camp Mail

My son was away at camp this past week and was very surprised when one day he received 59 pieces of mail. His dad had asked friends and family to write him since last year he didn't get any mail. Thanks to all of you who took the time to write him you made his day. A special thanks to his Aunt April and all her friends from Universal Studios who took the time to send him a postcard. He really thought it was great.