School's Starting Soon!

In someways I can't believe it's already August, and in others, school can't start soon enough!

Get ready for school
Keep an eye out for back to school festivals in your area. In High Springs, the Lion's Club will be doing an event from 10-2 on Sat, Aug 6th at the Civic Center. They're giving free hearing and eye exams to 100 children, free hot dogs and drinks to all of the kids, hamburgers and drinks for the adults, backpacks are being given to I believe 500 kids, they'll have sprots physicals, identa kid, bicycle helmets, hair cuts, the fire department and more.

Watch for more school supply sales. This is the time of year to stock up for businesses as well.

Making things easier at home
There are some things you can do to make life easier at home during the school year.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus
We have a menu for each kid. All it is is a piece of paper with lunch choices on one side and breakfast choices on the other. The lunch items are divided into food group sections with a number in each section stating how many can be chosen from each group. The menus are slipped inside gallon zip lock bags and the kids use wet or dry erase markers to indicate their choices for the next day. This way, I know what they want to have for breakfast before they get up, so I can have it ready (or if they make they're own, they don't spend all morning standing in front of the fridge or cupboard trying to decide). Lunch is decided so I can make it the night before, or they can again without the same stupefied look that can plague the decision making process. The menus are updated  with additions and crossing out things as the stock at home changes.

Backpack Hooks
We purchased pool hooks at a yard sale. They're large sturdy hooks with a hole underneath the hook. Seasonally appropriate coats are kept on a hanger hung from the hole in the hook. Backpacks hang from the hook itself. Homework is kept in the backpack on the hook at all times except when being done. This way, when it's time to go, we don't have to search for coats and backpacks.

Lunch Box Cleanup
Each child is in charge of their own lunch box. I refuse to clean up the sticky slimy old food mess in lunch boxes. Each child is in charge of their own drink bottle and lunch box. It gets emptied and cleaned out when they get home, or I get to send them with the extra lunch box (a very embarrassing one) that I have and then they get to clean both out. They also need to remember to bring home their lunch box at the end of the day, or they get the embarrassing one the next day. Most kids are capable of taking care of their own things and a little responsibility is a good thing.

Uniforms
This will be the first year that both kids have a required uniform to wear everyday. I'm looking forward to avoiding the issues that go with choosing clothing everyday. A good suggestion is to have them laid out before bed each night. It makes the mornings a lot easier.

Socks & Underwear
Have you ever heard the cry 20 minutes or less before it's time to leave that someone doesn't have socks or underwear. I have. Here's one solution... keep a "magic" stash where the kids can't find it of socks and underwear for everyone. Then when you hear the cry, you can come to the rescue and know it's time to re-stock the stash that night. You might want to stock a less desired set so that there will be more reason to have everyone responsible for their own clothing and not reliant on you for everything.

Notes for Home
Set up a box for notes home to be put. Then you just need to check the box each evening. The teachers usually give incentives to the kids to have notes signed or turned in on time, you just need to provide a place for them to be dropped off and possibly picked up by the kids (or you can put them in backpacks when complete).

Family Calendar
Families can have crazy schedules at times, especially with older kids. Find one place-by the door, in the kitchen, etc, where everyone will look everyday. Hang a white board, chalk board, or calendar and notepad. Keep writing utensils nearby. Let everyone update the calendar as needed so everyone knows what's going on and what to expect every day. Write reminders and notes to each other and keep a shopping list available so everyone can write down what they need. If your board is large enough, have a "wish" list and a "need" list. It's ok to write notes of encouragement for up coming challenges too. If you can, you can also have a quote of the day or week.

What Next List
When the kids were really little, I had a list of pictures hung for mornings, afternoons, and evenings. The morning one had pictures for changing clothes, including underwear, brushing teeth, using the toilet, eating breakfast, etc. The pictures were hung in a logical order so I didn't have to tell them each step of the process or quiz them on whether they did everything or not. All I had to do was to ask them if they did their "list." It gave them more independence and me more sanity. It also helped them to establish a routine.

Looking for Almost Free Groceries?

Head over to IHeartPublix.com for some cheap food this week at Publix, starting Thursday, 8/4 for most stores.

Her prices are based on Atlanta, so you'll need to check your local store, but here's what it looks like so far...
You'll need the coupons. Michelle tells you where to find them.

Ocean Spray 64 oz $0.94 ea
Wishbone Dressing 16oz $0.33 ea
Skippy Peanut Butter 15-16.3oz $0.25ea  (if you buy 4 and have the tear pad, you can get free bread. 4 jars peanut butter plus 1 loaf of bread $1 sounds good to me)
Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes or French Toast 12.5-14.8oz $0.35ea


WinnDixieOnADime.com has a post on Oral B toothbrushes possibly for $0.33ea. Today is probably the last day.

Today is also the last day for free SnackWell Cereal Bars at WinnDixie. $0.75/1 coupon If you buy 2 boxes, you get a Catalina for $3 off your next purchase. (You can use it on the same purchase if you buy something else - small is fine, maybe the toothbrush and pay a nickle or so in cash, the coupon will print and you can use it right then and probably pay nothing else.)

There are lots of "free" things at CVS this week, but you'll have to pay for at least one of them up front. IHeartSavingMoney.com  has them listed.

Trustworthy places to find free coupons

You should not pay to get coupons off the internet. You have to download the program, but as long as you're using trust worthy sites, it's really not an issue. Don't download toolbars or pay for them. You might have to give them some information for their demographic tracking, but what information you give them is up to you. I give them my correct name and address and that's about it. Everything else is made up, but I do have standard answers I use because sometimes you need to know what you told them.

coupons.com
smartsource.com
redplum.com
grocerysmarts.com
couponcabin.com
allyou.com
walmart.com
target.com
savingstar.com
couponnetwork.com
and store and manufacturer websites
If you entered your home address when you signed up, they'll most likely send you coupons in the mail too.

The Sunday newspaper is the best place to get coupons. If you call your newspaper circulation desk, you may be able to get multiple copies of Sunday and you may be able to get it cheaper than you can at the store.

ALWAYS get coupons in pairs if you can so you will be ready for BOGO sales. Remember, you can use a coupon on the paid item as well as on the free item.

Also, check matchup sites. They tell you what's on sale, where to get the coupons, and when to buy the items. Here are some good sites to start with. Most of them cover more than one store. It's safe to click on any coupon link in the text of the site, but the ads on the sides may not be safe.
IHeartPublix.com, IHeartSavingMoney.com, WinnDixieOnADime.com, StockPilingMoms.com, TrueCouponing.com, SarahsDeals.com, WhoSaidNothingInLifeIsFree.com Those are some to get you started.

Catalinas

Have you shopped at WinnDixie, Kmart, Food Lion, Albertsons, or WinnDixie (it looks like Hitchcocks has it too, but I don't remember ever getting any) and gotten a coupon from the cash register? Those are Catalinas. Sometimes, it's just coupons for future purchases, and sometimes it's almost the same as cash. Would you like to have a better idea of how to know when you'll get the cash ones? Check out CouponNetwork. It lists all of the current offers and the details so you  know when it's a good time to buy them.

A Successful Shopping Trip!

I thought I'd share my successes this weekend. I managed to save 50% on my grocery bill. Considering I purchased mainly meat, cheese, and fresh produce, that's pretty good, if I do say so myself. Here's what I did, in case you're wondering.

WinnDixie
3 boxes SnackWell Bars $2.00 each (I had 3 $0.75/1 coupons and a $3 Catalina printed for the first 2 boxes, run as a separate order, and a $1 ran after the third box.) Total $0.75 for all 3 boxes.
3 pkgs Oscar Mayer Bun Length Hot dogs $2.50 each (1 $1/2 and 1 $1/1 coupon, printed a Catalina for $2) Total  $3.50 for all 3
1.5 lbs Bananas off the reduced rack $0.96
1.5 lbs green beans off the reduced rack $0.99

2 Tyson chicken breast packages $3.49 (2 $1/1 coupons) Total $5.98 for both
2 Dole Cesar Salad kits $2.50 (2 $0.75/1 coupons plus free salad kit with Tyson purchase) Total -$1.50

WinnDixie total spent $10.68 plus a $23.72 credit towards my $50 in fuel perks for 5 cents off/gallon

Food Lion
8 32 oz Gatorade bottles $1 each (I should not have purchased these. I should have purchased the ones at Publix, 64 oz BOGO $2.50. We all make mistakes.)
40 oz Frozen Chicken Tenders BOGO $12.99 (I couldn't find the ones at WinnDixie BOGO $10.99)
2 Red Baron pizzas $3.33 each (2 $1/1 coupons) Total $4.66 for both
3 lbs Food Lion cheese $1.67/8oz pack
Food Lion total spent $35.13 (If I had purchased chicken at Winn Dixie and Gatorade at Publix, I would have saved $5)

Hitchcocks
3 pkgs Hungry Jack pancake mix $0.99 each (B2G1 coupon) Total $1.98 for all 3
2 bags 48 oz frozen chicken wings $4.98 each
10 lb frozen chicken leg quarters $4.90
Country Style Pork Ribs $1.98/lb $9.13
Boston Butt Pork Steaks $1.48/lb $6.80
2.1 lbs Roma Tomatoes $0.88/lb $1.85
128 oz Sunny D $3.00 (I forgot my coupon. Free with $20 purchase Facebook coupon.)
12 oz bacon $3.50 (Free with $20 purchase Facebook coupon.)
1 dozen eggs $1.85 (Free with $20 purchase Facebook coupon.)
I had a Save A Lot coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. Hitchcocks takes competitor coupons.
Hitchcocks total spent $29.62

Weekend total $75.43
for 1 doz eggs, 3 gallons of drinks, 5 lbs fresh veggies, 2 pizzas, 3 lbs of cheese, 18 cereal bars, 35.45 lbs of meat.

A note on the Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs... If I had checked the Catalina offers, I would have known to purchase 5 to get $4 in catalina coupons. Then I would have spent $5.50 for 5 instead of $3.50 for 3 (although in reality I would have only saved another 18 cents.)

Groceries for Gas

Many stores are now doing programs where if you buy $XX in groceries, you get reduced gas prices.

WinnDixie has been doing their fuel perks program for sometime now. The WinnDixie in High Springs, Florida just started the program this weekend however. For every $50 you spend at WinnDixie, you get 5 cents off per gallon of gas a specific stations. Some items in the store will give you more cents off/gallon if you purchase them. Look in the weekly ad to find those items. You can also earn 5 cents off per every $50 you spend online at special retailers if you go through the WinnDixie site first. That's a 1% savings. Personally, if I can get cash back through ebates, pennyful, mrrebates, or fat wallet, I'll do that first as long as it's more than 1%. If I can't shop somewhere through them or I'll get less than 1%, I'll go through WinnDixie.

Hitchcocks just started their own fuel program, PumpPerks. Certain items are marked with a cents off/gallon tag. If you purchase those items and scan your card when  you check out and get gas a specific stations, you'll get that amount off when you fill up.

Walmart will give you a 5 cent discount off per gallon if you use a Walmart gift card at Murphy's stations, and a 10 cent discount/gallon if you use a Walmart credit card.

CVS is running a promotion this summer for $10 gas cards if you spend $30 in specific items during the week. That's a good return on your money, 30%. You can also use coupons on the $30, so you don't actually have to spend $30 out of pocket. Watch the items though and make sure you're buying things worth the $30 and not just junk you won't use or don't need to get $10 in gas.

More Free Samples!

Kmart is now doing free samples, as well as Walmart, Target, and Sams!
Kmart currently has a free sample for Atkins bars (3 bars). After you request the sample, you can get a $3 mail in rebate for Atkins. Not too shabby.

Some of the samples the four stores are giving out are for the same items. Sometimes you can request a sample from each store, but normally you can't.

If you're requesting samples for things you may not need or use, consider donating them or giving them to Jeremy for his food drive in September in Lake City, FL.