Wednesday, February 27, 2013

DIY Daily Shower Cleaners

I haven't actually tried these "recipe's" yet, but plan to experiment.
Love making my own cleaners when possible that way I know more
about what some of the chemicals are that are hiding (or not hiding)
to use in my home.  


A clean shower.

Link is:
Thanks pinkyhasabrain.com   (and love the name)

DIY Tub/Shower Cleaner ( LOVE this!!! )

I have been mixing this stuff up for several months now and totally
LOVE it!  

You will NOT believe it until you actually try it for yourself.

I have a stock of original blue Dawn for making several
other concoctions also.  lol!  And LOVE every one of them.

I will try to post more of them later on.


tub shower cleaner

Link is at:
DIY Tub/Shower Cleaner {Picture Tutorial} | Fabulessly Frugal: A Coupon Blog sharing Amazon Deals, Printable Coupons, DIY, How to Extreme Coupon, and Make Ahead Meals

Thanks to www.fabulouslyfrugal.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Grocery stores I price match with.

Here is a list of my favorite stores to check on sales to price 
match to my local Walmart.  

Remember I live near Heber Springs area, and have checked with the 
location here and they will match with approximately 50 mile radius
including Little Rock area.  

Just because you may not live close to this location - doesn't mean you
can't search and set up a list of stores that you can do the same thing with.

This list include stores that are mainly grocery type stores
and their sales run from Wednesday to Tuesday at closing.


My price matching list for 2/21


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Great DIY cleaning recipes.

Great list of DIY cleaning recipes.  Love making my own stuff that way I know exactly
what chemicals I am using in my home around my family.  :)

Link is:
Building It On Pennies: Saving Pennies (Dollars in this case)

Thanks buildingitonpennies.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Update to Walmart Store Policy


This is from www.stockpilingmoms.com.  

Be sure to read the online policy at Walmart.com (search policy).
This is suppose to be an update to the corporate one online.

Be sure to check with your local store to make sure it works - 
I have been informed it does work.

The link for the update is:

Walmart Deals for week:: 2/16 – 2/23

Here is a list of all current available matchups 
including the upcoming week of 2/16 to 2/23.  

This doesn't include if you are able to find a sale 
on the items on this list.  

That would make an even better price matchup. 
So check those sale papers and online ads.

The link to view list is:   Walmart Deals :: 2/16 – 2/23

Thanks Stockpiling moms.  

2013 Coupon Insert Schedule



Wow!  So excited I ran across this.  

A complete list of coupon inserts schedule for the 
rest of the year!  AWESOME!!  

(might want to bookmark the site so you can check 
each week to see what inserts are to be expected.)

Link for schedule:

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Big day for our lil Haylee Bug



It's been quite some time since I have written much personal on here.  
I have been spending time working on price matching/couponing.  

Started a new facebook page to be able to communicate with others 
about sales, matchups, etc.  Totally loving that.

That's in addition to the normal typical daily adventures to handle like 
married, house to run, 6 yr old to do homeschooling with.  
Along with my mom who has definite dementia and has to be
tended to pretty consistantly.  Oh and two small dogs that are a 
handful in many ways.  
So some days - altogether, it seems like I have 5+ kids.  :P

Guess I do stay a bit busy and ever since we decided, for many reasons,
to homeschool Haylee, there are many days I wonder if I am 
enough to be able to fulfill all the requirements of taking on this
huge responsibility.  Especially those days that the world is flying 
by at warp speed trying to keep all the little fires of life under control.  
The kind of days that nothing seems to get done - especially anything really notable in the actual school area.

I have made sure not to rush at all with all the little steps of each 
vowel sound, number - etc.  We have strictly followed the  one 
lesson at a time approach no matter how boring it seemed to be 
to myself and to Haylee.  I would liven it up as much as possible, 
(sometimes almost standing on my head, 
but still,  lesson after lesson, review each and every sound - short 
and long vowels, all the letters and finally combinations thereof.  
It can be very challenging to try to stick to one lesson at a time, 
when you could rush them, but I set my mind to not doing that.
Not skipping the little things to rush to the goal of this or that
then having to backtrack to re-learn some little things later.

I do add in lots of little things to mix up a school day as Haylee is
such a bright girl full of way too much energy to set still for very 
long, with the highlights of her day is to give me the toughest time 
possible, and if something doesn't entertain her very well, she is distracted so easily.  

I think writing is her toughest thing so far.  To have to actully set 
in a chair, somewhat still, not on it - under it or hanging off of it, 
and have to focus on writing 
this and that, well, some days - she's as much under the desk as
she is at it.  lol!!  So, what the heck, sometimes I just 
crawl in the floor with her and we change course and try something
else for a bit.  

I have discovered that is another fabulous thing about homeschooling 
from my own ongoing experiences, is to move at your own paces.  
If something is a bit tough, work on that a bit longer, by reviewing 
and trying another approach before heading on to the next
which in, what we call "big school", there are so many children at 
so many levels, all struggling at times to try to keep up where if
it's not working for us, stop to take a break for the day and pick up
where we left off and continue the next day.

Well, the last few days, we have been advancing nicely on the number 
of sight words she can rattle off faster and faster.  Now the lessons
are actually having us put words together a little more and a little more.

Yesterday Haylee was astonished when she read a full sentence I had
written on the dry erase board without hesitation.  Her eyes were like
the biggest diamonds ever.  

I don't think the most awarded poet in the world could have put 
that moment into words for her or for myself.

In that moment I saw her experience that once in a lifetime feeling 
of finally being able to do something effortlessly that she has wanted 
to do so fiercely for as long as her little self can remember.

So, today I had her get out her Leap Frog Tag reader - you know, the
ones with the pen that reads the words for the child.  It's been a while
since she had it out.  We have a set of books that have each vowel 
in short sounds.  I had her set down with it, and said if she gets stuck
and just cannot get that word, then use the pen to tell her the word.

Before she knew it, she had only gotten stuck a couple of times, and breezed
right through the 13 page book.  Totally mezmerized by now that she
had actually read the book all by herself.  She was jumping up and down
repeating  -  "I just read that book ALL by myself.  All by myself.  
All by myself!!" while doing a serious version of a happy dance.

That is one of the small HUGE moments that spending all this time
on all the little things all so very much worth it.  The moment you 
are teaching your child something that others usually do.  
It's so much like the moment that they take their very first step, 
you so much want to NOT miss that moment.  Well, I got to be
a part of it, that I hope to never forget.  That feeling of success for a child. 

This child has asked, seems like daily, for months, maybe a year or two, - when can I read by myself?

I saw for myself that if I had any doubts before - I don't any longer because - Moments like that is truely what it's really all about!!!  


Even if tomorrow we had to end being able to homeschool,  
I was still able to share one of her biggest moments, come to life.


Talk about all the little bits and pieces of ups and downs craziness and 
myself doubting that I should even be doing this on some days- all 
leading to a splendor of a look in a 6 yr old's eyes.  

Even though I have never been considered the "mushy" type very 
often - This was one of those moments that quickly brought on 
goosebumps and tears of excitement right along with our sweet 
lil' Haylee Bug.  

Talk about a feeling so very humbled and honored, to have the ability
to work with a child at home, while needing to be home so much 
of the time for other reasons such as my mom. 

It all can be tough, challenging, stressful, creative, silly acting, mind 
boggeling, laughter along with tears at times, to never know what 
the next minute will hold kind of experience that is a true and precious 
honor, even that much more, when you have the moments of yesterday 
and today to see just how as one is declining in knowledge and 
ability day by day - then on the other hand you see one blossom more and more with each passing day.




** (later on in the evening)  
I think Larry and I have heard that one little book not once but many
dozens of times.  lol!  I think she even took the book to bed with her
along with tooth #5 that the "tooth fairy" will need to collect after 
posting this.  lol!  

I do know that we have one extremely proud little lady probably
dreaming of reading all kinds of books tonight.






Thursday, February 7, 2013

Walmart ad match guaranted policy



This is a link to the Corporate police of their 
ad-match (price match) guarantee.

This is a policy set by Corporation of 
Walmart - therefore stores are not 
suppose to vary from it as in a few 
cases I know of, someone will try.  

Good idea to print this and even save a 
shortcut on your 
smart phone - just in case a situation 
arises as may from time to time.


Link is:

Walmart coupon policy


Corporate coupon policy

Be sure to take a look at this and learn what 
types of coupons qualifyat their store.  
This saves time at the checkout.

You may want to print and have it with you when 
you first start using coupons regularly just 
in case.

I even have a shortcut of it on my smartphone just 
for if there are any questions between cashier 
and myself on what qualifies.

Don't even hesitate ask for the CSM 
(customer service mgr) to verify any questions.

link is:

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

What sale items I have on my list

Here are a few things I have found to add 
to my list this week. 
 Some are just items to pick up a couple of 
since they are small sales, and some 
are "stock up" prices.
(the items with red "C" have coupons
to use with the sale price listed)

Veggies - Best choice can .44c ea - Cash   
          Saver @ Greenbrier
Chicken breast (frozen) Best choice 3lb. 
          bag $4.98(1.66/lb)-Cash Saver
          -Greenbrier
C Kraft Mac & Cheese (reg box) 3/$2 (.67c
          ea) @ Knight's Super foods
C Kellogg's Cereal (up to 14 oz) $1.88 @ 
          Edward's food giant
C General Mills cereal (up to 13 oz) $1.99 @ 
          Kroger
Milk (all store brand)  1/2 gal - 2/$3 ($1.50ea
          which is $3.00 gal.)  @ Kroger
C Swiss Miss cocoa mix (10 ct)- $.98 
          Edward's food giant 10/$10 = $1.00 ea. 
Bread (store brand) buns and breads - $.89 ea
          @ Cash Saver-Greenbrier
Tortillias (Best Choice) 10 count - $.89 @
          Cash Saver - Greenbrier
Honey (store brand) 32 oz. $4.99 @ Walgreen

C Colgate toothpaste (Total/Max white/Fresh
          or clean)  4-6 oz - $.99 @ Walgreens
Eggs (one doz large) - $1.29 @ Walgreens


          



Friday, February 1, 2013

How do I price match? Take a look!


I have had several inquiries as to just how I am able to do all this price matching at
Wal-Mart from so many stores so here goes. Any questions - just let me know.
It's not perfect by no means, but it great works for me.
I will try to start a regular blog entry or on facebook posts to keep up with the ones

who are interested in following. You can also follow my blog. :)
And HAPPY MATCHIN' AND CLIPPIN' :)

**These are types of rules I try to follow and usually never
have any kind of problem with it working. I have been
doing this pretty steadily for about 2 years now
and LOVE it.

I started out like most, trying my best at the couponing,
and did a good job, but it was so much to keep up with,
to organize and had to have time to sort, staple, cut, file,
then date and REMEMER to use them.
Yikes!!!

I LOVE coupons and really try to still keep up with them,
but nothing like I use to.

Many times I just concentrate on the price matching.
I can save much more with less effort this way.

Coupons are bonuses to price matching.
If I get both, I just made a touchdown. Woo Hoo!!

Many will say they don’t have time to do all this.
NO way you have to “do all this. Do any little part you
can - when you can and there is NO way you and your family
won’t benefit from it. I don’t think anyone cannot find just a few
minutes during the week to look over a few ads while watching
tv or online with friends. Would you love a raise this week?
Who wouldn't!! So make one yourself.

I hardly every get the chance to leave Heber Springs to do any
shopping from store to store. Besides I think that is even harder
than price matching. I know, I too get tired of the Wal-Mart taking
over the small businesses, so I do try to shop at the competing
stores whenever I do get the chance.
And I try to visit my local ones regularly for their sale items.

I do NOT buy anything I wouldn’t purchase anyway or wouldn’t want to try for something new.

And ANYTHING can be price matched at Wal-Mart!
Produce, meats, generic/store brands – all if it!

Make very sure you have the absolute correct sale dates, item size/quantity to match.
Also check that the generic or store brand is higher or lower than the brand names on sale.
I try to use many store and generic brands when I can. A few cents is a few cents!!

I started out doing this with the mindset that since we are a single family income household,
if I can save even $20.00 a week, it is the same as giving my husband a $ .50 cents an hour raise.

Geez, who wouldn’t love that!!!

Now I can at least give him the same as a $1.00 or more raise each and every week.

I have cut our shopping nearly in half, so I use the extra money to buy one or two
more of each item I save on to use as a little stockpile for the lean months.
Or those months you know you have birthday’s, vacations, Christmas to save
for so every little bit helps not to have to spend as much on groceries.

Besides many people live within a paycheck or two of having problems paying their bills.
Certainly can't do without feeding your family.  So what if you work on a little stockpile
of house/food inventory to cover those just in case emergencies with the item you can stock on now.
Can you imagine not going to the grocery store for a week, month,
or longer.  I can almost do that now.  Only needing fresh fruit & veggies & milk.

One thing is for sure that helps a lot, is to try to get the family to agree with the fact
that you will be buying different toothpastes, razors, seasonal fruits and veggies
and paper products at times, (maybe even dollar store types when there hasn’t
been a sale).
Call them experimenting with different brands and many times just might find something
you like even more.

Remember to try to get a little extra with your savings each week, put it back in a
spare shelf even in the closet if necessary, then keep looking for deals.
Even a very few extra items will add up quickly when needed. There are times I
have used mainly from my stock just to see how long it lasts and can easily run
a month without any shopping except for fresh items needed.
Makes for a happy mama.

I am not one of the extreme ones as on tv. There is no way you can pull that off
around here. But I will do what I can with what I have. Shouldn’t we do
that anyway? And do NONE of this on credit. Cash only for me. :)

NEVER buy anything at regular price if you don’t have to. If you do, make sure
the “value” size and price is really the best value.  There are many times I
find the item I am searching for to match, and there is a cheaper one or
store brand one less. So don’t be disappointed. Some weeks are better
than others.

I have definitely found out – there are many more items on sale at the first of
the month, to get the fixed income people with checks at the first to hit their
stores, but not always the best sales. A lot of times later in the month are t
he bigger discounts on the items but less of them listed. Tricky huh. Yes it is.
Get into the minds of the store sales people and match with them of sorts. :)

My Rules:

If you want to match, try to make sure that you are approx,
50 miles from these stores.  Little Rock is a bit farther than that from me,
but our local Wal-Mart will match them without any problem.

Remember wholesale are not considered fair to Wal-Mart so usually won’t
match for those type stores.

Usually all store sales begin on either Sunday and end at close Saturday night,
or Wednesday and end at close on Tuesday night. So really only 2 times a
week to have to spend some time on checking out ads.

I usually keep a legal note pad handy to write the key items I see onto so I
can go from that “draft” list when making my shopping/matching list.

I also purchased a binder and put my printed ads in clear sleeves with tabs
for each name of store so I can access them quickly when I run across something
I need to go back and check. Helps save a lot of time.
Even though Wal-Mart does NOT require you to show the ad when you are
price matching, it’s so helpful if there is a question to have it with you or if
you think of something else to check on. Trust me – it’s easier.

The few more minutes you use to make sure you are ready and armed with info,
the smoother your shopping trip will go for everyone involved.

Be sure to print out a copy of the Wal-Mart price matching policy and the
coupon policy and have with you just in case you have a problem.
And try to learn key parts.

Remember these stores have high turnover in employees and it is very complicated
all the “rules and procedures” they have to keep track of.

And probably #1 on this is – be nice.
Joke around. Keep a smile on that pretty lil face of yours. And I never blame
them for being wrong,  I always act like I am having a “senior” moment and
that perhaps we need to check to see if “I’m” the incorrect one. :)

These are just people too just like us but have to answer to someone above them
on each thing they do. And yes, some act as if we are taking money out of
their pockets, but that’s ok too. Go along with them! I have worked this
and made many friends out of the grumpiest ones now.

I ALWAYS compliment and thank the cashier for their extra attention on checking
me out. Then the next time they don’t dread ringing up each individual item of
24 cans of green beans. lol! :)

I have even had some tell me another ad cheaper that I missed on items, or new
places to match at, write some of them down for them to use when they get off
work, and even use my prices on the next customer to make up for having them
wait a little longer.

It’s all a game and we are all players in it. Be a fun player. Get your fair share but
don’t dip too much into their pot either or they may end up taking away the
challenge of matching. :)

It’s exciting each Saturday night before Sunday sales come out and on Tuesday
nights before Wednesday sales come out. Can’t hardly sleep. lol! I think that is
called addict. Bahaha!!

Happy matchin' and clippin' safely out there.

Got a few more matchups 2/1/13

*** A few more items I will be checking out and possibly getting tomorrow are:
Some I will have coupons for that will make the matchups even sweeter.  :)

Grand's biscuits 10/$10 ($1.00 ea) match to Sav-a-lot thru 2/2/13 
         (coupons possibly)

General Mills Cereals up to 17 oz. - $1.99 ea - match to Walgreen's thru 2/2/13
         (WM price $2.89-$3.08) (coupons possibly)

Ritz crackers - regular box - $1.99 ea - match to Kroger thru 2.5.13

Eggs - lg dozen - $1.28 - match to Cash Saver thru 2/5/13 (+10% = $1.42) 
          (WM price $1.88/doz)

Rotel - reg size - $0.48 - match to Kroger thru 2/5/13 (WM price $0.98 ea)
           coupons possibly)

Swiss Miss cocoa mix - 10 pk - $0.99 match to Knights Super Foods thru 2/5/13


My matchups Friday 2.1.13



These are a few of the match ups I picked up today.  Some with coupons,
I had a very detailed list with all the items, sizes, price to match to, along with
store name.

I did not have my binder of sale papers with me as proof, as I try my very best to make
double, even triple sure I am correct as I would feel so guilty for messing up at all in my favor

And besides Walmart corporate policy does NOT require you to have the ad with you.
Always – always ask for the CSM if there is any doubt at all, have it checked.
New cashiers sometimes are not aware of how it all works.  I know it’s all got to be
overwhelming as I worked once at a Magic Mart and that was before computers
came along, so I can only imagine all the frustration and tricking that can go on and
you have to be so responsible for.

So as I said, I try my very best to make sure my facts are correct, and then stand my
ground.

Even though you may not be from my exact area, same rules generally apply
and hopefully I along with my friends can be of some encouragement for you
to work on setting up a list of stores in your area.

Nothing like a rush you get from success of finding matchups of sale items
and coupons and getting a deal on items you buy anyway. 

No time – nonsense.  Want a raise?  Save instead.  :)

Ok here is my lst.

Foldger’s Coffee – lg can $6.99 at USA Drug thur 1/2/13 (Walmart reg price $8.98)  

Great value peanut butter 16-18oz 2/$4 at Kroger thru 2/5/13(Walmart reg price $2.56)

Velvetta lg box $4.99 at Walgreens thru 2/2/13 (Walmart reg price $$5.88)
            also had coupon for -.50c off.  So $4.50 each

Post cereals – up to 14 oz at Kroger $1.99 thru 2/5/13  (Walmart avg price $2.89-$3.28

Scott paper towel – 6 roll at Walgreen $4.00 thru 2/2/13 ($0.67ea roll) (Walmart $5.97)
            lucky enough to find a sticker coupon on pkg for $.50c off so total price
            was $3.50 ($0.58c roll)

Cottenelle bath tissue – 12 roll $4.00 at Walgreen thru 2/2/13 ($0.33 roll) 
(Walmart price $7.47)  ($0.62 roll)

Great value milk (all varieties) $3.49 at Walgreen thru 2/2/13 
          Walmart reg. $4.08 - varies a lot.

Ground beef (family pk 73% lean) $1.75/lb at Cash Saver thru 2/5/13 (Walmart
            reg $3.00/lb. 
  This sounds a bit complicated but not really:
  WM pkg is 5.5lb so $1.75 x 5.5 = $9.63  Reg 5.5lb x $3.00 = $16.50)

Grapes – red or green -  $1.99/lb at Sav-a-lot thru 2/2/13 (Walmart –I forgot to check
            but it’s usually close to $2.50-$3/lb