Look what $20 buys at Wal-Mart

Four transactions, lots of manufacturer coupons, combined with store coupons, price matching and in store specials  I brought home all of this for $20.00! Cha-Ching!!!!




Back to Shopping,


Valerie


Try couponing today, period!

After Christmas Clearance Shopping

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG TO LET YOU KNOW WE ARE CURRENTLY OUT SHOPPING!

Not quite sure when we will return, but when we do it will be worth your while.

We learned our lesson to not ditch BIG shopping days after missing Black Friday.

No sir no mam, we are out shopping.

Now when we return we will share all our new goodies with you.

Remember we're starting off 2012 with our, Frugal is Fabulous campaign.

We're just gettin a head start.

Make sure to check back everyday this week for all the goodies we're finding.

Happy Shopping,

The Cute Couponer

A Very Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and yours.

2012 is going to be the best year yet.

All those changes I spoke about 6 weeks ago are coming.

Make sure to tune in.

There are many more mouths to feed, hugs to give, and blessings to be made this next year.

We're going frugal all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So go have the merriest Christmas yet and remember many people are sending blessings your way!!!!


Merry Christmas,

The Cute Couponer

Turkey Brine

So it's almost Christmas and many of you are cooking a turkey again. Now for me and my family we like to mix it up a bit. If you aren't soakin your turkey in brine your aren't livin, period.

Now most turkey brine recipes ingredients cost a fortune.

A few years ago on recommendation from a friend of my mom's, we took a trip to Williams Sonoma and bought their turkey brine.  Scrumpscious, delicious, never knew a turkey could taste that good are all thoughts that have come to mind when eating this.

For $18.50 it soaks two turkeys. You can't beat that! Cha-Ching!!!

I'm saving my 2nd half for Easter!

It's really quite simple how this works. Boil the ingredients in some apple juice and water pour it over your turkey that's sitting in a mega-sized bowl, add more water, and cover.

Stick it in your fridge for at least three days... for Mega flavor and voila the best turkey ever for minimal effort.

They also have it on sale after Christmas.... hint... hint!


Happy Cooking,

The Cute Couponer

Linking to Tidy Mom, French Country Cottage Shabby Nest Chic On A Shoestring

CVS Last Minute Savings

Check your inbox for last minute saving at CVS!

Crazy 8 Sale

Crazy  is also having their huge  $11.99 and under sale today. Check it out!

Go Here .

Let me tell you people, last minute shopping rocks this year!!!

Who needs Black Friday when you have this!!!

Huge Old Navy Sale Again

Today through Saturday  $5 Thermals for the whole family at Old Navy. Their at it again.

Run don't walk and stock up!

Happy Shopping,

The Cute Couponer

Old Navy Jammie Sale ---Smokin Hot Baby

For those of you who are able to high tail it to Old Navy I'd get there and fast.

Call first to see if there are any jammies left.

Jammies are on sale today for $7.00 and you can combine it with the 30 % off coupons that you kind find all over the internet.

When you get there they have a free pair of chenille socks with every pair jammies bought.

Get there if you can!

I'm stuck at work so let me know how it goes.

Happy Shopping,

The Cute Couponer

Frugal Tip of the Week

Happy Holidays! I hope your enjoying this season. Just thought I would pop in to say hello and let you know of a great little stocking stuffer that's affordable and available at many Circle K stores. $5.00 new release DVD's are everywhere.

They have many titles available. I was shocked!

So if your looking for a great stocking stuffer or inexpensive gift here's a great place to check out.

Happy Shopping,

The Cute Couponer

Happy Thursday

Here's wishing you a super Happy Thursday. I hope you are enjoying preparing for Christmas. Remember it's not the presents that counts but good times with your family and friends.

Slow down and enjoy the season.

It will all get done.

Next year I'm starting earlier!!!

The Cute  Couponer

Elf Busy Working at Mom's House

Isn't this the cutest Advent calender you've seen. Simple and sweet. I used to carry them at the store. They were big sellers. Now mom has the the moose and I have the snowman.

This Santa has been around longer than me. As you get older you realize just how precious these things are.

I just love reindeers made of twig. A little bow and he's good to go.

Just spending the day decking mom's halls. Hope to finish up here so she can enjoy when she gets home from a short business trip. I think it will be a nice surprise.

Finished up Grandma's place too.

Now I'm going to make myself some hot cocoa w/ marshmallows and hop back to it.

XOXOXO,

Valerie

The Beverage of Christmas

Last year I promised I would get around to my beverages of Christmas post and I never did so I thought I would start early this year.

Like any good couponer and  frugal shopper I'm constantly looking for things my family uses on a regular basis.

Any type of Champagne is always welcome in my home. I'm a big fan of Cook's.

I buy insane amounts of egg nog. At my mom's house during December and Jan. it's a food group. It freezes well.

Any and all kinds of hot chocolate is in my home all Winter. Don't forget the marshmallows and candy canes.

                                              

I love Cask and Cream. It's like Bailey's and Cream but richer. It's great over ice or mixed in with coffee.

                                                          

                                                              

Three generations of women in my family love Lambrusco. It's my favorite. A sweet red wine very smooth and  incredibly  light.

Brandy is a necessity. We use it for a wonderful dessert. I will make it for you this year.

                           

You might keep your eye out for some yummy Creme De Menthe and some Crown Royal.

When we buy a bottle of liquor it lasts for years.

Now keep watching all month to see how we incorporate these yummy beverages into  our  celebrations.    
 
Enjoy Your Shopping,

The Cute  Couponer                                     

Today is Thanksgiving for US

Better late than never but it's finally time for Thanksgiving in my house. This year our Thanksgiving is mobile and late but that's OK.

Once we get done with Thanksgiving it's on to shopping.

Hope your all doing great.

Check back this week for my killer shopping trips I've done lately.

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Cute Couponer

Black Friday or Bust

I left Grandma's at 8:00 p.m. Thursday with no real leftovers in hand. My soup was a success. I drove by Wal-Mart on the way home and saw the parking lot was full, so I decided to go on home. Then I let the doggies out fell asleep on the couch and woke up around 4 a.m., fooey!

I thought about going shopping then but I was so tired I decided to let it go. It's a good thing too because I ran by Wally World last night after work to get dog food and everything was sold out. The cashiers and everyone I talked to said people didn't buy just 1, 2, or 3 of everything they bought 20 Blu-Ray players and 20 Crock Pots each. That so wouldn't have flown with me. Shelf clearing on Black Friday is a no no. I was really disappointed Wal-Mart allowed it. Common sense is that no single person needs to buy 20 Blu-Ray players even if they have alot of family and friends. Come on people 20 Crock Pots, I don't think so.

Remember the saying, Wal-Mart fall apart. You get what you pay for there.

So I am confident there will be plenty more deals to be had. I was disappointed to miss the protesters in Midwest City in Target, I always love to see protesters whether I agree with them or not. It makes me feel like people really do care and want to  make a difference in the world. The only bad part is that they picked a bad location for their protest.  Gag!!! Better luck next time for them. Now they are all arrested in jail on a holiday weekend. How sad, what a waste of money. Just think for bail and the fines and their new records they could of sent the money overseas to the sweatshop workers and enjoyed a holiday with their family and friends.

So the new challenge is to see what's going to be on sale moving forward for Christmas. 

I can't wait to see.

Happy Shopping,

The Cute Couponer

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

We are celebrating Sunday since several family members are feeling under the weather.

I'm making homemade chicken noodle soup so they get feeling better.

I'm also looking forward to my 10:00 o'clock run to Wal-Mart.

Hope you have a safe Black Friday.

Remember, if you miss out on one deal there will be many more for the next two months. It's not worth getting upset over.

Hugs,

The Cute Couponer

A Frugal Food Storage Find

Sometimes you just hit gold. It's simple and practical. It's plastic, comes apart for cleaning, and on wheels and the best part is the neighbor gave it to me for free. I didn't even ask! They were moving and had no use for me and thought I might.

Now that's what I call a great weekend.

I still haven't been to the store for Thanksgiving shopping.

I'm waiting until the last minute.

Yes, I know I'm crazy but hey,  sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Enjoy This Cozy Fall Weekend,

Valerie

Where I'm Headed for Black Friday

I've scanned all the Black Friday Preview Sites and every ad I can get my hands on and I must say it's a bit of bummer this upcoming Black Friday.

So far, I'm going to Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens.

There wasn't much else to look at. Usually I cash in at Macy's and Penney's and make a quick stop at Gordmans' but I don't see anything worth it.

How about all of you?

I actually think I will be done by 2 or 3 am Black Friday and can go to bed until I have to go to work that day.


Happy Weekend Before Thanksgiving,

The Cute Couponer

One More Week on the Challenge

So I've been a good  girl for the most part!

A few Frappe's at McDonalds and a Coke to stay awake at work and other than that I've been eating at home!

I need to work on cold coffee drinks for my stockpile. I've also found that I need to buy some tv dinners to have on hand as well.

I would have had no need to cheat had I had these things in my stockpile but hey a girl's gotta have caffeine.


Ending the challenge on Thanksgiving Eve will be absolutely perfect.

I have so much shopping to do this week. I'm buried in coupons, coupons, and more coupons.

I'm getting excited!

I'm hosting Thanksgiving again this year  and we have some special guests. It warms my heart to open my home to family and friends.

How about all of you? Are you hosting this year or going somewhere? Whatcha cookin?

Looking Forward to Hearing From You,

The Cute Couponer

Blessed Beyond Imagination

Today I had an ah-hah moment. You know one of those times that God makes you realize what you've been asking for is right in front of you.

See part of my job entails talking to people who don't have alot of money. I talk to at least 75 people a day who are having soooo much trouble making ends meet. In fact, they never make ends meet they rob Peter to pay Paul every month. They don't seem to have much choice due to their older age and health conditions. It really tears at my heart because many times I go home and am frustrated that I can't do more to help. I say many silent prayers for the many people I talk to everyday hoping that God can find a way to help.

It seems everywhere I go lately I run into people I know who are suffering hard times. I have watched many people get fired or let go for no good reason. I can say for the first time in a few years I see most people around me suffering financially.

I worry about them alot. I worry about my own family as well. Bills go up but salaries don't.

Today when I was piddling getting ready for work thinking, and God must have been listening, I heard this voice in my head give me an answer to a question I had been asking. God said, "because you haven't asked me."  He's right! I hadn't asked I had been so worried about everyone else's problems that I had put mine on the back burner and God dealt with me.

See whatever your problems are it's important to remember nothing is bigger than God. So many times I charge ahead and just think I can do it myself and I forget that I forgot to ask him what he wanted me to do.

I really believe God intended for me to write this blog to be a blessing to teach people to keep food on their tables. Remember, "if we give a man a fish we feed him for a day but if we teach a man to fish we feed him for life."

The same is true with couponing. Not a week goes by where I don't hear a person say, "how about I pay you to go do the couponing thing for me." I always politely decline and say no but you are welcome to join me. Slowly each person comes around. As they get excited about it and say, "now I rarely buy anything if I don't have a coupon for it my heart gets warmer." It's exciting to see people save money.

I encourage you this holiday season to consider it a blessing that you know how to coupon. I have the peace of knowing that regardless of my family's circumstances they will always have food on the table and that is a huge blessing.

Remember there are coupons for just about everything now. From food, to household goods, toys, shoes, and clothing I encourage you, especially in a downturn economy, think and prepare before you shop. The money you save today will pay your bills tomorrow.

I look forward to encouraging you.

Blesssings to You,

The Cute Couponer

$200 worth of Groceries at Wal-Mart for $21.32

So I pulled out my manufacturer coupons I have been receiving in the mail the last few weeks along with a bunch of store coupons I had been collecting and pulled out my ads and voila..... this is the result.

I also got the toilet paper and 6 bags of Farm Rich appetizers in the freezer not pictured.

Totally worth it.

I have had alot of luck lately hitting manufacturer websites vs just the coupons I receive in the paper. The coupons are a higher dollar amount and it means  more free stuff.

I also found out Wal-Mart matches the mexican grocery stores. Yippee!!!!!

Now who on earth says couponing doesn't pay off?

Happy Price-Matching,

The Cute Couponer

P.S. I cheated on the challenge but I got right back on . I'm still finishing my 30 day no eat out challenge.

Chicken Potato and Green Bean Bake/Sunday Suppers

This has got to be the easiest and quickest dish ever.

Ingredients:

2 Potatoes

1 Can Cream of Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Large Package of Chicken Legs

1 Can of Milk

1 Can of Green Beans

1 Medium Size White Onion

1/2 Cup of Bread Crumbs

1 Egg

Greek Seasoning to Taste

Olive Oil

1 Large Pyrex Dish

First, Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take your Olive Oil and spray it all over your 9x13 Pyrex dish.

Then open your chicken legs and season it with Cavender's Greek Seasoning and crack open an egg and then roll in the bread crumbs in the Pyrex dish.

Just leave it all in there.

Now open your can of green beans and drain off the juice. Dump it over the chicken. Next, open your can of Cream of Chicken soup and dump it on top of the green beans and chicken. Chop up your onion into bite size pieces and dump it all over the chicken and green bean mixture. Now peel and slice your 2 potatoes into bite size chunks and dump it on top off the soup. Now pour your 1 can of milk all over everything. Get back out your Greek seasoning and season to taste.

Now stick it in the oven for and 1 1/2 hours and serve.

Super yummy and super simple. My kind of Sunday dish.

Happy Cooking,

The Cute Couponer

Linking to Masterpiece Monday Made By You Monday Metapmorphosis Monday MM Monday Craft O Maniac A Bowl Full of Lemons

Eeeewww Gross at Buy For Less

I had a few errands to run on Tuesday when going to visit a friend I haven't seen in awhile on the other side of town. When I stopped for one of my errands a lady reminded me how close I was to one of my favorite BBQ places in town. Buy For Less grocery store has a fabulous BBQ lady who sells BBQ cheaper than I can buy it and cook it myself. Now, before you start saying I broke the rules I want you to know I didn't. The reason I didn't break the rules is because I bought the food at the grocery store and it was for less money than I could have bought the ribs and cooked them myself.

When I parked my car and started to walk inside there was a man in a pick-up with lots of different plastic containers stacked on top of each other. They looked like what grocery stores usually put bread in to stack and move around. Upon further inspection inside each plastic thing, totally open to the elements, were sheet cakes. I was STUNNED!!!

Buy For Less was accepting a delivery from a man who had a bunch of cakes not wrapped and not in boxes and not covered in plastic. Gross!!! He obviously drove down the road where dust, bird poop, oil, rain, and any other form of debris could have hit the cakes. They were trying to figure out how to unload them! I thought they should just trash them. Gross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was tempted to talk to the manager and say that has got to be a Health Department violation but in the past I've never had any luck with Buy For Less. Their management and corporate office could care less about how their customers are treated and have said so many times.

The only reason I got my BBQ is because the lady who sells it operates her own independent business within the store. She is not an employee of Buy For Less.

Now am I the only person who thinks this is gross or what?

Don't think I'll ever order a cake from Buy For Less....


Happy Thursday,

The Cute Couponer

P.S. The challenge is going well I'm still being a good girl. I haven't forgotten all the new series I promised to add in October. You will start to see the changes over the next few weeks.

Days 3,4,5, & 6 of the Challenge

Howdy All,

I'm doing great on the challenge. One set of friends invited me over for dinner and another set took me out for dinner and they paid. Yay! Thanks to my dear friends.

Just a quick update, I am doing great on the challenge. The fact that I got alot of shopping done has helped tremendously. I have pictures to share and hope to have those loaded sooner vs later.

I've learned keeping a 12 pack of Coke in the back of the car has helped tremendously.

Be back soon. So many neat things going on this month.

Happy Fall,

The Cute Couponer

Happy Halloween

Here's to a safe and Happy Halloween to you and your family. I hope it's extra special this year 2011.

Don't forget to tune in to ABC Family, Lifetime, and FX tonight for all the scary and fun Halloween movies.

If you are looking for a great Halloween drink recipe check this out here.

Days 1 and 2 of the Challenge

Howdy Ya'll,

Well I'm a day late in posting but not a dollar short! Yesterday morning I high-tailed it to the grocery store to make sure I was well prepared to start the challenge. I have huge and I mean huge coupon orders to get through by Monday. Check your coupons, many of them are expiring on the 31st.

On a side note I haven't been tempted to cheat yet. A friend of mine at work bought me a hot chocolate, for a quarter, out of the vending machine yesterday, just to be nice.

Don't you love random acts of kindness?

So let me tell you what I had yesterday.

For breakfast I had two pieces of toast with a little Nutella spread. ( I just love Nutella don't you?)

For lunch I had a ham and cheese sandwich w/ sun chips and sliced up an orange pepper. (Those peppers taste like candy.)

For dinner I had my mom over and we had little steaks and baked potatoes.

I also broke into the Halloween candy that I just bought but I shared it with many people at work.

So far the challenge is going well.

Remember, as long as you and your immediate family aren't spending the money it's OK to eat out. A friend or date can treat you.

On a side note the only real craving I have had is for McDonald's new Peppermint Hot Chocolate! OOOh Wee!  If you haven't tried it you are missing out, but for $2.59 a cup it's a wee bit pricey. I think it's on my to-do list this weekend to replicate at home. I better get busy!!!


Happy Weekend,

The Cute Couponer

The Challenge Starts Tomorrow Friday October 28th 2011

Howdy ya'll!


Sorry I haven't posted yet the past few days have been a bit crazy. My mom has been very ill and I have been taking care of her. I decided to push back the challenge a couple days but I am starting tomorrow. I haven't eaten out in the past few days but I haven't prepared either. Preparation is what made me successful in the past and I am planning on being successful this time round too.

So I will post the rules tomorrow but here are the basics,


1. No fast food or restaurant stops unless someone else besides you is paying for it.


2. No food from the vending machines allowed.


3. No convenience store food.


4. No delivery food.


5. If you get invited to a party go and take a dish but don't pay anyone for food anywhere.


Pretty simple.  The goal is to build the stockpile, eat healthier, and save money. This is a great month to do this leading up to Thanksgiving and just think we will have lots of leftovers. With the savings we will have plenty of Christmas money.




Happy Preparations,


The Cute  Couponer

Frugal Tip of the Week Low Cost Pet Care

It's no secret I absolutely love being a doggie mom and rescuing animals. Those little furballs cost a lot of money though. People always ask me how I do it. My answer is simple. Low Cost pet care. Now I've been at it awhile so I feel comfortable doing the basics like taking my dogs temperature and checking their gums to make sure they aren't dehydrated. I also have no problem calling the vet before I go in. I have a good working relationship with my vet and his main office lady.

Perhaps the way I save the most money is that for the basics I found a local pet supply store called Swaim Serum Company. The have just about the majority of everything I need for routine vet care for a fraction of the cost of taking them into the vet's office. Dewormer, vaccines, and tape worm medication.

It's a fraction of the cost of routine vet visits. Now remember if your in doubt take them in. It's never worth the risk of losing them. For the basics check your local farm or vet supply.

Happy Furball Playing,

The Cute Couponer

Linking to

The Thrifty Home,
Frugal Plus

30 Day No Eat Out Challenge

The Challenge Starts Tuesday October 25th, 2011.

Are You Ready?

Frugal Tip of the Week

If you don't use it... Freeze it!!!

That's right. If you have fruits and veggies in your fridge and you see they are going bad soon, with the exception of lettuce, stick it in a Ziploc bag and vacuum seal it and freeze it. If you are tired of your leftovers that you've been eating on for the last few days, grab your vacuum sealer and freeze the remaining portion. A week later they will taste great.

Little things like 1/4 of the block of cream cheese you have in your fridge can all freeze. Now it won't be spreadable on a cracker but it can still be used in a recipe calling for cream cheese and be just as delicious.

Bread that isn't being used can be turned into bread crumbs and seasoned and stuck in a Ziploc bag and put in the freezer or the bread can be sealed tight with the twistie tie and be frozen too.

When in doubt...freeze it.

You'll never know until you try.


Happy Freezing,

The Cute Couponer

Mom Knows Best

Mom says that I should do the 30 Day No Eat Out Challenge and Start in a week but wait on the fill the freezer part until February. Why? Because I'm moving in Jan. and am not going to want to haul a bunch of frozen food. She thinks I should focus on stockpiling until after the move and then when it's cold outside in Feb. fill the freezer. 

Mom knows best.

So we will start the 30 Day No Eat Out Challenge next Tuesday.

Will you join me, please?

Looking forward to the challenge,

The Cute Couponer

Extreme Couponer

Did you see it the other night? I sure did and I loved it! This was the first episode of Extreme Couponer that I have seen in a long time that I really enjoyed. I liked the lady with 7 kids who had to learn to coupon to feed her large family, and later decided to feed her 200 member church on a regular basis. What a great reason to use all these coupons.

I have to say my favorite was the mother of 4 who lived on a farm, and learned to coupon from her grandmother who left her a whole pile of no expiration coupons. How awesome would that be? Coupons that don't expire.. hint.. hint.. manufacturers.

I loved the stockpile of the mother of 4, who had enough food on hand for a year, because Granny said so. She was even so faithful to help  her  sister save money and to coupon and replenish her stockpile. I can't tell you  how many times I've wished for a sister. I got 2 brothers instead. Blah!!! Sisters would have been more  fun to  coupon  with.

Her stockpile with custom made shelves was something to drool over. Did you see her freezer and all of her  homemade canned goods? Wow! I wonder if she sees this post if she would invite me over for dinner.

She really gave me alot to think about.

I told you all I was considering going across the OK and Texas Border in order to buy groceries. A few trips, like their  haul. would take care of us for a  year.

Totally worth the trip.

So how about all of you are you ready to start some serious stockpiling?

Let me know,

The Cute Couponer

P.S. Watch for the Feed a Family of 4  on  $30  a  week tip coming up very soon.

Exciting Things Happening At The Cute Couponer

Happy Monday Ya'll!

 I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Mine was busy. My grandma celebrated her 89th birthday.Wow! What a milestone. I have some great brownie recipes to share with you later in the week but first I want to let you know what exciting things are happening starting this month and in October.


A new linky party is coming every Sunday, called Sunday Suppers from the Stockpile. Every Sunday starting in October feel free to come and link up your favorite family suppers made right from your stockpile.


Every Monday, here at The Cute Couponer is going to be an ongoing series called, Eat Cheap, Eat Healthy.
It's a way to give you recipes that are first delicious, and then nutritious.


 Every Tuesday, you will get the Frugal Tip of the Week.


 Every Wednesday is all about Thrift Shopping.


Every Thursday I will post my shopping trips for you. I wouldn't want you to wait to late in the week to take advantage of the deals.


Every Friday, look here for a Freebie Friday Round-Up.That means every Friday I'm going to post all the freebies I found during the week. Feel free to add any I missed in the comments section.


Every Saturday, look forward to my frugal friends introducing you to their fabulous tips and great finds. The guest bloggers are coming back.


I will also be continuing the  Feed A Family of 4 on $30 a week tip every week all month.


In October the 30 Day No EAT OUT  Fill the Freezer Challenge is finally coming back!!! 30 meals x 2 for one whole month without eating out.


Whoo-hoo!


I hope to see alot of you all over the next several months.




Happy Monday,


Valerie

Idea #1 Feed A Family Of 4 On Thirty Dollars A Week

Feed a family of 4 on $30 a week.

This is by far the most simple way to feed your family.....cheap.

Go ahead and open up your cabinets, pantry, and fridge.

Eyeball everything.

Now make a list of what you need to complete the meals you had in mind when you bought the stuff in the first place.

Examples:

Let's say you have oatmeal, a roast, some lettuce, crackers, a few cans of tuna,  some frozen cheese, noodles, a few cans of soup, a box of crackers, 3 eggs, some cake mix, a few bags of frozen veggies, and some hot dogs.

Oatmeal is yummy when served several mornings a week. Buy a few pieces of fruit and whip out your brown sugar and voila.... Fruit and Sugar Oatmeal. If you have a splash of maple syrup add it in and you just saved $2 a person at McDonald's.

Grab a bag of potatoes, carrots, and onions and pull out the crock pot  for the roast and you have dinner and lunch leftovers for everyone.

Surely you have some mayo and pickles, boil 2 of the eggs and chop up some onion  and you have tuna salad with crackers. Great for lunch and dinner.

With the rest of the tuna, boil the noodles and dump the cream soup you have on hand along with the cheese, purchase a 1/2 gallon of milk and shred the crackers on top and voila.... tuna  casserole.

With the hotdogs buy some mac and cheese or a can of chili and make chili dogs or mac and cheese and hot dogs.

Tear up your lettuce and put some shredded cheese and crackers along with a splash of salad dressing and whatever else you have on hand and make a delicious salad.

Whip up your cake mixes for dessert. A little powdered sugar and water will make the yummiest sugar  coated icing.  You have dessert and  an afternoon  snack for everyday  of the  week.

Last but not least, grab some more noodles and a bag of those  frozen veggies and make a homemade asian stirfry. If you have another egg to spare fry it up and chop it, pour in some soy sauce and yummy stir fry.

See sometimes we over think it.  I have read for years that the average family has enough food in their home to survive for a month, if they had too. So get out of survival mode and get in cheap, yummy, and tasty mode and you will never look back again.


Happy Creating,


The Cute Couponer

Linking to

Wallet Friendly Wednesday

It's The Little Things That Add Up, FTOTW

Research shows that the preferred car of millionaires in America is a Ford Pickup. It's no surprise  to me that most millionaires are frugal. Instead of lavish spending habits most will tell you they are fairly cheap. I prefer the simple term frugal.


1. They drive a car into the ground. They don't buy new ones every few years.


2. Most millionaires don't eat out alot.


3. Many millionaires will tell you that they don't spend lavishly on vacations.


For me it's the simple things like cutting the fabric softener sheets in half and couponing.


Waste not, want not....


How about you? What do you do to save money?


I'd love to hear!




Enjoy  Your  Weekend,


The  Cute  Couponer

If it isn't broke don't fix it....

Our mother's did it...


Our grandmother's for sure did it...


Our great-grandmothers had no choice   but to do it...


So why don't we do it?


Hanging our clothes to dry is actually a wonderful treat. There is nothing like the smell of sunshine and the crispness from line drying.


Here are a few hints that I use to save a fortune on electrical costs, especially during Summer.


1. Use 1/4 c. vinegar in your wash cycle to function as fabric softner. It keeps your clothes smelling fresh and keeps them soft for line drying.


2. Shake your clothes out when you are moving them from the washer to the dryer.


3. I always use the clothes dryer to dry my towels.


4. Use 409 to get out tough stains. Someday I will do an entire post about 409. It works!!! Spray it on all your stains, then wash. If the stain doesn't come out, then repeat. Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed.


5. Use Borax in your machine vs Oxi Clean, it works so much better.


6. I have learned to spread my clothes out on the line pinning the creases. It's like a free ironing job!!!


7. Don't let the dogs out why you have clothes on the line.... it makes for a MESS....


Enjoy the Sunshine in your everyday life,


The Cute Couponer

Frugal Tip of the Week

If your looking to save some money on the gasoline for your car here is a simple tip....

If you are going to leave the engine running  for more than 60 seconds while your running into the store, waiting in a drive-thru, or picking someone up, turn the engine off.

If it's less than 60 seconds experts say leave the car on. It takes just as much gas to stop and restart.

Have a wonderul Labor Day weekend,

The  Cute  Couponer

Frugal Tip of the Week # 3

Has your electric bill gone sky high this Summer? Are you avoiding doing laundry  and cooking in the oven because you don't want to heat up the house? Here is a quick fix for you. Do your laundry during evening hours. Make sure you shake the clothes out before you move them to the dryer. It cuts drying time by a third and it doesn't heat up the house. It saves you money and you are much cooler!!!!

Happy Laundering,

The Cute  Couponer

Wal-Mart Price Matching 101

I've been shocked a few times in the past several weeks when people ask me a very simple question. When I say I've taken a break from couponing for the Summer,unintentionally it's been too hot to shop, and tell people I've been price matching they say, what is that? Now for some people I think the name is self explanatory, and for others I totally don't mind explaining it.

Very simple concept......

If you find a price on a like item at another store Wal-Mart will price match it. Pineapple for pineapple and orange for orange. It get's tricky when you are talking frozen foods and boxed goods. Wal-Mart says any competitors ad. I've asked and clarifed and educated more than a few cashiers and managers this Summer.

No ad needed.

Stick to your guns on this.

The cashiers love to argue about this.

Apparently they haven't seen their commercials or read their policies.

I always find it interesting when I know how to do someone's job better than them. It's not a good feeling!!!

Print the policy and carry it with you.

Hope this helps! It's been a life-saver to me this Summer with the  heat because I haven't been in the mood to shop at all.

Looking forward to better weather,

The Cute Couponer